FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
Home

States
 Colorado
 Connecticut
 Maine
 Massachusetts
 New Hampshire
 New York
 Rhode Island
 Utah
 Vermont

 View All

Lists
 NE 4,000 Footers
 NE 100 Highest
 NH 4,000 Footers
 NH 100 Highest
 NH 52 With A View
 NH Belknap Range
 NH Ossipee 10

Links

Trail Conditions

Trip Log
 Sunrises
 Sunsets


About


Big Bickford Mountain, Scarface Mountain
Franconia, NH

Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Getting ready to leave the Skookumchuck Trail
Getting ready to leave the Skookumchuck Trail

Route: Skookumchuck Trail, bushwhack

To start, the Skook had a fraction of an inch of sleet/snow on it from the previous day's storm. No problem barebooting.

At the first water crossing, we headed uphill and gradually worked our way to Big Bickford through open woods, following the drainage until we neared the ridge. The snowpack increased as we climbed, however the morning temperatures allowed us to bareboot much of the way up with no postholing. Things softened up as the morning progressed, resulting in us needing snowshoes upon reaching the ridge.

The summit of Big Bickford was somewhat open with a few feet of snowpack, however morning fog revealed little in views. It looks like there could be moderate views just southeast of the summit. We found the recognized summit, but the canister has been vandalized and is empty and only partially remaining.

We then backtracked toward the col and then headed up to Scarface in mixed, steeper woods. After finding the recognized highpoint, we headed to the western side of the summit and found a very nice, small view ledge looking into the notch.

From there, we descended into mixed, steep woods, eventually emptying into previously logged hardwoods. The snowpack decreased at this point, so the snowshoes came off. From there we headed back toward the brook and retraced our morning tracks.


Hike Ratings
Getting To Trailhead: Easy
Destination: Big Bickford Mountain
Length: Moderate
Steepness: Moderate
Navigation: Very Difficult
Views: Moderate (due to weather)
Crowds: Minimal
Destination: Scarface Mountain
Length: Moderate
Steepness: Difficult
Navigation: Very Difficult
Views: Excellent
Crowds: Minimal


Hike Stats
Date Hiked: Saturday, April 13, 2013
Parking Elevation: 1,080'
Destination: Big Bickford Mountain
Time Elapsed: 01:31
Trailhead Elevation: 1,700'
Summit Elevation: 3,261'
Vertical Gain: 1,641'
Destination: Scarface Mountain
Time Elapsed: 00:26
Trailhead Elevation: 3,261'
Summit Elevation: 2,802'
Vertical Gain: 152'
Hike Time Elapsed: 03:47
Hike Vertical Gain: 1,853'


The Skookumchuck Trail trailhead
The Skookumchuck Trail trailhead

Slight views toward the western Garfield Ridge as seen from near the summit of Big Bickford Mountain - Click to enlarge
Slight views toward the western Garfield Ridge as seen from near the summit of Big Bickford Mountain

Fairly open woods between the peaks
Fairly open woods between the peaks

Looking at the north side of Franconia Notch from near the summit of Scarface Mountain - Click to enlarge
Looking at the north side of Franconia Notch from near the summit of Scarface Mountain

Topographic map of Big Bickford Mountain, Scarface Mountain


Directions to trailhead: Take I-93 North to exit 35 (US 3 North). The Skookumchuck Trail parking lot and trailhead will be on the right shortly thereafter.

Back to Big Bickford Mountain Profile
Back to Scarface Mountain Profile




Copyright 2002-2021, All Rights Reserved.
www.FranklinSites.com