This winter we plan to offer more winter hikes, hopefully on snowshoes. They will be scheduled on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. Many will be in Eastman, some in the Upper Valley, and maybe a few farther afield. All trips will be listed in Eastman Highlights and on the Eastman Calendar in the Members’ online portal: www.eastmannh.us.
Volunteers are needed to lead hikes. If you can help out, please contact me at 603-863-6456 or phope@oxfordnetworks.net.
Remember that winter = cold! Always wear adequate layered clothing and bring appropriate gear, food, and water. When you go out on your own, always tell friends and family of your exact plans. Do not rely solely on electronics as they may fail! Having a map and compass as well as knowledge and experience are key to successful winter hiking.
Consider the purchase of a Hike Safe NH card: www.wildlife.state.nh.us/safe/.
My pick for winter hiking: Middle Slade Brook, Hanover
The recent construction of a trail bridge has made this lovely brook in its confined canyon accessible to four-season hikers. To reach it, take NH-10 north from Hanover toward Lyme, NH. Past the Kendal at Hanover community on Lyme Road in Hanover, the road descends to cross a stream, then follows a level course along the Connecticut River. It then swings right and climbs. Soon after River Road on the left, look for Old Lyme Road on your right. Take this a short distance. The road swings left across Slade Brook Park just beyond on your right. You will see Old Spencer Road, a Class VI town road, on your right. Follow this on the level to a foot bridge that crosses Slade Brook and was built about 15 years ago. Cross it and begin to climb. You will note two plateaus; these mark shorelines of the huge glacial Lake Hitchcock. When you reach the second plateau in a recently logged area, turn left at a signed trail junction onto a logging road. This follows a bluff above Slade Brook, past a small waterfall, to a bridge that crosses the brook. This bridge was built in 2017 by volunteers who followed plans drawn up by Craig Sanborn, who has also helped with trail projects in Eastman. After crossing the bridge, you will soon arrive at another trail junction. Bear right on an older logging road which soon becomes a footpath following Slade Brook heading east uphill where the canyon narrows. The route is not blazed but can be followed with little difficulty for less than a half mile to the site of a collapsed foot bridge on the right, destroyed by water undercutting the supporting stream bank. Do not try to cross this bridge in winter. On the near side there is a herd path continuing upstream another half mile, but following this in winter would be difficult. I advise either retracing your steps or taking a fairly wide woods road that climbs the hill on your left, slanting northwest a few hundred feet to a junction. Bear left, mainly descending to yet another woods road junction. Bear left and almost immediately right again at the sign indicating Barnes Trail. This attractive woods road descends, partly through an attractive evergreen forest and eventually reaching an old log yard. Cross this, then bear left on a fairly level route a short distance to reach Old Lyme Road a little north of the parking area.
Total distance: ~3 miles
Easy/Moderate.
Peter Hope
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