| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Currier Hill, Ames Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Carr Mountain Trail, logging roads, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Carr Mountain Trailhead was plowed, enough room for 3 or so cars. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Any along this bushwhack route were easily stepped over, one bridged crossing had logs spaced far apart..could probably lose a snowshoe or a leg between the logs! |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Carr Mtn Trail was all good, for the 0.2-miles of open, logged field before starting the whack |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not on this whack, unless the dog prefers walking through thickets and trashy old logging. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Another stunning bushwhack, joined this time with my mountain running cohort, cgothberg. Chris proposed a bushwhack of these two peaks while using an official hiking trailhead - I was in. We did not trek the Carr Mountain Trail for more than 0.4-miles before following a brushy, old skidder road as it beelined first for the Clifford Hill ridge. Through open woods we descended into relatively recent logging which was working to regrow, now a sea of berry thickets and beech saplings. We managed to skirt the edge of old forest and newer logging pretty well to avoid pokey bits.
Locating an old snowmobile or logging corridor, we used its bridge to cross Martins Brook before slabbing rather steeply up the side of Currier Hill atop an old skidder road, at least the views came quickly, I had never viewed Moosilauke from such a unique angle before. As the skid road veered SE, we wanted S and departed the corridor for mostly open boreal forest, some downed trees to step over but overall tidy forest floor made for quick travel. Found the recognized high point after briefly roaming the domed high point.
Venturing through stunning red pine along the southern slope of Currier Hill, we descended over open rock slabs and ledges, steeply down to the col which was extremely interesting to us - a higher altitude boggy patch with spruce-fir, how beautiful! From the bog (under each snowshoe step was a bit soggy from standing water) we ascended Ames, which was slightly less steep than Currier Hill. This peak had a lovely summit cap of spruce, beyond which transitioned to stunted oak along the southern aspect of Ames. Passing over the summit ridgecrest, we were in the market for views, ledges and vistas galore. Once satiated, we reclimbed toward the summit, more westwardly this time as to traverse the ridge in its entirity - surely we would traipse across the high point that way!
Once I could spot a spruce with lobbed off lower branches, I knew we were near. Turning the corner, the Tostitos jar was there. We did not sign into any registers today, personal preference plus they were covered with snow - all good! On the return, we cut off any unnecessary steps and headed back to the trailhead, often trializing various return routes around pesky pokey nasty crap, this worked pretty well. Great day in the backwoods! These two peaks were much more enjoyable than other reports had led on, perhaps being due to snowy conditions.
As per usual, there is a link provided to a brief write up on the outing with some color photography tossed in. Happy Climbing! |
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 | Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
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 | E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-09 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.atalkinthewoods.com/trail-reports/currier-ames |
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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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