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About
Bartlett, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking up the abandoned Bear Mountain Ski Trail
Having long been interested in finding the old CCC ski trail up Bear Mountain, a mediocre weather forecast provided a good opportunity.
Starting at the entrance to the old logging road off Bear Notch Road, we followed it for a bit until it looked like the ski trail left it and continued to follow near a brook. While the trail has been abandoned for nearly 60 years, it was fairly obvious in places. Logging roads cross all over the lower elevations, however the much wider ski trailbed was identifiable.
While the ski trail and logging roads have grown in over the years, we had fairly open woods for quite some time. As the terrain eventually steepened, the trail was harder to find (due to it using switchbacks). Eventually, circa 2,700 feet, we gave up trying to find the trail and instead pushed uphill through some thick junk for a bit, eventually reaching moderate woods. We then popped out on the old Bear Mountain Trail, about 20 feet west of the summit register.
From near the summit, we had partial views through the trees of places to the northwest - quite a unique perspective.
For the descent, we stayed a little bit west of the approximate route of the ski trail and found thicker, nastier woods. We eventually hit good hardwoods down low and eventually crossed back over to the trail on the grassy lower portion of the logging road.
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The Bear Mountain Ski Trail trailhead on Bear Notch Road
Looking at Mt. Willey from Bear Mountain
Back to Bear Mountain Profile
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