Skiing Berkshire East (Day 5/Indy Pass Day 5)

Skiing Berkshire East

Sunday. December 28th, 2025

Runs: 11

Distance: 10.08 miles

Elevation: 10,171 feet

Max Speed: 33.9 mph

Avg. Speed: 16.6  mph

Moving Time: 36 minutes, 31 seconds

Total Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes, 55 seconds

And just like that, Christmas was over! I was up at 4:30am to get to Berkshire East, which was a bit further away than I had wanted, but I wanted to ski there more than I wanted to hit Catamount again or lap the few runs Bousquet had open, so I rallied! The drive was cold and dark, with temperatures dropping from the teens in New Jersey to the low single-digits in upstate New York and the Berkshires. The drive got very pretty once the sun was up and I was in Massachusetts, and before I knew it, I was there! The only rough part of the drive was along West Hawley Road (MA-8A), which was a bit slushy. I was in the parking lot just after 8:00am, and there were probably 30ish other cars already there. I booted up at the car (slowly), got my Indy, and headed into the lodge to use the bathroom and let the "first chair" line dissipate.

Mountain Conditions

Sunday, December 28th

Weather & Snowmaking:

Sunday: The 4-5 inches of powder we received Friday night combined with several days of aggressive snowmaking continues to deliver great conditions across open terrain - everything is freshly groomed!

Temperatures are expected to warm into the mid-30s today, which will help soften snow surfaces as the day goes on. Expect a mostly cloudy day with occassional peeks of sun.

Snowmaking efforts are ongoing on Roundabout this morning and will continue as conditions allow. It's shaping up to be a solid day at Berkshire East - come out and enjoy it!

Please note for the Christmas/New Year holiday week - The Wilderness Quad will open at 10am.

Runs 1-4

Run 1: T Bar Express Quad - Ralicki's Run - Competition

[0.76 mi; 2:53; 1,020 ft; 29.6 mph max; 15.7 mph avg]

Run 2: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Competition 

[0.75 mi; 2:49; 1,010 ft; 28.0 mph max; 15.9 mph avg]

Run 3: T Bar Express Quad - Outback - Deer Run - War Dance

[1.23 mi; 3:57; 1,014 ft; 26.3 mph max; 18.8 mph avg]

Run 4: T Bar Express Quad - Ralicki's Run - Riva Ridge - Outback - Deer Run - Lower Mohawk

[1.38 mi; 4:46; 1,007 ft; 32.6 mph max; 17.3 mph avg]

I always find myself loving the vibe of Berkshire East - it feels tucked away and nestled into the Berkshire hills and there's always a little buzz in the morning as folks are getting ready - it has a nice character! The T Bar Express Quad was the first chair running this morning, and I got on it just after 8:30am and did not have to share it, which was a win! My loose goal for the day was to ski everything that's open, sans some connector trails. I turned right off the chair for my first run, which brought down my Ralicki's Run onto Competition - the main downhill trail. I figured I'd get it over with early on before it gets skied off, and I made a good call! I did a mediocre job turning on the steeper portion uphill, but I was able to dig my edges in much better once it mellowed out. Run #2 was more of the same, but I turned left off the chair and hit the very top of the "headwall," which was pretty scrapey.

Run #3 brought me down Outback, which is a wonderful green run, to Deer Run (flat) and War Dance, which has consistently been my favorite run all three times I've skied here! It has just enough pitch to get some speed and it's fun and windy! The snow has been consistently decent all three times, too, which says something!

Run #4 went down Ralicki's Run and then followed the easiest way down - Outback to Deer Run to Lower Mohawk. Crossing Competition took a while due to the ski race team, but Lower Mohawk was super fun! Easy and windy - the dream!

Runs 5-8

Run 5: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Big Chief

[0.76 mi; 2:24; 1,007 ft; 30.7 mph max; 19.0 mph avg]

Run 6: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Big Chief - Lower Mohawk

[0.87 mi; 2:45; 945 ft; 33.9 mph max; 19.0 mph avg]

Run 7: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Flying Cloud - Big Chief

[0.76 mi; 4:38; 1,007 ft; 30.5 mph max; 9.9 mph avg]

Run 8: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Deer Run - War Dance

[1.19 mi; 3:50; 915 ft; 31.1 mph max; 18.6 mph avg]

My next pod of runs brought me down skier's right side of the mountain. Run #5 was Riva Ridge to Big Chief, which was steeper than I expected! Skied well though, but I wasn't really digging my edges in like I wanted to be. I entered Big Chief from the second entrance for the next run and finished out the lap on Lower Mohawk again, and Run #7 TESTED me. Flying Cloud was signed "experts only," and looked like bumps on whales - something that is 100% in my skillset. Only issue was that it wasn't soft bumps, it was an absolute glacier. Matted snow with 0 grip. I basically skidded form bump to bump and took two falls - it was NOT glamorous! I did have a little breakthrough, though. I was focusing so hard on putting weight onto my outside ski that I was heavily neglecting the inside one, which could have saved me from a fall. Also, while I was getting an edge angle on the snow, I was also leaning toward the hill (because I was spooked!), which caused me to slide, too. Always getting better!

After that fiasco, I rewarded myself with another lap down War Dance, which felt MUCH better!

Run 9-11

Run 9: T Bar Express Quad - Outback - Exhibition

[1.19 mi; 4:00; 994 ft; 26.3 mph max; 17.9 mph avg]

Run 10: Wilderness Quad - Exhibition

[0.54 mi; 2:06; 623 ft; 25.1 mph max; 15.6 mph avg]

Run 11: Wilderness Quad - Exhibition - Danny's Run

[0.65 mi; 2:23; 627 ft; 27.1 mph max; 16.2 mph avg]

Now it was in the 10 o'clock hour and the mountain was starting to fill up. They were running the other summit chair and the Wilderness Quad, so I figured I'd head over to the Wilderness side for a few more runs before driving back to Boston. I took the express quad up and followed Outback to Exhibition, wihch had really nice snow! It was FULL of people, but I made some good turns and was starting to feel like I was actually carving, which was nice!

The Wilderness Quad was slow, but in the sun and it was about 20 degrees warmer than I started, so no complaints! There was a lot of carnage with kids acting insane on Exhibition, but the snow was still good so I got another lap in!

Run #11 wasn't intended to be my last, but I had another great run down Exhibition and the line for both summit lifts were long (and not moving), so I decided to pack it up and head back to Boston! I feel like this was a good day for me in terms of skill-building and making mind-body connections, so I'm looking forward to the next ski day to see what I can apply!

Map of Berkshire East

Tourne Loop (Counter-clockwise; 2x) (Tourne County Park)

Tourne Loop (Counter-clockwise; 2x) (Tourne County Park)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop-Loop

Distance: 2.77 miles

Elevation: 646 feet

Time: 58 minutes 
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025

The Hike

Another day at the Tourne, and a very different one at that! It snowed about 4" overnight, and I was getting to the park around 3:00pm. The parking lot was busier than expected, but 95% of the cars were there for the sledding hill. I didn't want to carry my full pack, so I just carried spikes in my hands - wasn't sure if I'd need them, but better to carry them and not need them! I decided to take the loop counter-clockwise so I could go up the steeper part versus down, and I was off!

I immediately found myself wanting snowshoes, which were in Boston... oh well! Bareboots were good for the whole hike, but it was just slow-going. I passed a cross-country skier a couple of time, which was fun! I also made friends with an EXCELLENT pileated woodbecker on my final descent. Another nice afternoon in the Tourne!

Step-by-Step

- Park on Denville Side of the Tourne. 

- Start hike on Yellow-Dot Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Yellow Trail.

- Loop the Yellow Trail as many times as needed.

- When done, turn right onto Yellow-Dot Trail and return to car.

Map of Tourne County Park

Photo Album

Tourne Loop (3x) (Tourne County Park)

Tourne Loop (3x) (Tourne County Park)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop-Loop-Loop

Distance: 3.96 miles

Elevation: 955 feet

Time: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025

The Hike

Back at the summertime "training grounds"! It was good to be outside and moving after a couple days of gluttony with Christmas! The parking lot was reasonably busy, but I was mentally prepared for that. My first lap up required some power hiking to get ahead of a large family, but I had to slow down once near the top due to some leftover snow/ice. There was supposed to be more snow coming overnight, so I was glad to be getting my hike in now!

Temperatures were in the upper 20s, so my legs were a little chilly in just sweatpants, but overall all was good! I LOVED that there were no bugs. I realized once on my third climb that basically every human dissipated and it was just me and a few other crazies still hiking - it was lovely!

I ended my hike while listening to the Death Becomes Her musical soundtrack, and I wish I hiked just a LITTLE faster, becuase the soundtrack ended on the final push back to the car! I was so close to timing it perfectly!

Step-by-Step

- Park on Denville Side of the Tourne. 

- Start hike on Yellow-Dot Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Yellow Trail.

- Loop the Yellow Trail as many times as needed.

- When done, turn left onto Yellow-Dot Trail and return to car.

Map of Tourne County Park

Photo Album

Skiing Catamount Mountain (Day 4/Indy Pass Day 4)

Skiing Catamount Mountain

Wednesday. December 24th, 2025

Runs: 8

Distance: 6.96 miles

Elevation: 5,860 feet

Max Speed: 31.0 mph

Avg. Speed: 16.6  mph

Moving Time: 25 minutes, 11 seconds

Total Time: 1 hour, 26 minutes, 38 seconds

Merry Christmas Eve! I wasn't sure if I was going to ski since it was literally Christmas Eve, but I figured Catamount opened at 8:30am and since I have the Indy Pass, I could absolutely go for just an hour or two, get some laps in, and then make my way down to New Jersey, so that's what I did! The alarm went off at a reasonably 5:30am, I packed up the car for the holidays, and I was off!

Mountain Conditions

Wednesday, December 24th

Early Season Turns!

11 groomed trails are planned today, seviced by 4 lifts. Tuesday's snow was a great refresher and were expecting excellent conditions as it grooms in. Our snowmaking team is also working extra hard blowing lots of snow to open up more terrain on our New York side.

Keeping our fingers crossed on more snow later in the week.

Uphill available on designated trails: Esplanade, Upper Promenade, Ridge Run

Welcome back!

Weekday singing: 9am-4pm.

Weekends & Holidays 8:30am-4:00pm

Huge thanks to our mountain operations team for the nonstop work it takes to make this happen - be sure to show them some love when you seem them out there. See you on the snow!

I had low expectations for the day in terms of trail count and snow quality, but something is better than nothing! I made it to the parking lot around 8:15am and 100% had some princess parking. I got my Indy Pass for the day, christened the bathroom, and it was time to head to the Ridge Quad!

Runs 1-3

Run 1: Ridge Quad - Ridge Run - Mountain View - Holiday

[1.29 mi; 4:51; 1,024 ft; 25.2 mph max; 15.9 mph avg]

Run 2: Ridge Quad - Ridge Run - Walter's Way - Esplanade

[1.24 mi; 4:23; 958 ft; 31.0 mph max; 17.0 mph avg]

Run 3: Meadows Triple - Mountain View - Holiday

[0.62 mi; 2:36; 604 ft; 24.8 mph max; 14.3 mph avg]

My first run of the day was along Ridge Run (the only way down from the top on this day), which had surprisingly great snow! This brought me to the top of the Meadows Triple, and then I had a nice trip down Mountain View and Holiday right on back to the quad, which had zero line!

Run #2 was down Ridge Run to Walter's Way, which I think had the steepest pitch of the day (not very steep) - fun! This went into Esplanade, and instead of skating back to the Ridge Quad, I hopped on the Meadows Triple (which climbs basically all in the woods - so pretty) to hit Mountain View to Holiday again. All the runs were hard and fast minus Ridge Run - I'm starting to really hone-in on my carving technique, focusing weight on my outside ski, so it was good to practice!

Runs 4-7

Run 4: Ridge Quad - Ridge Run - Upper Promenade - Echo's Run - Esplanade

[1.36 mi; 4:59; 942 ft; 31.0 mph max; 16.3 mph avg]

Run 5: Meadows Triple - Mountain View - Holiday

[0.51 mi; 1:45; 554 ft; 24.2 mph max; 17.6 mph avg]

Run 6: Catamount Quad - Toni Matt

[0.33 mi; 1:15; 377 ft; 28.4 mph max; 15.7 mph avg]

Run 7: Catamount Quad - On Stage

[0.30 mi; 1:06; 384 ft; 23.9 mph max; 16.3 mph avg]

Run #4 brought me down the longest way - Ridge Run to Upper Promenade to a bit of Echo's Run before finishing on Esplanade. Overall it's a good one, but the flat on Upper Promenade required some skating. Plus, people were starting to arrive and I was having to semi-dodge some newbies. I did another lap on the Meadows Triple (the Birch glades look like they'd be really fun if they open), and then for #6 and #7 I hit up the Catamount Quad, which servieced two runs on this day (technically three, but I didn't need to ski Cat's Meow). Toni Matt was on the left-hand turn off the lift, and it was a glacier, and On Stage was on the right. People were carving really nicely on On Stage, which reminded me that I have a lot of room to grow! I am definitely getting better every day, but my heart wants to really dig into it!

Run 8

Run 8: Ridge Quad - Ridge Run - Watler's Way - Esplanade - Homeward Bound

[1.32 mi; 4:16; 1,017 ft; 30.3 mph  max; 18.5 mph avg]

My final run for the day was back up the Ridge Quad to Walter's Way, eventually skiing all the way down to the lodge to put a bow on things! I'm really glad I got up early to make some turns and practice before the whirlwind family holiday. On, and fun to add, I never had to share a lift!

Map of Catamount Mountain

Mid-Northern Lawrence Woods Tracing (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Mid-Northern Lawrence Woods Tracing (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Hike Type: Tracing Loop

Distance: 3.65 miles

Elevation: 322 feet

Time: 1 hour, 7 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Middlesex Fells Reservation Tracing, 52 Hike Challenge 2025

The Hike 

Another day in the Fells! I'm chipping away at the Lawrence Woods section of the reservation, mostly becuase it's the closest section to school and it's the dark times. I was feeling proud of myself for getting out for a second day in a row! It was a WARM 47 degrees with sunny skies and almost no breeze. Trails were a bit muddy at times, but mostly fine. I started my hike by getting a small loop on the main side of the reservation before crossing South Border Road and digging back into the middle portion of the northern Lawrence Woods!

It felt so good to be outside (per usual), so good that I wasn't even annoyed at the wildly unfriendly hikers this park seems to attract. I followed the Cross-Fells Trail up Ram's Head Hill, which was 80% crushed needle ice (pretty satisfying to walk on). This stretch of trail had some old communication wires overhead for a portion - I guess to that pole or old foundation? 

I meandered my way over to the Mustang Trail/Whitmore Brook Road area and heard some commotion through the woods, it almost sounded like sports, which was confusing considering it was December 18th. I made it onto Whitmore Brook Road and followed it to the busy MA-38. The trail proper was nice! Kind of like a Burma Road in the Blue Hills, but less wild. I backtracked for a bit, following more old communication lines, and then continued up toward B5-5, which passed a narrow strip of wetlands.

Now I made my way over to the Mustang Trail, which brought me to Medford High School (the commotion WAS sports!). I walked along the back parking lot before dipping back into the woods (unsigned) and then hit another stretch of the Mustang Tram before making my return trip back on Ram's Head Road. I even passed a super chunky bunny!

My drive home reminded me (unfortunately) of why I'm medium-adverse to the Fells - it was LONG. Well over an hour. It hurt. Still glad I got out, though!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Cross-Fells Trail on South Border Road.

- Start hike on Cross-Fells Trail toward B5-15 and C5-13.

- At C5-13, turn right.

- At C5-14, turn right.

- At terminus, turn right.

- Cross South Border Road.

- Follow Cross-Fells Trail to Ram's Head Hill.

- At B5-13, turn right.

- At B5-12, turn right.

- At B5-11, turn left.

- At B6-2, turn right onto Cross-Fells trail..

- At B6-1, turn right, continuing on Cross-Fells Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Whitmore Brook Road/Cross-Fells Trail.

- At terminus, turn around.

- At previous junction, continue straight on Whitmore Brook Road.

- At B5-5, turn right.

- At B5-11, continue right.

- At B6-2, turn right onto Cross-Fells Trail.

- At B6-1, continue straight onto Mustang Loop Trail.

- At Medford High, follow parking lot left and reenter woods.

- Follow path back to B6-1.

- At B6-1, turn right onto Cross-Fells Trail.

- At B6-2, turn right to continue on Cross-Fells Trail.

- At B6-3, turn right onto Mustang Loop Trail.

- At B6-10, continue straight, leaving Mustang Loop Trail.

- At B6-11, turn left onto Ram's Head Road.

- Follow Ram's Head Road back to car.

Middlesex Fells Reservation Map

Photo Album

Northern Lawrence Woods Tracing (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Northern Lawrence Woods Tracing (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Hike Type: Tracing Loop

Distance: 3.21 miles

Elevation: 282 feet

Time: 1 hour, 3 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Middlesex Fells Reservation Tracing, 52 Hike Challenge 2025

The Hike 

Time for some more redlining/tracing in the Fells! I had to mentally hype myself up, but I'm glad I did! The mental block of short afternoons and driving home afterwards is always tough. I got to the trailhead with just under an hour until sunset, so I got moving right away! I parked at the trailhead opposite Gate 9, hiked a few spurs on the main side before crossing South Border Road (carefully) to hit the Lawrence Woods area for the first time. I had no plan besides explore!

The trails were a little wet from snowmelt and the treetops were golden with the setting sun. There were occasional sunset views through the trees, which was nice. I hiked mostly along the old roads, making sure to hit the spurs of triangles littered about. I wiggled my way up to Ram's Head Hill, which had a tall pole of sorts up top and the foundations of an old structure at the true summit (naturally I looked for a survey disc, no luck!).

I continued my wiggle over to the "90mm Site," and was first greeted by a large concrete disc with rebar sticking out of the top, almost as if they used the rebar to unscrew the circle from the ground? The trail turned to moss-covered pavement as it passed old foundations and concrete structures - it was a really interesting area! I eventually found an informational kiosk that detailed what exactly I was walking around...

From Missles to Monarchs: Restoring a Pollinator Meadow

Where you are now standing was selected as an anti-aircraft defense site for the United States during the Cold War to house a 90mm battery, though the Nike missiles themselves were never installed. After this site was closed, the state park continued to mow the field, preserving an area "rich in butterflies, with 67 species recorded between the late 1960s and early 1980s." Mowing soon after ceased and invasive plants took over. The butterflies disappeared.

In the spirit of environmental sustainability, Medford Girl Scout Tripp 75198 took on the challenge of reestablishing the pollinator meadow in 2018.

Pollinators (animals, mainly insects that pollinate plants) are crucial to the health of the entire environment; its grasses and flowers, our fruits and vegetables. With cooperation from DCR and the Friends of the Fells, the Girl Scouts planned, researched, planted, and weeded to restore the pollinator meadow over the course of a year.

There were MANY unmapped trails between Ram's Head Hill and the 90mm Site, so I had to check AllTrails a few times to make sure I was on a mapped trail still. My return trip involved Whitemore Brook Road, a few spurs off of that, and then a little wiggling around B6-5/4/9/3/6, before returning back to the car and carefully crossing South Border Road again!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Gate 9.

- Start hike on access road.

- At "No Trespassing" sign, turn around.

- At B5-8, turn left onto Skyline/Reservoir/Bike.

- At next jct., turn right onto path.

- At Gate 9, turn left onto South Border Road.

- At Gate 8, carefully cross the street and hike in on Ram's Head Road.

- Hike network of triangles at B6-7/B6-8, then follow path towards Ram's Head Hill.

- At B6-6, turn right.

- At B6-5, continue straight.

- At B5-12, continue right.

- At B5-13, turn right onto Cross-Fells Path.

- At B6-5, turn right back onto road.

- At B5-12, turn left onto road.

- Just after, turn right onto trail.

- Hike network of trails at 90mm Site, then turn left onto Whitmore Brook Road.

- At Gate 11, turn around.

- Hike spur to Southfield Road, continue on Whitmore Brook Road.

- At B5-5, turn sharply right onto spur to Clearwater Road, then retrace steps.

- Continue straight through B5-5 toward B5-11.

- Hike triangle at B5-11, turn continue left.

- Before B6-5, turn right onto Cross-Fells Path.

- At B6-4, turn left.

- At B6-9, turn right.

- At B6-3, turn right.

- At B6-4, continue right/straight.

- At B6-6, turn right.

- At B6-7, turn left.

- At B5-14, turn right onto Cross-Fells Path.

- Carefully cross South Border Road, follow road to car.

Middlesex Fells Reservation Map

Photo Album

Skiing Waterville Valley (Day 3/Indy Pass Day 3)

Skiing Waterville Valley

Sunday. December 14th, 2025

Runs: 20

Distance: 23.08 miles

Elevation: 26,392 feet

Max Speed: 32.8 mph

Avg. Speed: 15.5 mph

Moving Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes, 23 seconds

Total Time: 3 hours, 59 minutes, 47 seconds

My dad and step-mom were in town this weekend, so I spent a couple of days playing tour guide! I thought we'd get breakfast before they left, but they decided to leave first thing Sunday morning, which freed up my day, so naturally I made plans with myself to go skiing! I decided I'd pay a visit to Waterville Valley since it had a decent amount of open trails and it wasn't too far away. My 5:00am alarm got me there just before 8:00am, which was slower than planned due to snow falling the entire way there! Roads were mostly fine, just slow. I did skid down the hill a bit trying to get into the parking lot, but other than that all was good! I booted up at the car and got right to work, making it to the Tecumseh Express at 8:30am! Besides the slow drive, I did have my first mid-drive nosebleed of the season - happy winter! It did seem like there was a massacre in my car...

Alpine Snow Report

UPDATED: 05:54AM, DECEMBER 14, 2025 OPEN: M-F:9AM-3:30PM/SAT-SUN:8AM-3:30PM

Current Weather: 22°F Cloudy

Good morning! With great conditions, comfortable temperatures, fairly light winds, and potential for more snow later on, it's shaping up to be a fantastic ski day. We've been able to open a wide variety of terrain, including several ungroomed trails alongside the fresh corduroy you've been craving for that first run. Lifts start spinning this morning at 8:00am!

Trails and Lifts: We are open with 40 trails on 157 acres of skiable terrain. We anticipate spinning the Tecumseh Express, Valley Run, High Country T-Bar, Lower Meadows, and the Upper and Lower Pasture Carpet.

Anticipated Lift Hours: Tecumseh Express: 8am-3:30pm. Valley Run Quad: 8am-3:30pm. High Country T-Bar: 8:05am-3:15pm. Lower Meadows: 8am-3:30pm. Lower Carpet: 8am-3:30pm. Upper Carpet: 9am-3:30pm.

Snowmaking and Mountain Operations: Snowmakers are currently firing up snow on Ciao, Gema, Rock Island, Stillness, and Lower Stillness. Thank you our Mountain Operations team for all the hard work they have done to get the mountain into great shape!

Nordic Skiing: The Nordic Center is now open! Check out the Nordic report for all the Nordic info.

Conditions and Weather: We woke up to a surprise dusting of snow this morning - a pretty great way to start the day if you ask me! There's also a chacne we'll see a bit more snowfall later today. Today's forecase calls for cloudy skies with temperatures expected to reach a high of 22 degrees at the base and 12 degrees at the summit. Western winds are expected to reach 14-20mph at the base and 15-30mph at the summit. Always be sure to refer to the Snow Report for weather updates if necessary! You can get direct alerts about lift closures and wind holds by texting "SNOW" to 603-825-7989.

Terrain Parks: The High Country Park will be OPEN today with 9 rails/boxes and 2 medium sized jumps. The Boardercross Course remains temporarily closed.

Uphill Access: The Oblivion and High Country Routes will be opening Monday, 12/15. The route up the Oblivion trail is NEW. There is a side trail on skinners left through teh trees providing a more mellow route, popping you out on Palmer's Way. This also allows Uphill hours to extend during operation hours. There will be signage to enter teh side trail when you first get onto Oblivion. Learn more about uphill accesss here. Oblivion Route: Valley Run -> Upper Valley Run -> Oblivion Side Trail (entrance on skinners left of trail). Open from 7am-3:30pm. High Coutnry Route: Main Street -> Ruthie's Run -> Tree Line. Open from 8am-3:30pm.

Dining: Grab a bite at: Identity Coffee, The Marketplace, The Freestyle Lounge, and the Schwendi Hutte. Refer to Business Hours for hours of operation.

Additional Info: To get direct alerts about lift closures and wind holds, text "SNOW" 603-825-7989.

Runs 1-5

Run 1: Tecumseh Express - Oblivion - Valley Run

[1.69 mi; 5:31; 1,690 ft; 30.8 mph max; 18.4 mph avg]

Run 2: Lower Meadows - Leroy's Loop

[0.23 mi; 1:03; 171 ft; 20.8 mph max; 13.4 mph avg]

Run 3: Lower Meadows - Stemtation 

[0.20 mi; 1:13; 180 ft; 23.1 mph max; 13.7 mph avg]

Run 4: Lower Meadows - Revelation

[0.20 mi; 1:10; 170 ft; Not recorded on Garmin]

Run 5: Lower Meadows - Baseway

[0.20 mi; 1:28; 121 ft; 20.9 mph max; 8.1 mph avg]

My first few runs were just to get my legs warmed up and see how much of the mountain I could ski - the loose goal was to ski every open trail! Out of sheer laziness, I started at the Tecumseh Express instead of Lower Meadows only because it was closer. I did the classic run down Oblivion to Valley Run, which skied really well! Oblivion, while being the easiest way down, is decently narrow up top and the headwall is definitely a little daunting! I got some nice turns in on the lower half, and Valley Run was in great shape (with some snowmaking whales right at the start). The mountain was delightfully empty at this point in the day, which was welcomed!

I skied all the way down to the Lower Meadows double lift in the novice area, which had WONDERFUL corduroy. I just practiced making proper carving turns on these next few short runs - it was peacefully quiet and pretty untouched. Run #5 brought me down Baseway and back to the Tecumseh Express for some more adventerous skiing!

Runs 6-9

Run 6: Tecumseh Express - Sun Run - No Grit - Obilivion - Valley Run

[1.72 mi; 5:15; 1,686 ft; 32.1 mph max; 19.6 mph avg]

Run 7: Tecumseh Express - Upper Bobby's Run - Psyched - Utter Abandon

[1.17 mi; 3:55; 1,637 ft; 29.9 mph max; 17.9 mph avg]

Run 8: Tecumseh Express - Upper Bobby's Run - Upper Sel's Choice - Tommy's World Cup Run

[1.21 mi; 4:01; 1,680 ft; 31.9 mph max; 18.1 mph avg]

Run 9: Tecumseh Express - White Caps - Old Tecumseh

[1.26 mi; 4:41; 1,637 ft; 29.5 mph max; 16.2 mph avg]

My next batch of runs involved taking a left off of the Tecumseh Express. First, I hit Sun Run to No Grit (True Grit was closed, but poorly signed) - No Grit is really a lovely tree-lined run, and skips the headwall at Oblivion! The mountain was starting to fill up with ski school and racers, but as long as I avoided those pods, it was good! Run #7 brough me down Upper Bobby's Run to Psyched to Utter Abandon - it's definitely fun to be a the point of my skiing career where I don't really give much, or any pause to a black groomer. Snow was good and fast - it was fun!

Run #8 was similar to #8, but I turned onto Upper Sel's Choice and then Tommy's World Cup Run in the bottom half. There was a "race in progress" sign on Tommy's, but nobody to be seen. I shared the 6-pack with a woman and three ski race kids, she asked if I was with them and I loudly laughed and said "oh god no." We chatted a bit, turns out she's hiked 66 out of the New England 67, with only Kahtadin left! Run #9 was down White Caps to Old Tecumseh, which was ungroomed at the very bottom (and a little rocky), but fun!

Runs 10-12

Run 10: Tecumseh Express - Grimes Way - Periphery - The Boneyard - Lower Periphery

[1.34 mi; 4:02; 1,693 ft; 29.2 mph max; 19.9 mph avg]

Run 11: Tecumseh Express - Grimes Way - Preston's Path - Periphery - Lower Tippy - Lower Periphery

[1.34 mi; 5:02; 1,693 ft, 32.8 mph max; 16.0 mph avg]

Run 12: Tecumseh Express - Tangent - Periphery - Siegel Strett - Lower Sel's Choice

[1.40 mi; 7:07; 1,673 ft; 24.8 mph max; 11.8 mph avg]

I thought about going in for a break and a drink before my next pod of runs, but turns out the Freestyle Lounge isn't open at 10:30am... Back outside I go! Now, I was turning right off the Tecumseh Express and exploring trails on that side of things. Run #10 brought me down Grimes Way to Periphery, which was mellow and wonderful, and then to the Boneyard, which sounds much more daunting than it really is. It was groomed in the middle with natural bumps along the side - I stayed in the middle for now. Lower Periphery is basically their big spillway, so it was busy.

Next I was feeling brave and checked out Preston's Path under the Northside chair, which did NOT go well. It was narrow, natural, with LOTS of rocks and bushes. I did NOT have a good time, and I bailed when I could back onto Periphery. I ended up on Lower Tippy, another groomer, before finishing out on Lower Periphery.

Run #12 is when I really started my "practicing" laps. Tangent was a natural run with some bumps (and rocks) that was perfect for practicing (plus, the groomers were starting to get skied off). I took that to Periphery, which was getting very scrapey to Siegel Street (which had thin cover signs), eventually landing at Lower Sel's Choice, which would become my practice playground for a while. A wide, natural run full of soft bumps (and more rocks, naturally... my skies got a little natural base grind...). I did not do greatly, but I also did not do poorly, and that's progress! It was a longer bump run, too, so I had plenty of time to practice keeping my skis together, weight forward, actively pole planting, and turning with my edges (blah blah blah), oh, and linking turns! It got my heart pumping, and it was fun! I texted Patrol Sarah and Emma "okay fine bumps can be fun."

Runs 13-16

Run 13: Tecumseh Express - Tangent - Periphery - Siegel Street - Lower Sel's Choice

[1.44 mi; 7:13; 1,673 ft; 25.0 mph max; 12.0 mph avg]

Run 14: Tecumseh Express - Oblivion - Valley Run

[1.63 mi; 5:38; 1,706 ft; 27.6 mph max; 17.4 mph avg]

Run 15: Tecumseh Express - Sun Run - No Grit - Oblivion - Valley Run

[1.68 mi; 5:55; 1,670 ft; 30.6 mph  max; 17.0 mph avg]

Run 16: Tecumseh Express - Tangent - Periphery - The Boneyard - Lower Periphery

[1.41 mi; 5:32; 1,670 ft; 32.3 mph max; 15.3 mph avg]

This time, I thought I was going to head up the Tecumseh Express to the Schwendi Hutte for a drink, but I was still feeling good and energized and decided to keep on keeping on! I texted Emma and Patrol Sarah asking what I should be working on, and the assignment was "upper/lower body seperation" and "bumps." Run #13 was another bumpy run - I was LOVING Tangent. Periphery was getting worse and worse every time I skied it, but Lower Sel's Choice was also getting more and more fun (and I think I was getting better at it?). I want to start getting better at the upper/lower seperation WHILE skiing bumps and making tighter turns (versus hitting two bumps and then traversing).

#14 and #15 were two re-dos, first of Oblivion to Valley Run (Oblivion was now also getting icy) and then Sun Run to No Grit and down, which was... also getting icy! Plus, Valley Run was BUSY (makes sense). Usually Sillness is open as an alternative way down that main artery, but the Green Peak side of the resort wasn't yet open. I was dodging a lot of kids in ski school and race training doing goofy (but I'm sure effective) drills.

I felt like I was starting to wrap things up around Run #16 - I hit Tangent again, slid down Periphery, and hit the bumpy side of The Boneyard. The natural snow was sooooo nice! I also shared the lift with these three teenage boys, maybe 16 years old? They were an absolute riot. I was initially upset they put the bubble down just because it felt a little too intimate, but they were ragging on each other so intensely I couldn't help but laugh with them. They also complimented my pants and goggles, which could have been a dig, but I'm taking it as genuine! One asked me "would you rather take it slow and improve your skills or send it and have a little more fun?" and before I could answer, another one said "I'd rather just be good at snowboarding" and the other said "I'd rather just not be a b****" in rapid succession - took me out!

Runs 17-20

Run 17: Tecumseh Express - High Country T-Bar - Ruthie's Run - Grimes Way - Tippacanoe - Sigel Street - Lower Sel's Choice 

[1.85 mi; 8:13; 2,139 ft; 24.6 mph max; 13.5 mph avg]

Run 18: Lower Meadows - Baseway

[0.20 mi; 1:10; 120 ft; Not on Garmin]

Run 19: Tecumseh Express - Upper Bobby's Run - Psyched - Upper Sel's Choice - Lower Sel's Choice

[1.29 mi; 5:57; 1,713 ft; 29.5 mph max; 13.0 mph avg]

Run 20: Tecumseh Express - Oblivion - Valley Run

[1.62 mi; 5:14; 1,670 ft; 29.3 mph max; 18.5 mph avg]

I promised myself one tippy top to tippy bottom run, so I went back up the Tecumseh Express and then hit the High Country T-Bar. I wanted to hit Tree Line with its fun banked turns, but it was closed. Instead I skied Ruthie's Run, which paralleled the race course on the left (I did not like all the racers and race parents seeing me ski), to Grimes Way, and then I found Tippacanoe - a run I hadn't skied yet! Was this the last one I needed (it was not - I fully missed "And Tyler Too," and that's okay)? I ended Run #17 with another Lower Sel's Choice and then wiggled my way down to Lower Meadows, the true tippy bottom!

I wasn't yet done, even though my legs were starting to get wobbly, and I wanted to get a full run of Lower Sel's Choice (Siegel Street had been popping me in about 1/5 the way down. Run #18 was up Lower Meadows and down Baseway back to the Tecumseh Express, and #19 brought me back to Lower Bobby's Run, Psyched, Upper Sel's Choice, and then a full lap of Lower Sel's Choice. I was NOT skiing good at this point of the way - lots of back seat and firery thighs - fun though!

I called my two more skip the last for my next run, keeping it easy with a trip down Oblivion and back to the car!

This was such a great solo day and I'm glad I'm getting more comfy with the bumpy stuff (minus Preston's Path...)! My drive home was quick and easy, and now I am basically itching to get back out!

Map of Waterville Valley

Wright's Tower, Red Cross Path, Cross-Fells Path, Middle Road (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Wright's Tower, Red Cross Path, Cross-Fells Path, Middle Road (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Hike Type: Tracing Loop

Distance: 3.81 miles

Elevation: 417 feet

Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Middlesex Fells Reservation Tracing, 52 Hike Challenge 2025

The Hike 

Okay, with my first few ski days behind me and squeeking in another 4000 footer, it's time to get back on-track with hiking. I always struggle this time of year with motivation since the only place I can realistically hike for more than an hour is the Fells which doesn't always excite me, only hiking for an hour isn't exciting, and getting minimal elevation also isn't exciting. That being said, everytime I go I think "I should do this more!" Thankfully, motivation came in the form of returning tubas to the high school and seeing their production of Cindarella, so I had some time to kill (plus, as per tradition, I'm comically behind on my 52 Hike Challenge hikes for Nov/Dec.

It was a windy afternoon and a chilly 30 degrees. My only goal was to see the view from the tower and then meander on trails that I had not yet meandered - off I go! The yellow trail up to the tower was made up of frozen mud (and two unleashed dogs) and I immediately found myself wishing I had a buff, gloves, and a fleece (instead of the hoodie I wore to school). The view was wonderful, as always, though. I passed some needle ice on the descent via Skyline Trail, and followed the Skyline Trail over to the Red Cross Path, avoiding some confusing criss-crossing unmapped trails and frozen swamps.

I hit a triangle along the Red Cross Path and maneuvered around some more unmapped paths around C5-25 before turning onto the more-rugged Cross-Fells Path. I followed the Cross-Fells for a while, and then eventually made a sharp turn onto the Reservoir Path, which had nice tree views to the Reservoir, which was not yet frozen. I still am wondering about the practicing legality of hiking the paths around the reservoir...

I hiked the network of loopty loop mini-trails around C5-4, which were mostly grown-in, and then made my way over to East Dam Road and the Bike Loop, which had a nice long series of NEMBA bridges. I was starting to work up an appetite! 

Now on Middle Road, the sky was illuminated with wonderful pastels as the sun barely poked through the sun. I made my down some unnamed paths, eventually returning to Bellevue Pond! It was a really nice afternoon in the woods, and now that it was dark at 4:20pm, I made my way over to Sweetgreen in Burlington and then schlepped up to the high school for some theater!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Bellevue Pond.

- Start hike on Quarry Road.

- After D6-5, turn right onto Wright's Tower Path.

- At D6-4, turn left onto Skyline Trail.

- At C6-3, turn right onto Red Cross Path.

- Hike triangle at C6-4, continue on Red Cross Path.

- At C5-25, turn left.

- At C5-17, turn right onto Cross-Fells Path.

- At C5-11, turn left to continue on Cross-Fells Path.

- Hit spur at C5-10, continue on Cross-Fells Path.

- At C5-5, turn right.

- At C5-6, turn left to continue on Cross-Fells Path.

- At C4-9, turn left onto path.

- At C4-8, turn left onto Reservoir Trail.

- Hike network of spurs around C5-4, then continue left on East Dam Road.

- At C5-8, turn sharply right onto Bike Loop.

- At C5-7, turn left onto Middle Road.

- Hike Triangle around C5-14/C5-15, continue on Middle Road.

- At C5-14, continue straight/veering slightly right onto continuation of road grade.

- At terminus, turn left onto road.

- At C6-2, merge and continue onto Middle Road.

- At unmarked junction, turn left and return to car.

Middlesex Fells Reservation Map

Photo Album

Cannon via Hi-Cannon and Lonesome Lake Loop (White Mountain National Forest)

Cannon via Hi-Cannon and Lonesome Lake Loop (White Mountain National Forest)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loopty Loop

Distance: 6.77 miles

Elevation: 2,418 feet

Time: 6 hours, 13 minutes (4 hours, 25 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025; New Hampshire 4000 Footers; Terrifying 25

The Hike 

I am SO back... temporarily! After a quiet November, I soft-launched my reentry to the outdoors with the Ethan Pond hike. I was up at Jay Peak the past two days for my first ski days of the season (and to celebrate Emma's birthday), and now it was time to drive partway home to Cannon to hike and finish out Sarah's 48! We stayed at the Stateside Hotel for Emma's birthday, so it was nice to be leaving from Jay. I was up at 6:00am (Sarah was in charge of logistics... I would have started earlier...) and on the road just before 6:30am. I caught a shooting start driving down VT-242 and stopped for breakfast at my favorite Maplefields in Orleans before continuing down. Roads were thankfully in good shape minus 242, which was expected. 

I was about 18 minutes ahead of schedule, which did me good since the parking lot was unplowed and... I got stuck. I made it about 40 feet into the lot before my car wouldn't go any further because I tried to turn. My tires managed to scoop out the top layer of snow and revealed a THICK layer of boilerplace ice, which was... a bummer! There was an older couple at the trailhead watching me and passively offered me help, which I declined. I did wiggle my car back some by using normal wiggling techniques, including floor mats, but it just got stuck again (and almost skidded into a tree). I called Sarah and Alec and told them "soooo I'm having a bad time! I'm stuck in the parking lot!" - apparently the call dropped right after I said "bad time!" - which is a little funny. They pulled in and parked at the PLOWED trailhead down by the Pemi Trail before coming to my rescue. Sarah drove while Alec and I pushed, and we eventually got it out. It really was quite the workout BEFORE a hike!

Sarah drove my car to the plowed lot, I got suited up, and we were only 37 minutes behind schedule, which really isn't too bad! Thankfully, it was a beautiful morning with low winds and overcast skies - all the surrounding peaks were open! Sarah packed her Veuve Cliquot into her backpack, and we were off!

[9:07am - Start of Hike]

We FINALLY got started at 9:07am with a nice walk from the car to the trailhead proper. Spikes were on from the get-go and we took some photos with the boilerplate ice I had dug my tired into - I'm grateful to have friends that 1) will help me get out of a dumb situation and also 2) be in a good enough mood to make jokes about it!

[9:13am - Lonesome Lake Trail]

The Lonesome Lake Trail proper started near the end of the parking lot I failed to park in, marked with a trail sign, a sign from Cannon Mountain Ski Area saying "we won't save you!," and an iron ranger accepting donations. The trail immedaitely crossed the scenic Pemigewasset River on a snowy footbridge and then wiggled through the Lafayette Place Campground, easily gaining a little bit of elevation.

[9:17am - Lonesome Lake Trail/AMC Hut Sign]

After crossing a few rows of campsites we passed the sign for the AMC Lonesome Lake Hut, which is now open on a caretaker basis. I do want to do another winter hut stay - the one in Carter Notch was one of my favorite hikes to date! From the sign, the snowy Lonesome Lake Trail continued to climb at easy grades, eventually crossing a bridge over a freezing creek and landing at the junction with the Hi-Cannon Trail!

[9:29am - Hi-Cannon Trail]

To our delight, the Hi-Cannon Trail was well-broken out with a firm monorail (and about a foot of unconsolidated snow on either side. It started off with a nice meander through the woods before increasing in grade to the steepness that I "fondly" remember. It was MUCH nicer doing this stretch in the snow - the loose gravel was brutal in the summer! The other perk of hiking in the winter are the tree views over to Franconia Ridge - we particularly loved seeing the white slides scarring the mountains, including shining rock.

[10:09am - Hi Cannon Trail/Dodge Cut-Off]

We had a quick standing break at the Dodge Cut-Off junction, but I was down to my base layers and needed to keep moving to stay warm (especially since I knew we'd be climbing again shortly). We hiked through a winter wonderland with early-stage marshmallow trees that sometimes made the trail a little more narrow than we wanted. We also spent some time discussing the difference between rocks and stones (we LOVE a nonsensical question to power us through climbs) - we landed on that stones are somehow crafted by humans while rocks are nature's creations.

I started to get excited when the trail began to level out, which meant we'd be getting some views! The first peek-a-view was over to Mt. Liberty, which was looking incredibly moody in the wintry light. Just a bit further down the trail I did a classic "WOAH," followed by similar "WOAH"s from Sarah and Alec, respectively. We had a great view of the snow-capped Franconia Ridge, from Mt. Lafayette to Little Haystack, which really just looked incredible.

Soon after the views, the trail turned a corner and began to climb again, eventually bringing us to the terrifying ladders! They were not terrifying in the slighest over the summer, and even with the snow, they were still not that bad. I can imagine they'd get a little dicey with another foot or two, but in these conditions, it was totally fine. 

We enjoyed another view to the ridge from the top of the ladders as the Hi-Cannon Trail skirted the edge of some cliffs, providing additional views down south through Franconia Notch and to Lonesome Lake below.

Eventually, the trail began to climb again, this time at easier grades, as the temperature became noticeably colder. There were tree views to the Kinsmans as we skirted up some ledges that were not nearly as difficult as I anticipated, and we eventually landed at the height-of-land on the trail, which was just a beautiful winter wonderland. From here, the trail descended slightly to the Kinsman Ridge Trail.

[11:22am - Kinsman Ridge Trail]

We did another quick break at the Kinsman Ridge Trail - we were close now! The older couple from the parking lot were also taking a break at this junciton - I don't think they recognized me. The rest of the climb was a DELIGHT. Easy grades, lots of snow, and frosty trees. Plus, nearly endless snowshoe hare tracks! It really was so beautiful - we were all elated.

[11:34am - Rim Trail]

The beautiful forest led us to the White Mountain National Forest sign: "This marks the line between national forest and state park lands. The area in back of this sign is the White Mountain National Forest 724,333 acres. A multiple use area for the enjoyment of the people, protection and management of timber, water, wildlife." We followed the Rim Trail with Sarah in the lead to the top! I went to get my mittens since my hands were cold, but I realized I accidentally left them at home... sad!

[11:40am - Cannon Mountain Summit]

We made it! Sarah finished her 4000 Footers! It was fun to be there on her day, especially after she was there on mine! We first stopped at the actual summit underneath the observation tower, which had a neat coating of rime ice. Sarah took off her pack and made sure to give the top a "boop!" We exchanged congratulations, got some photos, and then threw our packs back on for Veuve Cliquot up top!

The stairs on the tower were pretty snowed-over, but took to spikes well. I forgot how insane the views from the top were! 360 degrees! The Kinsmans, Vermont (no 4000 Footers because of visibility), Willoughby Gap, The Percys, and of course, the Franconia Ridge. Sarah took out her sign for some more photos, we popped the champagne, took even more photos, and then RAN back down underneath the tower to enjoy our break out of the wind - it was COLD up top!

Our break wasn't too long due to the cold (18ish degrees with a slight breeze), but we enjoyed slacks and champagne. We had to drink the champagne a little faster than we would have liked, but it was still delicious! Sarah and I joked that we only have champagne on mountains (which also isn't really a joke...) since we've now had it at the Alpine Cabin at Black Mountain in Jackson, on Mt. Moriah, and now Cannon! We told Alec to get working on his 48 so we can have more! The folks from the parking lot eventually also made it to the top and shared their congratulations with Sarah before we packed it up and headed down on the Short Trail toward the Tram building.

[12:13pm - Short Trail]

We passed a skier hiking up on the Short Trail as we descended through more stunning woods to the top of the ski area. We were pretty sure it was going to be open, but we were ELATED to see the Cafe 4080' was open! We dropped our packs outside and RAN inside to warm up and get some provisions.

[12:20pm - Cafe 4080']

The Cafe was a DREAM. Both the food line and bar were open, and it was WARM. Plus, it was fun to be around skiers. I got a warm cinnamon roll and a hard cider, Alec and Sarah each got a bowl of chili, a hot chocolate, and they shared a warm cinnamon roll. Life was WONDERFUL again. We spent a nice chunk of time here alternating between yapping and staring into the void - we all started to get a little sleepy, and that is when we decided it was time to pack it up and head back out into the cold!

[1:08pm - Rim Trail]

It wasn't super clear where the Rim Trail picked up once we left the Tram building, but it was just to the left of the Short Trail sign, blocked by a blowdown. We carefully skirted around the blowdown and then continued on the wonderful trail. 

[1:11pm - Rim Trail & Kinsman Ridge Trail]

Shortly after, the Rim Trail joined the Kinsman Ridge Trail and opneed up some mroe wonderful views towards Franconia Ridge. The tippy top of Lafayette was now in the clouds, and flurries were beginning to fall like a snowglobe. The trees were absolutely caked in snow, and we could see down to Lafayette Place, including both the parking lot I failed to park in, and the parking lot where we did park! We soon dipped back into the woods, made it to the WMNF sign, and continued on the Kinsman Ridge Trail.

[1:17pm - Kinsman Ridge Trail]

The flurries were falling more steadily once back on the Kinsman Ridge Trail, which continued to be a freaking delight and visually stunning. Alec got a ahead for a bit while Sarah and I gabbed about who knows what. The two glasses of champagne and hard cider were definitely feeling good at this point!

[1:25pm - Kinsman Ridge Trail/Hi-Cannon Trail]

We continued on past the Hi-Cannon Trail junction and started our descent do the first col between Cannon and the Cannon Balls. The woods were STILL beautiful and thankfully the trail was still well-traveled and packed down. I stopped for a quick potty break, and between the etherial "you" and I, I love winter becuase I can pee right on the side of the trail and cover it up without question. Eventually, though, I heard Alec and Sarah go "oh." This marked the STEEP section.

The Kinsman Ridge Trail absolutely plummeted down, which in fairness, is what it's known for doing! We took a while in this stretch, which was not long, but we wanted to be safe. We crossed paths with two teenage-looking boys who were carrying snowshoes and said "we didn't think we'd need spikes on this one!" - which was confusing. Why bring snowshoes but not spikes? Who knows! I assume they made it out safely since I did not see anything on the Search and Rescue pages. 

We caught some views from the trail, which signaled that the steep stretch was almost over. It was Sarah's time to blast off ahead of us while Alec and I enjoyed the again beautiful woods. 

[1:51pm - Lonesome Lake Trail]

We were equally thrilled and relieved when we made it to the Lonesome Lake Trail junction. The flurries had increased to what I would call "snowing," so I asked Sarah to get my sunglasses out of my pack, only to find that I also didn't bring those! I have no idea where they could be... Strange that both my sunglasses and mittens are missing from the Ethan Pond hike? Hopefully I'll find them again! 

The Lonesome Lake Trail continued through beautiful woods at easy grades before descending again, but never getting nearly as steep as before. The steepest stretch was down what appeared to be a drainage of some sort, but it was mostly snow-covered sans a few open, wet spots. The trail soon bottomed out and followed a series of mostly-covered boardwalks with an occasional view back to Cannon through the trees.

[2:22pm - Around-Lonesome-Lake Trail]

The flats led us to the Around-Lonesome-Lake Trail and the lake proper. We could have turned left for a shorter way out, but I wanted to hit the hut and walk across the dam (and get the views), so we turned right. The trail led us through an absolutely beautiful snow-covered wetland that required a little bit of brain power to make sure we were stepping on the boardwalks and not into the pond inflows. Behind us was a great view to Cannon and the lake was on the left. This stretch was simply delightful!

We eventually began to catch some views over to the mostly-hidden Franconia Ridge on the far side of the lake. 

[2:34pm - Fishin' Jimmy Trail & Lonesome Lake Hut]

[2:42pm - Cascade Brook Trail]

We went back and forth about visiting the hut, and the fact that the sun was going to be setting soon was enough to keep us away from the main building, but we did do a quick bathroom break. We heard the caretaker splitting wood as we walked back down to the lake, and I reminisced about the time I was panic-sending sub plans from the dock on the lake a couple autumns ago!

We admired the view to Cannon from the dam and I tried to recreate a photo I got a little over a year ago of the lake before we continued onto the Cascade Brook Trail, which featured long boardwalks (the nice kind, not the rotting plank kind) that we walked along until we were back at the Lonesome Lake Trail.

[2:48pm - Lonesome Lake Trail]

The Lonesome Lake Trail rose gently for a short bit before starting the mile-long, gradual descent. The snow was back to flurries at this point, and we were cruising! We kept asking Sarah how it felt to be done and she was just so happy and proud! We did hit the delusional part of the hike where we were just splattering out anything that came to mind, which made conversations comical and nonsensical. 

[3:11pm - Lonesome Lake Trail/Hi-Cannon Trail]

[3:17pm - Lonesome Lake Trail/AMC Hut Sign]

We were thrilled to see the Hi-Cannon Trail sign, and even more thrilled to reach the AMC Hut sign! I picked up a forgotten car mat that I left in the unplowed lot, and soon we were back at our cars!

[3:23pm - End of Hike]

We exchanged a ground of cheers and hugs, changed our clothes, and then it was time for the pilgrimage back to Boston! I had a lovely cheese steak from the Common Man at the Hooksett Rest Area, and to my delight, was in bed nice and early! What a FANTASTIC weekend, and I'm feeling sad that I won't be able to get up there again until after Christmas!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Lafayette Place

- Start hike following signs to Lonesome Lake Trail.

- At trail sign, continue onto Lonesome Lake Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Hi-Cannon Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Kinsman Ridge Trail.

- At jct., turn left onto Rim Trail.

- Summit Cannon Mountain.

- From summit, continue onto Short Trail.

- From tram building, continue onto Rim Trail (Kinsman Ridge Trail joins later).

- From jct., turn left onto Kinsman Ridge Trail.

- At jct., turn left onto Lonesome Lake Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Around-Lonesome-Lake Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Fishin' Jimmy Trail to hut.

- Turn around at hut.

- Continue onto Fishin' Jimmy Trail, then Cascade Brook Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Lonesome Lake Trail.

- Return to car.

Photo Album