Black Mt (Wachipauka Pond subsitute)

Thanks to everyone who joined both for their camaraderie and great conversation, but also for their flexibility.   The US Forest Service came out with a bulletin last Friday closing trailheads in the White Mountain National Forest, and the trailheads for Wachipauka Pond were on the list.   Joe and I have done Wachipauka Pond trail before from both Rt 25 and Rt 25C, but we never encountered many people on it and always considered it a lesser used trail.    But maybe it was because it's part of the Appalachian Trail and relatively near Dartmouth.   I guess the forest service are the experts I guess.

I found about this on Saturday morning, the day of the hike.  Rather than cancel, we picked a subsitute hike in the same vicinity, Black Mountain via the Chippewa Trail.    Joe and I have done this trail several times before, but had not this year yet.  The trail is a very steep 1.8 miles up to the summit, with bang for the buck views on granite ledges on the way up, including great views of Moosilauke.  One guy got to the trailhead and realized he forgot to bring his hiking boots, so he left.   Two other guys ended up turning around on the hike as it was steeper than they anticipated (and definitely steeper than Wachipauka Pond!), but they said they were happy with the day in that their goals were satisfied in getting out and getting some fresh air and conversation.    At the end of the day, it's the journey not the destination, and there's no shame in turning around (speaking from my own experience too!).   The rest of us continued up and enjoyed the views from the multiple ledges, and had a leasurely lunch at the top.  I think everyone enjoyed talking so much that nobody was in a hurry to start heading down, and we did the descent leasurely too.  At the bottom we took a short walk to see the ruins of an old lime kiln. Even though it was chaotic finding out the morning of the hike that our intended hiking trailhead was closed, the subsitute hike ended up being great, and the weather couldn't have been better this time of year, 60 and sunny!

Unfortunately the forest service has closed off both trailheads for the originally Wachipauka Pond hike, so this is a subsitution hike.    We're going to hike Black Mountain via the Chippewa Trail.  The hike is 1.8 miles each way, so 3.6 miles round trip, so fairly steep (but we can take it slow!), but generally good footing and bang for the buck views.    Joe and I have done this hike several times before, but not this year yet.  According to a trail report from the other day, there is a small amount of snow/ice in some areas, so light traction such as microspikes are recommended, but snowshoes are not needed. We have extra microspikes and hiking poles if anyone needs (we can spray disinfectant on before and after). 

We will practice social distancing of keeping about 6 feet of distance between everyone.  Also, with the recommended guidance of hiking local during the pandemic, please be a resident of New Hampshire or within about an hour or so drive from the hike.  Pleace contact me for exceptions such as you're living up here in a second home.