Mt. Morgan Trail - Ladder Spur - Crawford-Ridgepole Trail - Mt. Percival Trail - Morse Trail
Distance: 5.41 miles
Elevation: 1509 feet
Time: 4 hours, 32 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 With a View, Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge, Terrifying 25, 52 Hike Challenge, Summit Beer Society
The Hike
It's Yom Kippur and my school district has the day off! In order to atone for our sins, Kerri and I headed up to the Squam Range for our first hike together - to tackle Mt. Morgan and Mt. Percival! I chose these for their relatively easy stats (~5mi, ~1400ft), views, and the optional T25 routes, and it did not disappoint! The parking lot wasn't clearly marked, but Google Maps did its job well. We were the only ones in the parking lot at 8:00am on a cloudy Wednesday, so we got the party started!
The Mt. Morgan Trail is very easy to follow and really beautiful, especially with the fall colors popping up. The trail starts gentle and then picks up in elevation gain, but nothing ever gets too steep. I couldn't stop gawking at the fall weather and colors, constantly screaming "its friggin' fall!!". Naturally, I was still sweaty, but at least the weather was more forgiving! The fun really begins at the junction with the ladder trail (signed as "Mt. Morgan via Cliffs).
The ladders themselves looked daunting, but they weren't too bad. The first one had a little give to it when climbing, but still felt very sturdy. The transfer from the first to the second was easy, and the transfer from the second to third was a bit sketchy. The third ladder spreads out in a V shape which was... interesting. It was fine, though. There is a small cave at the end of the ladder trail that I was VERY stressed about, but it ended up being easy peasy.
The cave opens up to a great view of Mt. Webster, presenting some excellent fall colors, and then continues to climb. There is the word "SHADOW" painted in blue on the rocks with a yellow arrow that points to the trail, which was interesting - I'm not sure what it meant. There is one sketchy scramble after the view, but it wasn't too challenging. After this, it was smooth sailing!
The trail opens up to a magnificent view of Mt. Webster and Squam Lake. We got really lucky with our choice of mountain. The Belknaps were in the rain and the Ossipees were all in the clouds, so we were so happy to be dry AND not in the clouds. The fall colors were absolutely beautiful, and the weather was in the 50s and just perfect. Just past the view is the left turn to the true summit, so we booped the disc and then continued our journey.
The Crawford-Ridgepole Trail between Morgan & Percival is relatively easy with a few ups and downs, some rockier than others. The red squirrels were in full effect, making Kerri question if they were actually harmless (they sure don't sound like they are). The trail alternates between green piney forests and hardwoods with lovely foliage. Soon enough, the trail opens up again to the summit area of Mt. Percival!
The summit area is marked by a large cairn, but the true summit is atop a large boulder behind some trees, marked by a drill hole. There are excellent views from just below the cairn at the top of the boulder cave route (that we did not take). We took a long sit here to eat and drink our Downeast Cider Donut hard ciders - delicious!! The only thing that got us moving again was the thought of a hot lunch, so we started the trip down.
We followed the "cliff route" instead of the "cave" route, and although it had steep scrambles, it was very doable. The trail slightly mellows at the junction with the cave route, and then begins to actually mellow out further down. There was one rocky section where we briefly lost the trail, but it was quickly and easily fixed. From here on out, the trail was easy going! Nice walking, Kerri got to use a pee-funnel so she could stand up to pee, and we only passed one other person. It did feel like it took forever, but I was simply ready for a cheeseburger. The final new section was the Morse Trail, which connects the Mt. Morgan and Mt. Percival Trails, and it was more easy hiking.
There is a very short walk after the Morse Trail back to the parking lot, which was now almost full, insinuating that most people are doing the same route that we did. We did a quick change because it was cheeseburger time! We drove to the Twin Barns Brewery for a delicious cider and the most insane burger I've had in a while. It was called the brunch burger, and it had two patties, a hash brown patty (which was more like a latke), a fried egg, and hollandaise aioli - the chef watched me eat it it was so impressive (I inhaled it). A great day!
Step-By-Step
Start hike from Mt. Morgan Trail parking lot.
Follow Mt. Morgan Trail up the majority of Mt. Morgan.
At jct. with the Ladder Trial, turn left to climb ladders.
At view of Mt. Morgan, continue on trail and turn left to climb to summit.
Return to jct., turn left to hike along Crawford-Ridgepole Trail towards Mt. Percival.
Summit Mt. Percival.
Follow Signs for Rt. 113 via Cliffs.
Follow Mt. Percival Trail down mountain.
At jct. with Morse Trail, turn right onto Morse Trail.
At terminus of Morse Trail, turn left back onto Mt. Morgan Trail and hike to parking lot.
“Mt. Morgan Trail” from White Mountain Guide, 30th Ed. (2017)
This trail, leading to a summit with fine views, leaves the west side of NH 113, 5.5 mi. Northeast of its jct. With US 3 in Holderness and 6.3 mi. southwest of its jct. with NH 109 in Center Sandwich. From the parking area, the trail follows an old logging road, turning left off it almost immediately. At 0.1 mi,. Morse Trail diverges right, leading 0.5 mi. to Mt. Percival Trail. Mt. Morgan Trail climbs west at a moderate grade then swings right and traverses to the north. At 1.4 mi., the trail swings left to begin the steeper ascent of the southeast slope of the mountain. At 1.7 mi., Crawford-Ridgepole Trail enters left from Mt. Webster, and the two trails coincide, passing a difficult spur path (use caution) that branches left, ascends three ladders, and climbs about 100 yd. through a boulder cave and up steep ledges to the cliff-top viewpoint. After climbing a set of steps, the main trails soon reach a jct. where Crawford-Ridgepole Trail diverges to the right for Mt. Percival. Here, Mt. Morgan Trail leads 0.1 mi. Left to the cliff-top viewpoint; partway along, a short spur leaves on the right and runs 50 yd. To the true summit, where you have a restricted view north.
“Crawford-Ridgepole Trail” from White Mountain Guide, 30th Ed. (2017)
This trail follows the backbone of the Squan Range from Sandwich Notch Rd. to the south knob of Cotton Mtn. The trail starts on the southwest side of Sandwich Notch Rd., 3.7 mi. from NH 113 in Center Sandwich, 0.5 mi. beyond the Sandwich Town Park/Bearcamp River Trail parking area, and 1.8 mi. south of the power line along the Beebe River. There is space for one or two cars at the trailhead; other parking may be found a short distance east along the road. Except for the very popular segment between Mt. Percival and Mt. Morgan, the trail is used infrequently, despite fine views in the Squam-Doublehead section. The northern half of the trail is ledgy and rough in places and is more difficult than the statistics and the map would suggest.
[...].
The trail crosses the east summit of Mt. Squam, where you have a good view, at 3.0 mi. The trail continues along the ledgy ridge, in places requiring care to follow, crosses the west summit of Mt. Squam, passes an outlook south, descends through a notch, and climbs to Mt. Percival Trail and Mt. Percival’s excellent views at 4.4 mi. Continuing along the ridge with minor ups and downs and occasional views, Crawford-Ridgepole Trail passes just west of the actual high point of the range (sometimes called the Sawtooth, it can be reached by a short but thick bushwhack and has a restricted view) and continues to a jct. with Mt. Morgan Trail at 5.2 mi. Here, Mt. Morgan Trail leads to the right 90 yd. to a fork; the left branch (almost straight ahead) laeds another 50 yd. to a fine cliff-top viewpoint, whereas the right branch leads 50 yd. to the true summit of Mt. Morgan, where you have a restricted view north.
From this jct., Crawford-Ridgepole Trail and Mt. Morgan Trail coincide, bearing left and descending a set of steps. Shortly, a difficult spur path (use caution) branches right, ascends three ladders, and climbs about 100 yd. through a boulder cave and up steep ledges to the cliff-top viewpoint on Mt. Morgan. The main trail descends to a jct. at 5.6 mi., where Mt. Morgan Trail turns left to continue its descent to NH 113, and Crawford-Ridgepole Trail turns right to climb at mostly easy grades toward Mt. Webster. [...].
“Mt. Percival Trail” from White Mountain Guide, 30th Ed. (2017)
This trail provides access to fine views and interesting boulder caves on Mt. Percival and, in combination with Mt. Morgan Trail, Morse Trail, and Crawford-Ridgepole Trail, offers one of the most popular and scenic loop hikes on the southern fringe of the White Mtns. The trail begins on the north side of NH 113, 0.3 mi. northeast of the Mt. Morgan-Rattlesnake parking areas. Parking for this trail (sign) is available at the end of a short gravel road.
The trail follows a logging road past a chain gate and ascends at an easy grade. At 0.2 mi., Morse Trail diverges left for Mt. Morgan Trail. Mt. Percival Trail passes through a clearing, and at 0.4 mi. the trail turns left onto a relocated section then loops back to rejoin the original route at 0.6 mi. At 0.9 mi., after a slight descent, the trail crosses a brook and climbs moderately. At 1.5 mi., the trail turns right (northeast) and traverses the south slope of Mt. Percival for 0.1 mi., descending slightly. The trail then swings left and climbs steeply to a fork at 1.9 mi. (From this fork, an alternate route diverges left and ascends a difficult and very strenuous route through a boulder cave [not recommended in wet weather] then continues up ledges to the summit.) Here the main trail turns right; struggles up a steep, rough, ledgy section; crosses a cliff top with a fine view of Squam Lake; and continues over ledges to join Crawford-Ridgepole Trail at the open summit.
“Morse Trail” from White Mountain Guide, 30th Ed. (2017)
This trail links the lower ends of Mt. Morgan and Mt. Percival trails, making possible an excellent loop hike without a road walk on Nh 113. Morse Trail diverges right from Mt. Morgan Trail 0.1 mi. from NH 113 and descends easily to cross a small brook. Morse Trail passes through a gap in a stone wall and ascends gradually, crosses a brook on a footbridge at 0.4 mi., passes through a gap in another stone wall, and bears right to meet Mt. Percival Trail, 0.2 mi. From NH 113.
No comments:
Post a Comment