| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Savage Mountain, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Lamms Trail (Bissell Road), logging corridors, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I cannot advertise Lamms Trail as a "trailhead". While there are no signs indicating it should not be used as a parking lot, just do not block the logging trucks. The road is rugged and in parts would not have trusted my Subaru on it. Also, the road (as far as I know) is NOT plowed in winter. Road terminates at private cabins. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water is no doubt high, any crossings done were performed atop rocks with impeccable balance |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few branches to toss off the road, someone will appreciate it. Otherwise all good. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Do not bring dogs on this bushwhack, there are better dog-friendly hikes in the area. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Nope |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing comes to mind. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Went into this hour and forty minute drive not knowing if I could even access this peak. All seemed to work out in my favor today, however. Lamms Trail was free of snow down low, parked there and carried my snowshoes until passing the cabins, here the logging roads were consistently covered with snow - a 3-6" rock solid base, thanks to some vicious freeze-thaw cycles, the snowpack was completely supportive, I gave the short spruce/fir a wink as I cruised right by, too solid to entrap me today!
Following various logging corridors in an overall eastward direction, I was pleasantly surprised to find an old roadbed where satellite imagery had shown none, avoided one bushwhack in this fashion. Did have to bushwhack a quick bit up the gully to meet another old (very brushy and filled with fir) road corridor, followed this as it contoured Savage Mtn between 2,400-2,500'. Reaching an overgrown landing area, I crossed a small tributary to Bissell Brook and took off into surprisingly decent woods. With clues taken from Liam's post about staying off the ridgecrest, this technique worked brilliantly - only navigated into 2 or 3 blowdown patches while ascending.
Hit a cliff band around 3200', followed the base of the band until the slope mellowed out - at about 15', the ledges could be scrambled but with snowshoes and ice and all, I opted for the safe route around the cliffs. Beyond a final patch of blowdown I entered the glorious patch of spruce which covers the summit ridge. I popped onto the ridge and followed it eastward - to the recognized high point. Found the canister but didn't care much about it being frozen shut, didn't care about signing in today. The climb was epic and that's all I needed to bring home with me today.
Heading back down, the snow was so solid that it was actually tough to discern snowshoe tracks in the hardpacked snow, followed my tracks for the most part, got off track a bit around 3200' and found myself at the top of the cliff band. With a little dance side to side, I ended up tracking westward around the cliffs but right into some thiiiiiick spruce - pokey, stabby, thin stuff, I swam through it while performing a bit of a spin to deflect branches (as to not break).
Great trek out, although I could sense the rock solid snow growing soft in the morning sunrays.
Completed what I assumed would be a 5hr bushwhack in 3.5hr. Much more efficient and smooth sailing than I thought it would have been. Great last day of autumn.
For a full write-up with color photographs and all that good stuff, head on over to the link provided.
Cheers - Happy Winter! |
|
 | Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-21 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.atalkinthewoods.com/trail-reports/savage-mountain |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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