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Gilmanton, NH, Gilford, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking up Orange Trail on the Mack Ridge
Since I had skipped the previous two days due to the weather, I decided I needed to get out and get some exercise, regardless of the rainy forecast. In my previous visits to the peaks around Round Pond, I had ascended via Grant Road. Unfortunately, this trailhead appears to be closed to hikers. Thus, I figured it wouldn't be a bad day to try out another approach.
Arriving at the trailhead in the rain, we quickly set foot across the bridge at the camp and up the dirt road of sorts. Seeing a trail going straight up the hill, I figured this might be the Red/Blue Trail. As we reached a height of land on that trail and it subsequently disappeared (without reaching any sort of view or other destination), I decided to bushwhack north toward the road again. Sure enough, the road was the Red/Blue Trail.
After awhile, we passed the Red Trail trailhead and decided to continue on to the Orange Trail, as to make the hike more of a loop.
Once finding the trail after the somewhat confusing dirt road situation, it was pretty easy to follow - the foot bed was fairly well established, and there was an abundance of cairns and wooden trail markers. The rock slide at the beginning of the trail was somewhat steep (and the leaves slippery), but it seemed more like a random boulder field (a la the Bayle Mountain Trail) than a slide (a la Owl's Head, Tripyramid, etc.) in my opinion.
Soon, we were at the top of that ridge. From there, it was pretty gradual going - and likely quite scenic when things aren't completely socked in by fog and clouds.
Soon, we were turning uphill at the next trail junction and heading to the Mt. Mack summit. While this is generally a scenic mountain, the views were non-existant due to the clouds and fog.
Our next stop was Mt. Klem. This section of trail seemed to pass by a lot faster than I had remember when I did it on snow shoes the previous winter.
After bushwhacking to the true summit of Klem, we went to the viewpoint (once again, fog and clouds), and then down to Round Pond.
Round Pond was quite neat - the lack of visibility made the pond look endless.
From there, we headed down the Red Trail, which looks to have some great views on a nice day. Nearing the Red/Blue Trail, I found the dirt road situation once again a bit confusing, but nonetheless we found our way back to the camp with relative ease.
Despite the clouds, and at near the end of the hike rain, it was a nice hike. Depending upon the plowing situation, it could promise to be a nice snowshoe hike in the winter.
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The Red-Blue Trail trailhead at Camp Bell
Looking at floating moisture from near the Mt. Mack summit
Looking up the trail between Mt. Mack and Mt. Klem
Looking at very scenic fog from near the Mt. Klem summit
Round Pond in the mist
Back to Mt. Mack Profile
Back to Mt. Klem Profile
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