(Red Hill Conservation Area - Lakes Region Conservation Trust)
Distance: 3.74 miles
Elevation: 1325 feet
Time: 2 hours, 3 minutes (1 hours, 57 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, New Hampshire Fire Tower Quest, Lakes Region Conservation Trust Explorer
The Hike
Halibut Point was step one, the Middlesex Fells were step two, and now I was finally on step three: driving up to NH to hike with some elevation gain. The plan was first to hike Red Hill in the lakes region, and then if I was still feeling good I would drive over to Mt. Cube on the 52 With-a-View list. The good thing about (almost) winter is that the sun rises so much later - so my alarm went off at 5:00am, I grabbed my things, and got my adventure started!
I had my first wildlife sighting of the day right away: a coyote running around the Hammond Pond Parkway in Boston. The morning's excitement continued at 5:45am when the Karson & Kennedy show on 104.1 played Dominick the Donkey without any warning - you know when you're driving and you fully disassociate for a bit? I was in the middle of doing that, and then I heard the "hee-haw" and came back into my body and had a WILD emotional reaction - I was SO HAPPY!
The mornings excitement continued when I had the "urge" about 20 minutes away from Hooksett, which was a blessing and a curse. I love getting my morning business done at Hooksett, but I hate fighting for my life for 20 minutes because I refuse to get off of the highway. Either way, I made it one piece (barely) and christened the family bathroom (the men's bathroom was too far away - about another 50 feet). Another pro to winter hiking and waking up later is that Hooksett actually has breakfast sandwiches at 6:20am (versus 4:20am in the summertime) - so I got lots of expensive food, enjoyed the orange horizone from the parking lot, and finally finished my shocklingly eventful drive.
There were two levels to the parking lot and not a soul to be seen. The temperate was chilly, but not too bad - 29° with a very light breeze. A big theme of the day was the layering system. I got started with normal athletic underwear, thin thermal leggings, tech pants, smartwool socks, and my winter boots on bottom, which worked very well! I was a little wam when climbing, but only my bum was actually sweaty. On top I had a polyester T shirt, fleece zip up, buff, liner gloves, and my puff and mittens in my pack. The fleece was on and off as my temperature fluctuated. I'm going to invest in some wool, long sleeve base layers for next time. The only reason the fleece went back on skin exposure, so I think the long sleeve base layer will be perfect. (As I am writing this, I think this is the most I've written without actually getting to the hike).
NOW it was finally time for the hike! The trail is incredibly well blazed from the parking lot, and there were footsteps to guide me when my brain turned off. The first part of the hike is on the Red Hill Trail, which is blazed with plastic red triangles. This section of trail is very gentle, windy, with snowy sections contrasted by bone dry sections. The trail crosses a snowmobile trail and then moderately climbs, crossing a beautiful stream on a bridge a the only slippery section of the hike, before coming to the junction with the snowmobile trail, the red-blazed Red Hill Trail, and the blue-blazed Cabin Trail.
The junction had a kiosk with some intersting literature about the area, and right across from the kiosk was a cellar hole with some more information about past residents of Red Hill. Like I mentioned in my last post, I don't like how literature reminds you that you're not in full solitude/brings you back to reality a little bit, but I also love all the information and find the history fascinating! Either way, from this point you can take either the Red Hill Trail or Cabin Trail up, starting the loop section of the hike. I took the Red Hill Trail up and Cabin down, and I think I preferred this route.
As I climbed, there were nice seasonal views of the lakes and Belknap range through the bare trees. The trail alternates from gentle to moderate, but never gets steep - I was incredibly happy with my "step 3" hike choice. I was struggling still with the no-sweating rule, but still doing better than any other season? The higher up, the more the wind started to pick up. I never needed to add any laters minus the fleece back on, though. Toward the top, the trail starts to level out, and just before the summit you can see the fire tower through the trees, which was very exciting for my aching body!
The summit was WINDY and beautiful. There are views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknaps from behind the cabin, but I had to climb the tower to get the real views. There was a nice informational sign at the summit area, and there was a sign on the fire tower that said it was closed for winter. I took that to say "the cabin is closed for winter," becuase there was nothing blocking the stairs, and who comes to the top of a hill/mountain and not climb the firetower?! It was a shorter tower compared to those I've met in the Catskills this past summer, but boy the wind was STRONG from the top. The views made it worth it, though. You could truly see everything - the Belknaps, Lake Winni, the Ossipees, the Squam Range, the Sandwich Range (the 4ks and Chocorua were all in clouds), and a very bright, very which Moosilauke out in the distance. I would have stayed up longer, but I would have definitely gotten frostbite! I slowly climbed back town, gathered my things, and continued my hike.
The blue-blazed Cabin Trail starts just behind the fire tower, and meanders through the woods for a while with an occasional elevation loss. There were some spots the trail wasn't super clear with the snow on the ground, but I was eternally grateful for the footsteps I was able to follow. Lots of partial seasonal views through the woods, and eventually the trail dips down to an old hunter's cabin that was very cool and very spooky. It clearly said keep out and was deadbolted, but it looks like the lock hinges were either broken off or rotted off, so it would be possible to peek inside, but I am a weenie who knows how to mind his business.
A little further down the trail there is a yellow-blazed trail that leads to more old cellar holes with some more literature that was actually very interesting. It's easy to forget that so many mountains/hills had people living on them and fully fledged hotels. I peek around for a moment before continuing down.
The rest of the Cabin Trail was uneventful, especially as it widened out and became part of a ski run. This part was very icy, but I was able to stay off to the side no problem. Soon enough I was back at the original junction, and finished off my hike! I only passed one person and his dog in the lower stretch, and the only wildlife I saw was one grey squirrel. Overall my legs were a little tired, but they had an hour drive to rest, becuase I made the decision to hit "step four" - climbing up Mt. Cube!
Step-by-Step
Park at designated parking lot.
Start hike on red-blazed Red Hill Trail.
At kiosk/junction, continue on red-blazed Red Hill Trail.
At summit, continue hike past fire tower onto blue-blazed Cabin Trail.
Take a short side trip onto yellow-blazed trail to see cellar holes.
Continue on blue trail.
At junction, rejoin the red trail to close the loop, and follow red to car.
