Stinson Mountain Trail

Stinson Mountain, April 11, 2021

What an amazing day. The weather was perfect, sunny with a gentle breeze as the day progressed. Trail conditions were drier than expected with few ice patches near the summit (no spikes needed). Few hikers at the start of the day and several heading up as we made our descent.

Stinson Trail crosses former pastureland with stone walls and small brooks. The trail gradually climbs up to meet an extensive snowmobile network. The hiking and snowmobile trails were in excellent condition. Brush was cleared and no winter trash remained anywhere. Very nice coexistence between two major recreational activities.

The pace was nice and reasonable, opportunity to stop and talk nature, ecology, and humor. Gentle blend of all. Great group of hikers (5 total) from MA, VT, and NH. Everyone enjoyed the hike and the company. At the summit is a nice open area sheltered on the sides. Plenty of sun and limited wind. Base of a fire tower remains for more history. There were sweet views to the south and a few to the north east. After the hike, an outdoor social in Plymouth rounded out the day with food and discussion about future hike ideas. Watch the calendar for more opportunities to explore new areas, trails, and summits. Looking forward to hiking more with all participants, all of whom are gearing up for a great season ahead.

Any questions about the trail, conditions and ability level feel free to contact.

Stinson Mountain – elevation of 2900ft, 1.8 miles to summit. (elevation gain of 1400ft)

This is a fairly simple trail and a great spring starter. The start of the hike is farmland that has grown in with healthy forest and several stonewalls. The grade will increase with in the first mile. The trail is shared at some points with a snowmobile network (now closed). Caution will be needed to make sure the correct trail is followed; crossing may not be clearly marked. There are no stream crossings but anticipate some muddy/wet areas. The trail is on the north facing side of the mountain so possible snow or ice may remain in the area of the summit, especially where it has been machine packed. The summit area is fairly open and has excellent views to the south. There are fairly consistent online trail descriptions available.

Preparation/what to bring: White Mountains can have unpredictable and extreme weather changes year-round and April is definitely a month to be cautious of. It is recommended that hikers have dry clothing and wind protection as there may be wind at the summit. Always have water (no guarantee places to refill) and food. If you need suggestions on what to bring, PLEASE ASK!! It is also highly recommended the bring a BLISTER KIT (DIY kits online). If this is the first hike of the season or brand-new footwear, foot first aid most likely will be necessary. For this trip it is important to bring along flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor.

Covid – Please bring a mask for the use when in close proximity to others. Respect people’s space, there are a variety of mask styles to match the variety of covid options. Let’s be safe and respect others. We are not the only people on the trail.

Group Size (not to exceed 12): It is not fun leaving folks out of trips. If you cannot attend, PLEASE cancel so others may join. If you are on the waiting list, please contact me days prior to the trip, most likely there is room and if needed this trail will allow us to break the group into two smaller groups. Dogs are welcome on this hike. Leash (close at hand) is highly recommended (also required in WMNF). We will cross some private property and will be close to residential homes. Decreasing the impact to the environment is always a priority! Please plan to “carry in and carry out” all items. It is also possible to collect other hikers’ debris along the way.

Weather: At times in the season rain may not be a concern. Being mid-April however this trip will be cancelled if any precipitation is forecasted. The intent is to post any update/cancellation information by the Friday prior (4/9) by 6pm. The cancellation will include a rescheduled date so participants can watch for that opportunity.

After trip social: There is no formal after trip social planned for this trip (by the leader).

Safety is a priority! Any time a hiker is injured or lost a HUGE team of volunteers is dispatched to aid in the search and rescue efforts. No one wants to be injured or put other in harms way. Always be prepared. Know your limits. Any questions feel free to contact me.