North, Middle, & South Tripyramid via Livermore South (White Mountain National Forest)

North, Middle, & South Tripyramid via Livermore South (White Mountain National Forest)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 11.16 miles

Elevation: 2,956 feet

Time: 4 hours, 57 minutes (4 hours, 32 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: New Hampshire 4000-Footers, 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Terrifying 25

The Hike

Final hike of my summer and Labor Day weekend! Emma was in full recovery mode and I had to make my way back to Boston, so I decided as a part of my "Farewell Tour" to hike the Tripyramids again, but this time via the slides! I had said I didn't want to tackle the slides by myself, but I was feeling pretty confident in my strength and... confidence. I was out the door at 3:20am from Emma's apartment in northern Vermont and started my journey down "south." I passed a fun amount of animals on my drive - three red foxes, a raccoon, a skunk, and possibly a fisher (it was dark and noodle-like). I stopped at the rest area just before crossing into New Hampshire to pee and someone... left a gift... NEXT to the toilet seat. Bummer! I continued on through Franconia Notch and then christened the Dunkin Donuts in Lincoln (of course I got breakfast there, too), and made it to the Livermore South Trailhead just before 6:00am. I initially panicked because I didn't realize it was a day-use fee area, but thankfully they had installed a solar credit card payment kiosk thing. There was one other car and two large privys. It was a chilly 45 degrees out with some yellowing birches (likely because of the draught, not fall), and it was soon time to start my adventure!

[6:09am - Livermore Trail]

Similar to Owl's Head, this hike would be a lot of flat hiking followed by a comical ascent up a slide. The Livermore Trail is a wide, open road with lots of signage for hiking and cross-country skiing/mountain biking. I was chilly!

[6:13am - Livermore Trail/Leaves Forest Protection Area]

[6:16am - Livermore Trail/Greely Ponds Trail jct.]

The trail left the Forest Protection Area of the parking lot and passed an open area with many criss-crossing trails for Waterville Valley - Livermore Trail was the main one. The trail crossed a bridge, passed the Greely Ponds Trail junction, and continued it's gentle meander through the woods - I was almost hoping for some elevation gain to warm myself up! I crossed another bridge over what I believe was the Mad River, and then passed a series of trails I didn't even know existed!

[6:20am - Livermore Trail/Boulder Path jct.]

[6:23am - Livermore Trail/Big Pines Path jct.]

[6:28am - Livermore Trail/Kettle's Path jct.]

First, I passed the Boulder Path, and then after a short ascent, the Big Pines Path. I put a mental pin into the Big Pines Path, which appeared to be a short trail that led to some big pines along the river - if I had energy after my hike I wanted to take a side trip. I enjoyed the reddening (is that a word?) of the giant hobblebush leaves as the Livermore Trail passed the Kettles Path, which was just about 1.0 mile into the hike. The squirrels were extra crazy this morning - basically assaulting me with acorns and other tree nuts. 

[6:45am - Livermore Trail/Norway Rapids Trail jct.]

The road turned, gained some elevation past a clearing on the right, and passed the Norway Rapids Trail (possibly in this order, possibly in a different order, who's to say!). Somewhere in that sequence of events I also finally took off my fleece and had a quick potty break. There was another bridge crossing and I found myself feeling grateful for the wide road because there were no spider webs, but also lamenting the wide road because it was pretty boring. I did pass some nice tree-bound mossy boulders, at least!

[6:52am - Livermore Trail/XC Ski & Mtn. Bike Trails jct.]

I passed a junction with some XC Ski & Mountain Biking Trails. This is where I was starting to feel like I was making progress - only 1.4 miles to the north end of the Mt. Tripyramid Trail! The reputation aside, I was very glad to be getting the longer, boring stretch over with first. The trail followed a nice stream now, with some cascades and a waterhing hole on the left. The road was beginning to narrow (from basically two-lanes to a single lane with grass now), and there were incredibly restricted tree views - the kind that let's you know that there are, in fact, mountains around, but nothing more than that. The road continued to climb pretty easily until the south junction of the Mt. Tripyramid Trail.

[7:00am - Livermore Trail/Mt. Tripyramid Trail (south) jct.]

From the junction, the sign read 2.2 miles to the summit of North Tripyramid, which was crazy considering I'd barely gained any elevation. The whole loop back to this point would be a nice 5.9 miles. I could see the Sandwich Range Wilderness sign down the south trail, just past a water crossing, but I was continuing on Livermore Trail to the north junction for the fun to really begin!

The road felt less-traveled after this point (but still very much a well-traveled road) and I could just begin to make out the peaks through the trees. There was a little washout and then a meadowy clearing on the left - I'm guessing an old logging camp? The road began to climb more moderately, which truly was welcomed as it meant I would have to climb that much less on the slide (which was already going to be PLENTY of climbing). Soon enough, it was time!

[7:20am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail (north)]

I did a quick break at the north Mt. Tripyramid Trail junction. It looked like Livermore Road used to continue straight, but the Livermore Trail turned left for Scaur Ridge. The Mt. Tripyramid Trail turned right. I swapped out my Nalgenes, took a couple hits of pistachios, and I was off!

[7:25am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Sandwich Range Wilderness]

The Mt. Tripyramid Trail dipped slightly to cross a brook and then entered the Sandwich Range Wilderness. It was nice to be on a footpath trail now versus an old, gravel road - even if it meant I was now eating spiderwebs. The trail climbed at easy to moderate grades while paralleling the brook and swimming through patches of hobblebush with just one confusing section. I was feeling concerned that I still hadn't climbed much... I then passed a dry drainage that I thought could actually be the base of the slide, but just a little bit further down the trail is where I turned right and was CLEARLY at the base of the slide... here we go!

[7:40am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Base of Slide]

I was nervous but mostly excited to tackle this climb. It IMMEDIATELY became steep, but fun! I caught up to one strange person who just kind of looked at me, and that was it for people for a while! The more I climbed/scrambled, the more views behind began to appear, and they were truly wonderful. The "trail" was delightfully dry, and sometimes there was a gravelly trail to the left of the slide proper - not sure which is "official."

The views continued to increase, first towards Osceola, which was just beautiufl to see. My notes read: "this shit is crazy" - I had a few spots where I felt nervous, but I would just turn off the fight or flight and be intentional about my hand and foot placements. 

Views over towards Mt. Tecumseh and Waterville Valley began to appear as my adrenaline was pumping. I was really having fun! I just wish there were ANY blazes or cairns, but I guess that's part of the beauty of being in a wilderness area. I could also now see Moosilauke behind Osceola. It was really cool to see the entire Osceola complex in it's entirety. 

I passed a super faded blaze and then hit a woodsy stretch - I made the decision here to save my summit beverage until I was back on Livermore Trail becuase this was wild, and even though I knew the south slide would be easier, I didn't want to tempt fate. Once back on the slabs, the view was yet again even more incredible. The Kinsmans and Franconias were now added to the vista, along with part of Mt. Carrigain. It was also such a perfectly beautiful day, too. I was simply in awe. It was also fun to be hiking these mountains in a DRASTICALLY different fashion than the last time (when I did Pine Bend-Sabbaday). 

Higher up again, I could now see the Presidential Range with crystal clear skies - just amazing! I did begin to have a bit less fun near the top, as the "trail" conditions pivoted from slabs to a loose, gravelley mess. Thankfully, it wasn't as steep (still very steep) and any slips were stopped by a solid rock. I wouldn't want to be below anybody, though.

[8:22am - Mt. Tripyramid Trial/Top of Slide]

The Mt. Tripyramid Trail continued to a cairn at the tree line - I did it! This was a really nice moment for me, as this was a trail I was scared to do for a long time. It was seriously fun and only a little terrifying - I would absolutely come back on a day as nice as this one! From here, the trail turned left into the woods and continued to steeply climb. 

[8:28am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Pine Bend Brook jct.]

This stretch was more reminiscent of the Pine Bend Brook Trail's final push, which made complete sense. I FINALLY found the sun just before the junction with Pine Bend Brook Trail, and boy did the sun feel amazing. There were a few flies buzzing about, but they were leaving me alone. I hit the junction, turned right, and was soon at the top of North Tripyramid!

[8:32am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/North Tripyramid Summit]

I stopped at the top for a water break and to wring out my shirt, which was well inundated with sweat. The viewpoint was basically grown-in, but I could make out Mt. Passaconaway and other smaller peaks, kind of. I wasn't hungry for my breakfast sandwich yet, so I continued on. 

The Mt. Tripyramid and Pine Bend Brook Trails were coinciding now and descended steeply. I was medium chilly now, but I was okay as long as I kept my pace up. The woods on this ridge were absolutely beautiful, even through a few well-maintained blowdown patches. There were now a criminal amount of flies, but thankfully they continued to leave me alone. 

[8:42am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Sabbaday Brook Trail jct.]

I was soon at the junction with the Sabbaday Brook Trail, which also served as the terminus of the Pine Bend Brook Trail. I continued on the Mt. Tripyramid Trail up to the middle peak, which had my legs burning (in fairness, I was also moving quickly). 

[8:52am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Middle Tripyramid Summit]

I made it to the top of Middle Tripyramid, was talking to myself, and naturally spooked a guy who was lounging in his hammock... whoops! I didn't stick around for long on the middle peak, partially because there was a person, partially because the views felt even more grown-in than the last time I was up here, and partially because I had summit fever for the south peak!

There was an initial scramble on the descent and then the trail mellowed out in more beautiful woods. The trail meandered along the ridge and contined to descent with tree views ahead to the south peak. The col between the middle and south peaks was a little grown-in, but the footbed was easy to follow. There was a wildly strong scent of urine as I left the col - a bear? moose? human? unsure - and then the climb went right from moderate to steep. 

[9:06am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/South Tripyramid Summit]

I passed a really excellent "peek-a-view" back to Middle Tripyramid on the climb, followed by some more tree views to both North and Middle. The climb up to the south peak was the easiest of the three (naturally), and the summit was just a wooded ridge - super pretty though! The summit was either along the ridge or where the trail turns at the end of the ridge - there were little cairns in both places and a little peek-a-view to Mt. Whiteface and the Sleepers.

After turning right, the trail officially begins to descend. There was a little peek-a-view to Mt. Whiteface and the Sleepers. The initial descent wasn't too bad but it quickly became more steep and eroded. Soon, the trees open up to the top of the south slide and there's a great views of Sandwich Mountain and Jennings Peak ahead, and a bit further down I caught a glimpse on the right over to Waterville Valley ski area. 

[9:18am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Kate Sleeper Trail jct.]

Behind were the Belknaps and Lake Winnipesauke, and I could also make out Welch-Dickey. Just a beautiful, unique view! The Kate Sleeper Trail turns left partway down the upper slide, and then the rest of the slide was... unpleasant. Super rocky and gravelley. I looked at rock the wrong way and it fell at least 50 feet! This upper stretch soon dips back into the woods, but the fun is not over yet! It slightly opens up again before diagonally crossing a confusing slab with smaller views, and then it opens up to another great view of Sandwich Mountain with brutal footing. The trail passed a decently large boulder that looked ready to roll at the next big rain, too. 

The trail narrowed and then opened yet again, offering the best view of the Mt. Tecumseh complex. It looked like at some point someone may have tried to lay down rock steps, but it was pretty eroded away at this point. The trail eventually descended back into the woods, maintaining the steep pitch, but with more sufferable footing, which led to a walking break, which was actually the end of the slide! Horray!

It was a DREAM to be back hiking on stable dirt again! Even the rockier areas felt amazing - such a treat! I collected many spiderwebs in this stretch, but it was worth it to be moving quickly again. Eventually, the trail neared a brook and crossed a lovely stream with many cascades down below on the left. The last bit of trail did feel a bit never-ending, but again, it was so much nicer on the legs. The trail continued to cross a few streams/drainages and undulated about, my achilles were mad but my extensors were good, and eventually, I saw the sign! 

[10:15am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Departs Sandwich Range Wilderness]

[10:16am - Livermore Trail]

I left the Sandwich Range Wilderness, crossed a brook, and continued onto the Livermore Trail, enjoying a sandwich and a Sun Cruiser - I was feeling good and accomplished! I began to pass many, many people once on the Livermore Trail. I was thrilled to be civilized hiking, as it was a nice way to pass time on this less-exciting bit of trail. I passed at least 20 people, one of which was loudly listening to conservative talk-radio, which was... interesting. 

[10:26am - Livermore Trail/XC Ski & Mtn. Bike Trails jct.]

[10:33am - Livermore Trail/Norway Rapids Trail jct.]

[10:48am - Livermore Trail/Kettle's Path jct.]

[10:53am - Livermore Trail/Big Pines Path jct.]

[10:55am - Livermore Trail/Boulder Path jct.]

[10:58am - Livermore Trail/Greely Ponds Trail jct.]

I passed the long series of side paths over the course of a half hour. I opted to skip all the side paths as my legs were tired and I was starting to get the Sunday Scaries (even though it was a Monday). I was delighted at how un-busy it was for Labor Day, even if I was more or less swimming upstream. There was a 0.1% uphill grade at one point which felt like gravity doubled, but besides that, the reutrn was quick and easy. There were many birds flying around after the Greely Ponds Junction.

[11:01am - Livermore Trail/Departs Forest Protection Area]

[11:06am - End of Hike]

Soon enough, I was deparing the Forest Protection Area and back at the parking lot, which was only half full now! I had an expectedly painful drive home, but the weekend was more than worth it!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike on Livermore Trail from south parking lot.

- At jct., turn right onto Mt. Tripyramid Trail (northern end).

- Climb the North Slide, summit North, Middle, and South Tripyramids, and descend South Tripyramid.

- At terminus, turn left onto Livermore Trail.

- Return to car.

Photo Album

North & Middle Tripyramids via Pine Bend & Sabbaday (White Mountain National Forest)

North & Middle Tripyramids via Pine Bend & Sabbaday (White Mountain National Forest)

Distance: 11.25 miles
Elevation: 3,087 feet

Time: 6 hours, 45 minutes (5 hours, 52 minutes moving)
Hike Type: Loop
Hiking Challenges: New Hampshire 4000 Footers

The Hike

Day three of mini vacation! With Mt. Paugus and my loop around Mt. Cabot behind me, I was definitely feeling a little sleepy and sore. I woke up at 5:00am (I gotta say, its so delightful to not have to wake up at 2:00am!) and checked the forecast - looked like some rolling showers starting somewhere between noon and 2:00pm - which is good enough for me! I drove over to the 7/11 in Lincoln for a caffeinated beverage and then next door to Dunkin’ Donuts for some breakfast. The drive to the Sabbaday Brook Trail trailhead was quick and easy, with the perfect amount of time to get my body ready for the bathroom (thank goodness this trailhead had composting toilets).

        

The trailhead, which is technically for Sabbaday Falls, is a day-use area. I was super proud of myself for actually having $5 this time, but tragically, they were out of envelopes! No matter, I dropped $5 into the iron ranger and left a note on my car “no envelopes but I dropped $5 into the iron ranger! will only be here today, 6/26/2024 :).” I got my gear together, put on my hiking sneakers since my boots were still wet from yesterday’s journey around the Kilkenny, realized I forgot to dry my camera lens clearing cloth, and started my hike!

By “started my hike,” I specifically mean turned left onto the Kancamagus Highway for my one mile road walk. It was partly cloudy, 62 degrees, and there was no wind, so the walk itself wasn’t unpleasant. It would DEFINITELY be worse to end with the road walk. I walked past a fire road and soon after I was at the Pine Bend Brook Trailhead!

The trail turns into the woods and immediately enters a Forest Protection Area. The air was unfortunately feeling very stale, but the trail followed old railroad or old logging road grade for most of the journey. That is, when it was not crossing streams, brooks, tributaries, etc. There were MANY crossings, thankfully all were fine.

The brook in the beginning of the trail was, apparently, NOT the Pine Bend Brook, but instead a lovely, mossy branch stream that meandered beautifully through the woods. The Pine Bend Brook Trail meandered near and far (and wherever you are…) while I collected spider webs all over my body, eventually leaving the Forest Protection Area.

Footing was pretty fantastic in this area minus one muddy spot. I stepped on a log in this spot, and it released a hissing sound like a car losing air. I was TERRIFIED until I realized what it was! Thankfully, I was quickly distracted again with some more stream crossings!

The lovely, mossy branch of the Pine Bend Brook continued to flow as I passed a dark slug munching on a mushroom. The sun was in and out of the clouds. This trail was so lovely - it felt like a reward after hiking through what felt like the headwaters of the entire watershed of New Hampshire yesterday! I wrote a note saying “I assume this feeling of gratitude will change once I start climbing…” Little did young Matthew know…

The trail eventually crosses the branch brook easily (in this weather, at least) and there’s a slight peek through the trees to what I believe was Scaur Peak, or at least part of it. I had a small tummy sensation, which made me nervous after the fifty (50) pizza rolls I had for lunch/dinner yesterday, but thankfully it quickly passed. I think what snapped my body out of it was seeing another slug on a mushroom! How fun! These were different slugs than yesterday. The ones I had to attempt to not step on were orange, and the ones munching on mushrooms today were a gray/brown and seemed to be bigger… interesting!

Pine Bend Brook Trail entered a BEAUTIFUL fern-filled forest with (possibly) birch trees all around and then gently rose and then fell (a little more than I cared for) to cross a “westerly branch of Pine Bend Brook” (according to the guidebook). I was still very appreciative of the beautiful and gentle nature of this trail (so far).

Soon enough, the lovely, gentle meandering had to end. The trail began to climb a bit steeper and rougher and entered the Sandwich Range Wilderness, where things started to get interesting! Some crazy red squirrels welcomed me by catcalling…

Right after I took a photo of the wilderness sign I realized something HORRIBLE. As mentioned, I left a note that read “no envelopes but I dropped $5 into the iron ranger! will only be here today, 6/26/2024 :),” but I would JUST realize that it was in fact 6/27/2024… So the next question is what to do? If I ignore it, best case is nothing happens, medium case is I get a ticket, and worst case is that someone identifies the note as an overdue hiker and starts out a full-scale search and rescue mission… I thought about calling the ranger office to be like “hey just so ya know…” but ultimately decided not to, because I did not have cell service.

The Pine Bend Brook Trail was now climbing steeper with worse footing, still paralleling the brook, so at least it was pretty! There was a brief walking break on an excellent road grade, and then the climb continued with even worse footing than before - many large, loose rocks. I also noticed that my watch was acting up again - there is no universe where my heart rate would only be 99 bpm on a climb this steep! I took it off to dry it off and reposition and it bumped up to near 160 - much better!

The steep climb continued, and continued, and continued. I was moving SLOW. It was really neat to be climbing along a steep, narrow ravine. It was also neat to have followed the Pine Bend Brook up to the point where it is a gentle trickle.

The trail eventually entered a very rugged, mossy area, and then continued the steep climb via sketchy boulders. This was very slow going partially for physical fitness, but also for safety. There was a short moment of mercy and then the trail climbed straight up the mossy ravine, which again, was very cool, but ouch.

Soon enough the trail crosses the ravine and shows a very obstructed view of a nearby ledgy peak, maybe Sugar Hill? I know its visible from the Sugar Hill overlook.

The steep climb continued away from the ravine, alternating between rock steps and a gravelly mess. I was able to make out a cloud-capped Carrigain through the trees, and more tree views were visible as the trail continued its steep climb, now onto a shoulder/ridge. I made the horrible mistake of checking my progress on AllTrails, and I was absolutely horrified at how much I still had left to climb.

Thankfully, it was much breezier on the right - so much so that I had to wring the sweat out of my shirt so I didn’t get too cold. The trail continued past a grove of dying lady slippers through some absolutely beautifully woods that led to a walking break! The first in a very long time.

I eventually got cell service again so I was able to download the White Mountain Guide google doc that I made for this hike, and subsequently forgot to download before I started this morning. I like to use the guidebook descriptions to pace my hike and see if I can figure out exactly where I am (or between which two points I am). The joy of having the document and a walking break were strictly taken from me as 1) my pocket locked me out of my phone somehow and 2) the steep climb continued onward. My watch pinged when I hit the 4 mile mark and said it took 54 minutes - which is my longest mile in a long time. I’m not mad or upset, but I am curious how much elevation was gained and if that’s why it was slow, if its because I’m on day three of harder hikes, or both! [edit from the future: it looks like it was somewhere in the ballpark of 1200ft in the mile, so I’ll take it!]

I was more or less fighting for my life and the only thing keeping me going were the seemingly hundreds of toads hopping about - how on earth did they get up here?? Eventually, the toads led me to something beautiful - the light on the other side of the trees! I was either seeing god or the col between North Tripyramid and Scaur (turns out it was probably both). I think I noticed a very small herd path that I would guess leads to Scaur.

The Pine Bend Brook Trail descended slightly and then leveled out in some beautiful woods. Next, the trail began a very slow and gentle rise on a narrow ridge with steep drops on both sides - I couldn’t get over how beautiful it was up here. I could make out North Tripyramid and its fabled North Slide through trees - how on earth do people climb that? I do want to some day, but not alone! There were also very obstructed views off to the left.

The trail descended through the lovely woods to a spot where a blowdown made the perfect sitting log for a break. I usually don’t take breaks (at all), not because I don’t need them, but usually because I’m dumb and impatient. I had one of my famous peanut-butter-tortilla-roll-ups, and I had accidentally bough large tortillas instead of medium ones - more food! It was actually a lovely break and I should take them more often. I also couldn’t help but notice how insanely well-bereaved the bugs have been! They’re around, but have fully left me alone.

The beautiful woods continued as I got moving again, gently ascending. Suddenly, without warning, the entire character of the mountain changes, from an enchanted forest where the birds sing back to you to a mossy, rugged wasteland where trolls probably live. The guidebook describes it as a “final attack,” which I found fitting.

The trail was basically one long, mossy ledge scramble at this point. It was actually kind of fun, and scrambly sections always purposefully slow me down so I don’t get too gassed. Classically, I realized I forgot to wear deodorant in this section…

Higher up near the top, the name triPYRAMID really got its name - I really felt like I was climbing up a pyramid. There were obstructed tree views from the higher scrambles, and then I either saw god or the trail sign. Could have been both again! I felt such a sense of athletic relief when I saw that trail sign.

Even better, the summit was right after the sign! The summit area was kind of nice in a boring way. There was a small cairn on the trail’s high point. On the left was a small dip to a standing view if you’re at least 6 feet tall. On the right is a side path to possibly the actual high point? Or just more standing room. Not sure. I took a short break up here as the winds whipped around, thankfully shielded by the trees. I measured the air temperature as 55 degrees with a max gust of only 5 mph, but you could hear it was wild outside the protection of the trees.

After a quick shirt wring-out, I was right back on the trail, which was now co-signed as Pine Bend Brook Trail and Mt. Tripyramid Trail. I was somehow still taking spider webs to the face, implying I’m still the only person who’s been up here. The descent was MUCH easier than the climb with just a few scrambles and one spot of dense growth. There was a small clearing, I assume people unofficially (and I think illegally since it’s not 200 feet off-trail) as a camp site. After a slightly steeper descent I made it to the Sabbaday Brook Trail junction! This started my only out-and-back of the day, up to Middle Tripyramid!

The Mt. Tripyramid Trail descends just a bit more a beautiful fern-filled col and then heads right on up to Middle Tripyramid. The climb was parabolic, starting gentle and getting steep, but nothing as or more painful than what I had already done!

Just before the summit of Middle Tripyramid is an obstructed view of what I thought was Loon, but soon realized was Waterville Valley! I love seeing places that I’ve skied in their summer colors. There was also an obstructed view of Mts. Osceola and East Osceola. Standing views, only!

A few feet down the path is the true summit with another standing view of Mt. Chocorua and the Sisters. I took another break here to sit and snack and apply some chafing cream (read: diaper rash ointment). It was windy, dark, and moody on this secluded summit knob. Still no one around! I was very curious how the Pine Bend Brook Trail and Sabbaday Brook Trail would compare, especially with how much longer Sabbaday Brook Trail is.

I saw something unusual for this hike on my descent of Middle Tripyramid - people! I was 6.04 miles in and it had been 4 hours and 16 minutes since I left the inaccurate note on my car (darn, I almost forgot about that…). The second of the duo even said she didn’t expect to see anyone up here.

I had a very easy descent back into the col minus a root that tried to kill me, and a slightly annoying but completely fine (and short) ascent back to the junction. Now on my final leg of the hike! Also the longest leg… Here we go!

The trail gently traverses for a few feet and then starts a steep descent. The forest here was very wild and rugged feeling with some impressive… holes? Cracks between rocks that seemed to go right into the Earth’s core. I had a sit-and-scootch scramble as the trail pivoted from a steep descent to a full on plummet.

I heard a unique whistling from down below, which ushered in another person! It had been no more than ten minutes since the last people I saw. I joked that the trail was pretty cozy and he reassured me that it would stay like that for a while.

The trail alternated steep descent with narrow footbed “switchbacks” - switchback isn’t the right word, but like a very short walking break that zig zagged after a steep descent. I could only describe this descent as brutal.

Right after I had that thought, it got worse! The Sabbaday Brook Trail “rejoins an old route of the trail at an overgrown slide on the east slope of Mt. Tripyramid.” Straight down would be an understatement. This was sketchy and not fun!! I hugged the side of the trail for much of it, alternating between holding on to skinny trees and treating my poles like extra legs. This was SLOW going, but thankfully I was rewarded with a soft, gentle walking break.

The walking break more or less continued for the next four miles, to the car! After the slide it was more rugged, crossing multiple mossy drainages, all dry. It soon approaches and crosses Sabbaday Brook for the first time with stunning mossy surroundings. Here, the sun also came out and the breeze reignited - I was ALIVE. [Edit from the future: I double checked the USGS Topo map to make sure this was in fact, Sabbaday Brook, and in confirming that, I learned that the trail down the slide used to continue straight down where the current trail turns.]

I did spend a moment lamenting just how much further I had to go - that crossing was 4.1 miles from the trailhead. Oof. Looking back as the trail continued to descend, I could just barely make out Middle Tripyramid through the trees. Besides about a thousand more crossings, the guidebook makes it sound like the rest of this hike will be relatively straightforward!

The trail became absolutely lovely and a joy to trample. I crossed an uncountable amount of dry streams as the trail paralleled the brook. I spent some time reflecting on my “ick” yesterday. I think it was because I was out of my comfort zone. I’m decently used to climbing mountains and being alone in the woods, but yesterday was a long hike deep in the forests of Northern New Hampshire - I think I just wasn’t feeling confident in myself. The cabin was lovely, but I think the rain also threw me off. I felt so much more confident today and never really hit the same funk, minus the short lament of how long the Sabbaday Brook Trail was….

The trail became Continuing on the lovely descent, I relearned that roots are, in fact, slippery, at least a dozen times, and eventually the trail came to a confusing yet beautiful wet area. The trail never crossed the brook here, but it did coincide. I thought this might be the Hurricane Irene washout described in the guidebook, but I would later learn not yet!

I got nervous at a few points when it would get super dark outside, but it never rained! I eventually made my way to the Irene washout area - you’ll know when you’re there for sure. I crossed Sabbaday Brook twice with no problem, but did manage to splash myself carelessly hopping across a tributary.

The sun came back out and I joined an old logging road that I would stay on for “over 1.5 miles.” (That is only in quotes because that’s how the guidebook describes it, I am not being facetious… this time). Not much happened during this stretch, which was kind of nice. I did almost scare a toad off of a cliff, which would have been traumatic for both of us. There was a set of gangly blowdowns that appeared to be relatively recent and many, many easy tributary crossings.

Similarly to how I enjoyed watching the Pine Bend Brook fizzle out into just its headwaters, I got to do the opposite for the Sabbaday Brook. The trail eventually descended right up next to the brook which was just beautiful, and rolling almost like a river now. I was so happy until I realized something horrible… terrible… there was a hole in my shoe! Traumatizing.

There was another gangly blowdown, I heard a truck on the Kancamagus Highway, and then I was out of the wilderness! The mosquitos were out and about, unfortunately, but as long as I kept it moving they left me alone.

The Sabbaday Brook Trail turned off of the logging road, traversed a muddy area with a few bog boardwalks (and blazes!), crossed the same tributary twice (and possibly a third time but I missed something), and spat me out in a dry, flat area feeling very confused. I think I was supposed to cross the tributary a third time, but instead I hopped across the Sabbaday Brook, which was much larger at this point, to the trail on the other side. I did get one foot a little wet, and I could have done it fully dry if I cared more.

The next two (and final two!) crossings were easier and wider. I truly could have walked straight through with delight, but I have one more day of hiking and cannot afford a blister! I did accidentally dip a toe getting out of the final crossing - oh well!

The only landmarks left were the Forest Protection Area, which was just after the final crossing, a “rough area,” which turned out to just be an eroded section, and Sabbaday Falls, which I wasn’t sure if I was going to stop or just save it for another day - how great could it be?

WELL I LEARNED. IT COULD BE AMAZING. I was very tired and ready to be all done at this point of my hike. I saw people and a railing and thought “oh I just peek and decide,” and I saw the most spectacular waterfall in the whites?? Two-tiered, an initial fall into a pool followed by a long, dramatic fall into a chute that leads into an emerald swimming hole (swimming is not allowed). I suddenly had forgotten about the past almost 11 miles - I’m pretty sure my jaw was agape the whole time. I truly did not expect to see something spectacular this late in my hike! Thank GOODNESS I saved it for last!

"The Path of Sabbaday Falls: The Cutting Continues

Although it happens too slowly for us to see, the gorge continues to change. A combination of heavy spring runoff from rain and melting snow, winter ice opening cracks in the rocks, and tree roots growing in the streambank all help deepen and widen the gorge.

Why do the falls turn sharply?

A geologic event called a fault, which occured long ago at this site, fractured the basalt dike, shifting the resulting two sections apart along the fault line. Lying at right angles to the fault line, as seen in the drawing here, the fractured dike caused the falls to take a sharp turn." from informational kiosk.

"Taking the path of least resistance

These falls sliced through 60 feet of rock in 10,000 years. As the glacier that once covered the region melted, huge volumes of water carrying gravel, rocks and glacial debris poured through here. Meltwater and debris slowly eroded the weakened edges of a fault between the granite bedrock and the basalt dike to form the straight-sided gorge, or flume.

200 million years ago: Dikes formed when molten basalt forced its way up through the granite bedrock from the magma below. The rocks were later uplifted, exposing the dike to surface erosion, thereby creating the gorge.

100,000 years ago: Glacial melt began carving the gorge.

12,000 years ago: Erosion begins when retreating glacial melt finds weakness along the basalt dikes.

Today: Sabbaday Brook continues to erode the gorge. A second dike has been exposed, which will allow the weakened area between the granite and dike to further erode.

What is a basalt dike?

Dikes are fingers of molten basalt that were injected into narrow cracks in the granite 200 million years ago, during the Jurassic era. The contact areas between the basalt dike and the surrounding granite are weak, making then susceptible to accelerated erosion and weathering.

Granite is denser and harder than basalt, so it erodes more slowly.

Basalt is more pourous than granite, so it erodes faster." from informational kiosk.

"Geology of Sabbaday Falls

The history of these falls begins at the close of the last period of glaciation. Over ten thousand years ago, large volumes of water from the last melting glacier, carrying loads of sand, gravel, and boulders, carved out the main gorge." from informational kiosk.

"By foor and horseback, stagecoach and car

Generations of visitors have followed this trail. According to local historians, Native Americans once traveled a path through the area to hunt and fish. During the nineteenth century, writers and artists, moved by the splendor of the scenery, became promoters of the White Mountains. They romanticized this "wilderness tamed" in poetry, painting and travel articles.

Farmers prepare for a crop of tourists. Attracted by the clean mountain air and easy access by train, tourists began to visit Passaconaway Intervale and the Falls after the Civil War. Local farm families, including the Shackfords, started taking in guests.

Tourists came by stage. Jim Shackford brought his guests to Passaconaway House from Conway by stagecoach. He would also take them on day trips to favorite spots, like nearby Sabbaday Falls.

How Sabbaday Falls got its name

The legend of Sabbaday Falls. Legend has it that one Saturday night, with winter rapidly approaching, workmen building a road, from Albany Intervale to Waterville decided it was time to call it quits. They hid their tools, planning to return the following spring. Before leaving on Sunday morning, they named the brook Sabbaday Brook for the Sabbath Day, or "Sabbaday." The workers never returned to complete the road, but the name has endured.

A day of rest. For the early settlers, the hard work never seemed to stop, but on the Sabbath, families occasionally took time out to pick wild berries or take a walk to the Falls.

1880: Cutting the trail to Sabbaday Falls. A local farmer, Jim Shackford, who owned the Passaconaway House hotel, earned extra money by blazing trails for the Appalachian Mountain Club and by guiding tourists who liked to hike those trails. In 1880, Shackford cut this trail along the Swift River from his hotel to Sabbaday Falls. Today, the trail is part of the White Mountain National Forest. 

In the path of a president? Influential Easterners began flocking to the White Mountains in the 1880s, including President Grover Cleveland. A guest at Shackford's Passaconaway House, he likely visited the Falls with his young wife Frances. Many of those urbanites later helped gain legal protection for the White Mountains when the area was threatened by logging, forest fires, and erosion.

After taking 50,000 photos, I continued on to finish my hike. It almost felt like I dreamt the falls? What on earth? I did appreciate how so many tourists (non-deragatory) were driving in and walking up to the falls in their nice vacation clothes, fancy perfumes, and foreign accents, and here I am, on mile 11, smelling like I bathed in skunk water. A very fun dichotomy.

Okay and after that spectacle I was finally out of the woods, and to my dismay there was a “oops you forgot to pay for day use fee” notice on my windshield! There was a ranger right there so I asked him playfully if he saw my note - he had no idea what I was talking about… ugh. I explained the situation and he said “oh if you put money in you’re fine.” I clarified that they’re not going to hunt me down as a fugitive and he said I was fine. Freedom! I did a quick change in the bathroom and observed that it was a LOVELY day outside, no rain in sight! I’m not mad, but that two days in a row now! Thankfully, once I left the Lincoln Price Chopper with my macaroni and cheese dinner, I saw a dark rain cloud looming over the mountains - vengeance!

Tonight is my last night at the Day’s Inn, and Gen is on her way to spend the night. Tomorrow morning is the Franconia Ridge Traverse! I am SO EXCITED for this hike! Clear skies are forecasted and I’m excited to finally get up on the ridge. It is going to be on the colder side up high, but it should be a great day. We know we’ll descend via Osseo/Lincoln Woods, and we need to discuss if we’re going to ascend via Greenleaf or Skookumchuck. It seems like Skook is just a wonderful, favorite trail of the public, but it does add some mileage to an already long day. Stay tuned!

Step-By-Step

- Park at Sabbaday Falls Day-Use Area ($5)

- From parking area, turn left onto the Kancamagus Highway (NH-112).

- After fire road, turn left onto Pine Bend Brook Trail.

- Follow Pine Bend Brook Trail to the summit of North Tripyramid.

- Atop North Tripyramid, Pine Bend Brook and Mt. Tripyramid Trail coincide.

- At next jct., continue straight on Mt. Tripyramid Trail.

- Summit Middle Tripyramid, turn around.

- At same jct., turn right onto Sabbaday Brook Trail.

- Follow Sabbaday Brook Trail back to parking area.

"Pine Bend Brook Trail" from White Mountain Guide, 31st Ed. (2022)

WMNF This trail ascends North Tripyramid from the south side of the Kancamagus Highway 1.0 mi. west of the Sabbaday Falls Picnic Area and 0.9 mi. east of the Sugar Hill Scenic Vista; parking is on the shoulder of the highway on either side (limited but usually adequate in winter). Parts of the trail are steep and rough. In the lower part there are numerous brook crossings; these are relatively easy at normal water levels. The upper part of the trail is in the Sandwich Range Wilderness. There are faded yellow blazes below the wilderness boundary.

        Pine Bend Brook Trail (sign) leaves the highway and in 80 yd. turns right onto the grade of the old Swift River logging railroad and follows it for 0.2 mi. Then the trail turns left off the railroad grade and follows a branch of Pine Bend Brook south, soon bearing right onto an old logging road and crossing two small brooks. The trail crosses the branch brook at 0.8 mi., passes a logging cut on the right, and recrosses the brook, turning right onto an old logging road on the far side. (Descending, bear left off the road to cross the brook.) At 1.3 mi., the trail swings to the right (west) and makes a third crossing of the brook. The trail runs at easy grades, crossing several small tributaries, then passes over a minor divide and descends to a westerly branch of Pine Bend Brook, crossing it at 1.6 mi. and immediately turning left. The trail recrosses this westerly branch, ascends moderately, and enters the Sandwich Range Wilderness at 2.1 mi.

        Pine Bend Brook Trail ascends southwest, crosses a rocky brook bed, and turns left on the far side. (Descending, bear right here across the brook bed; the turn is marked with yellow blazes.) It becomes rough and steep as it ascends along the west bank of the brook valley. High up, the trail swings left, then right, climbs along the right edge of the rocky brook bed for about 50 yd., then turns left and recrosses the brook bed (yellow blaze on tree). The trail then angles up a steep slope, where rocky steps alternate with gravelly and rough footing; partway up, two footways diverge and soon rejoin. At 2.7 mi., the trail reaches the crest of a minor easterly ridge and turns right to ascend it, with steady but less difficult climbing and restricted views north.

        Eventually, Pine Bend Brook Trail reaches the ridge running from Mt. Tripyramid north to Scaur Peak, crosses it, descends slightly to the west side, turns left and continues almost level, and then ascends briefly to the jct. on the right at 3.2 mi. with Scaur Ridge Trail. Rising gradually on the very narrow wooded ridge, Pine Bend Brook Trail provides a glimpse of the North Slide, then descends slightly and swings to the south. It rises at east grades and soon attacks the final steep, rough, and rocky climb to North Peak with several scrambles over slippery ledges, some of which can be bypassed on beaten paths. Mt. Tripyramid Trail enters from the North Slide on the right, 20 yd. below the summit. (The top of the slide, a steep 0.1 mi. And 200 ft. down from the jct. via Mt. Tripyramid Trail, offers excellent views.) The two trails then coincide, crossing the wooded summit of North Peak (with a restricted view northeast along a short side path on the left) and descending at a moderate grade with several short scrambles to the jct. on the left with Sabbaday Brook Trail, just north of the saddle between North and Middle Peaks.

"Mt. Tripyramid Trail" from White Mountain Guide, 31st Ed. (2022)

WVAIA [...]. Mt. Tripyramid Trail and Pine Bend Brook Trail now coincide. They cross the wooded summit of North Peak (with a partial view northeast from a short side path on the left) and descend at a moderate grade with several short scrambles toward Middle Peak. Just north of the saddle between North and Middle Peaks, Sabbaday Brook Trail enters left from the Kancamagus Highway, and Pine Bend Brook Trail ends. Mt. Tripyramid Trail crosses the saddle and makes a steep, rough ascent of the cone of Middle Peak. At the top of the climb, the trail levels off and passes a restricted west-facing outlook on the right. Just beyond, the true summit - a ledge that offers a partial view to the east - is a few yards to the left.

"Sabbaday Brook Trail" from White Mountain Guide, 31st Ed. (2022)

WMNF This trail begins at the parking lot (Recreation Pass required; restrooms; plowed in winter) for the Sabbaday Falls Picnic Area (sign) on the Kancamagus Highway, 3.3 mi. west of Bear Notch Rd. and 1.9 mi. east of the Sugar Hill Scenic Vista, and ascends to the saddle between North Tripyramid and Middle Tripyramid. The trail has numerous brook crossings, some of which may be difficult at high water. Except for the very steep, rough section just below the main ridge crest, grades are easy to moderate, and the footing is mostly good. Most of Sabbaday Brook Trail is in the Sandwich Range Wilderness. It is blazed in yellow up to the Wilderness boundary.

        From the parking lot, follow a gravel tourist path along the west side of Sabbaday Brook. At 0.25 mi., a 0.1-mile side path descends left and then climbs staircases past several viewpoints over Sabbaday Falls, rejoining the main trail at 0.3 mi. Here, the gravel path ends, and Sabbaday Brook Trail continues on an old logging road with easy grades. Just beyond the falls is a short, rough, eroded section along the brook bank. At 0.6 mi., the trail follows a rough course for 125 yd. along the bank beside a loop of the brook. At 0.7 mi., the trail makes the first of three crossings of Sabbaday Brook in 0.2 mi. (All three may be difficult in high water, but the first two can be avoided by a rough bushwhack along the west bank for 0.1 mi.) After the third Sabbaday Brook crossing, Sabbaday Brook Trail crosses a smaller brook, turns left up a bank, and crosses the small brook twice more.

        At 1.2 mi., the trail bears right onto an old logging road on the east bank of Sabbaday Brook, soon enters the Sandwich Range Wilderness, and follows the logging road south for more than 1.5 mi., crossing several small tributaries. At 2.8 mi., Sabbaday Brook Trail crosses a tributary, turns sharply right, descends briefly, and makes a fourth crossing of Sabbaday Brook. Above this point, both the brook and trail swing west, then northwest, up the narrow valley between Mt. Tripyramid and the Fool Killer. The trail climbs more steadily and at 3.1 mi. makes the first of two more crossings of the brook in an area that was washed out by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 (follow with care).

        Sabbaday Brook Trail ascends moderately up the valley and crosses the brook for the seventh and last time (last water) at a washed-out spot at the head of the ravine at 4.1 mi. It climbs by a switchback, swings back to the south, runs roughly across the slope, and at 4.6 mi. rejoins an old route of the trail at an overgrown slide on the east slope of Mt. Tripyramid. The trial turns sharply right here and climbs steeply up slabs and broken rock (use caution descending), with a restricted view of Mt. Chocorua; then it becomes a bit less steep but remains rough, with many rocks and roots. Finally, Sabbaday Brook Trail levels off and meets Pine Bend Brook Trail and Mt. Tripyramid Trail just north of the saddle between North and Middle Tripyramid; turn right for North Peak (0.5 mi.) or left for Middle Peak (0.3 mi.).

Photo Album