My trip

[davidnh]

Word probably has gotten around by now. I did the CT as far as Route 2 and then decided to shelve it for another time. Hiking in near constant rain with fog and no views just isn't my idea of fun hiking. I did have one nice sunny day but man those water levels were high.

I didn't bother trying to cross the Dry River (doubt it would have been possible). Instead I stayed on the ridge. The Davis Path was about as close to flooded as a ridge top trail could be. I had not choice but to hike all the way to Lakes of Clouds hut,. They have an emergency shelter there with a capacity of six (and with me it was half full). No one should count on this being available and apparently the AMC officially discourages its use. But it sure is nice to know it is there. I had no views from Davis path and no views in Pondicherry and I would not have had any views in the Kilkenny had I continued.

In my life I have never seen so much water on or near the Presidentials as I did last week.

So all in all I am dissappointed but glad I stopped. I may try and to the Kilkenny section later this year and the rest of the trail another year.


David

PS Just as an aside, I think it would make a lot of sense not to
have the trail start at the Davis path but at Cherry Hill Road or perhaps even at Rt 2. Really the trails tarts at Rt 110 as that is where it is the CT and not some other marked trail that we magically piggy back on. The CT doesn't do trail work at the southern most end, the Forest service doesn't recognize the trail down there, it isn't marked as the CT either. So no matter what we may say, the CT really doesn't exist south of Rt 2 or even 110. Just cause you draw a line on the map saying the CT is there, doesn't make it so. If it isn't marked and blazed as the CT, then it isn't the CT.

[pedxing]

David - sorry you hit all that rain. I've been watching the weather and there were points I figured it would be enough to send me home. Three consecutive days of rain is the worst I've ever hit.

Thanks for the report and the info.

[percy peaks]

David,

The origin of the Cohos Trail has to do with the concept of creating a trans-Coos County trail, running from the southern-most boundary of the county (or nearly so) all the way to the Canadian border.

The purpose of that was to try to introduce people to the entire county and to move people from more well known areas into lesser known areas. It was also designed to begin to dispurse hiker activity a bit and take some small fraction of pressure of the White Mountain's major ranges.

Trails in the Whites are well signed and blazed, so there is no real problem for people moving along the trails. Also, since we just suggest a route, some folks don't adhere to it strictly in the Whites. Some move up to Mt. Washington to have a look around. Some stay at AMC huts, like Lake of the Clouds or Mizpah.

The trail, then, is a bit flexible in the south. I like the idea of moving up from Bartlett village along the Mt. Stanton Trail or the Mt. Langdon Trail, thereby adding a lot of new Coos terrain and low open peaks to the mix.

But once one gets to the Cherry Mountain Trail trailhead, there is really only one avenue north through to the Kilkenny and across Route 110 into the Nash Stream Forest.

Remember, we created a number of Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge trails, the Col. Whipple Trail and the Slide Brook Trail. The Slide Brook Trail is closed now, but next year it should reopen. In good weather, that area, with the Moorhen Marshes and big Cherry Pond, is a must see. It is terrific wildlife habitat with superior views. The Cohos Trail made some of that possible.

And, the Kilkenny is a wonderful walk in the woods, with several terrific summits, two 4,000-footers, cliffs, an ice gulch, birch glades, good camping at glacial tarns, a summit cabin, and so on. I wouldn't want to miss the Kilkenny. It's a 25-mile remote treasure. Someday, if things go well, we probably should adopt some of that stretch and the Mt. Cabot Cabin, too, and take care of maintenance.

I also think of the Canadian trails that will soon link to the CT as part of a greater system, even though some of it will be maintained by our neighbors to the north. What could be better, eh? Let's have more trail, not less.

Percy Peaks

[paull]

David,

I got off the trail early as well. Northbound, I made it to Dixville Peak. Trail conditions were horrible, the rain was horrible, and I was just not having fun anymore. My boots were wet the full 8 days. I will post a trip report once I heal a bit. Seems like both Sportsmans Lodge and Rudy's Campgrounds were getting a lot of cancellations from CT hikers as well.

For future hikers fyi- there was one bog bridge near Killback Pond (1st you encounter heading North) that is nearly impassable without getting wet --looks like courtesy of beaver activity.

Also, the store in Dixville may be closed Tuesdays now- at least that was what I was told- luckily before I made the 3-4 mile trip. The trail up Dixville Peak was probably the worst I traveled- each step sunk my boots 3 inches into mud- with no real alternative around.

Anyhow, I hope to finish the northern half next year.. we will see.