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Carroll, NH, Hart's Location, NH, Bean's Grant, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking up the Webster-Jackson Trail
Mt. Webster has been on my to do list for quite awhile - normally it's done with Mt. Jackson, however I didn't have the time or knee to make it over to it back in June. With the days quickly getting shorter, I had to do it soon if I wanted to fit it in as an after work hike.
I do have to wonder about the name - why in the world would they name a mountain after Webster, but not one after Diff'rent Strokes? Apparently there are zero Gary Coleman fans out there anymore.
I started at the trailhead a little bit later than I had hoped, but still at a decent time. The first half of the ascent on the Webster-Jackson Trail isn't overly challenging - though it is rocky and there are a few steep sections, much of it is relatively flat.
After the Webster-Jackson Trail split, I quickly descended into the Silver Cascade area - a quick, steep scramble I didn't know about! The falls are rather neat - I couldn't help but take some photos before climbing up the other side of the gorge.
After this, the trail continues a moderate ascent, with a few steeper rocky sections. It seemed to take forever to get to the Appalachian Trail intersection - quite frankly, I find the two sections of the Webster-Jackson Trail I've hiked to be rather ugly (rocky, dead trees, etc.).
Finally at the Appalachian Trail intersection, I eagerly headed up to the summit and the ledges. Though the late afternoon sun dulled the views to the west, the scenery was nonetheless excellent - looking up the Presidentials and out toward Mt. Chocorua.
After scrambling around the ledges to get a closer look at some of the cliffs, I had a quick snack and headed down.
Soon, I had to turn on the head lamp. I was able to get a glipse at the post-sunset sky over the Mt. Washington Hotel from Bugle Cliff, before descending the rest of the way in the dark. Coldplay's X&Y and Brian Eno's Music For Airports supplied the soundtrack of the descent.
All in all, a nice hike. I do wish to get up to Mt. Webster again someday - though I doubt it will be via that somewhat ugly trail - I think the Webster Cliff trail is going to be the way!
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Webster-Jackson Trail trailhead on Route 302
Looking northeast at Mt. Washington from the Mt. Webster summit
Back to Mt. Webster Profile
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