CIVILIZED HIKING: Rowe, Gunstock, & Belknap (Belknap Range)

Monday, August 22, 2022

Rowe, Gunstock, & Belknap (Belknap Range)

"Can you please stop" - me, to the squirrels

Hike Type: Short Stemmed Reverse Lollipop
Distance: 6.31 miles
Elevation: 1890 feet
Time: 3 hours, 47 minutes

Hiking Challenges: Belknap Range Hiker, NH Fire Tower Quest, Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge, Summit Beer Society, New England 50 Finest

The view just after Mt. Rowe's summit.

The Hike

The summer is quickly coming to a close and I've reached the "holding onto what I have left of my break" breaking points - off to the woods I go! I've been eyeballing the Belknaps for a while now, and there was rain coming around 12-1 today, so the shorter drive was a perfect fit! I had originally flirted with doing an extended reverse lollipop, hitting Rowe, Gunstock, Belknap, Piper, and Whiteface, but the incoming rain and my uncertain digestive system had me turn around at Belknap, which I maintain was the correct decision. Anyway, my 4:00am alarm went off, and up to New Hampshire I went!

I parked in the large Gunstock Mountain ski area parking lot. There were a few other cars around, but it was unclear where I was supposed to park. I landed next to a few trucks across from the main building and did not get towed or ticketed, so I'd say I did it correctly! I walked through the main building area toward the mountain coaster, checked a nearby porta potty due to the aforementioned uncertain digestive system (it did not have any toilet paper, and I then realized neither did I... yikes), and the white-blazed Ridge Trail starts at the mountain coaster up an access road.

The Ridge Trail between the mountain coaster and Mt. Rowe was steep, covered in loose gravel, and generally unpleasant. It reminded me of the trail up Overlook Mountain in the Catskills, but this trail had significantly less flies and more rocks. There was a road bypass trail that I didn't have on my map that I'm very curious about. It probably would have been slightly longer than the Ridge Trail but more enjoyable. Through my arduous journey the sun tried to poke it's head through the clouds, but only succeeded for a short while.

There is a large cell tower just before the summit of Mt. Rowe, which is where the access road terminates. The trail goes into the woods and I was immediately greeted by a gorgeous owl and what may have been a fisher cat running across the trail. It was long, dark, and short, whatever it was. There was a small sign and cairn indicating the summit, and the Ridge Trail follows the ridge (miraculously) for a short while until it opens up to an excellent view of Gunstock and Belknap mountains, the ski area below, Lake Winnipesaukee, and the Ossipees in the distance. The owl followed me for a while during this section, and I was really blown away at how quietly they fly from tree to tree (I'm used to the boisterous grouses).

The Ridge Trail then dips into a col and begins to formally climb up Gunstock. The trail here is in some beautiful forest full of birds and rodents (notably one chipmunk who I swear was trying to hold a conversation with me). There are endless switchbacks that start off gentle but pick up steepness toward the summit. Just before the final push to the summit, the trail skirts around the mountain along some cliffs and provides a small view worthy of a look. Soon after the view, the Ridge Trail intersects with the green-blazed Winter Shortcut and then the orange-blazed Mt. Gunstock Trail, climbs slightly to join the yellow-blazed Brook Trail, and then leads to the summit/ski area. There were crews up top getting ready to open the mountain for summer recreation, so I did not stay long. Additionally, the whole summit was in a cloud now so there weren't any views. I ended up finding a picnic table just below the summit on the Brook Trail for a peanut butter sandwich, summit beverage, and nice sit.

The red squirrels were ACTIVE along the Brook Trail and very clearly were not fond of me. I felt like I was hiking through a minefield with all the pinecones that were being used as projectiles toward my head, accompanied by their famous scream. I followed the Brook Trail to the white-blazed Saddle Trail, and then the blue-blazed Blue Trail, which similarly to the Ridge Trail up Gunstock, started gently climbing but picked up steepness toward the summit of Belknap. At this point, I was very much in the clouds, and just for good measure, found the grouse population. At least four of them were flapping their wings and yelling at me. I do not care for the mountain chickens.

Soon after the last steep push and clanking my poles at the grouses, I reached the top of Belknap Mountain! The summit area is open and I think rather viewless? It seemed pretty wooded... maybe some partial views? Who knows! There was a USGS Benchmark right on the Blue Trail and there was another under the tower. The tower itself has seen better days. It was a cozy walk up, and by cozy, I mean terrifying and narrow. The tower was rickety, smelled like old pennies, and my child-bearing hips barely fit between the rails. The steps were steep and overlapping, which was unsettling. Shockingly enough, I did not get any surprise views through the clouds so I SLOWLY made my way down. I realize I sound very grumpy writing this and reflecting, but I promise I was in good spirits and really enjoyed the hike!

I thought about it, and I definitely had enough energy to go to at least Piper, but that digestive system had me worried, so I started my return trip. Blue to White/Saddle to Yellow/Brook, and then the Brook trail descends down the mountain for 1.6 miles. The trail started in lovely pine forests with that amazing christmas tree scent, and then became very reminiscent of the Old Indian Trail down Mt. Wachusett. The Brook Trail crossed the ski slopes, dipped in and out of the woods, and then followed a glade run (did I use that terminology correctly?!) which was gorgeous. My feet were feeling the steep descent toward the end, and there was loud machinery somewhere on the mountain (either crews working on the mountain or I read that there is logging somewhere in the Belknaps, those are my best guesses). The trail bottoms out at... a brook! Soon after the brook I landed back at the parking lot and was shocked at how busy the area was now. It wasn't packed, but I was surprised to see so many families out on a cloudy, rainy Monday. I did flirt with riding the mountain coaster, but decided to save it for another day. I couldn't change in the parking lot due to the endless families, but the ski lodge was open with it's shockingly nice bathrooms. Overall it was a great hike! Only saw a few other people and an endless amount of crazy red squirrels.