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About
Holderness, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking up the Old Bridle Path
Though the forecasts were calling for a mostly cloudy day, I had seen nothing but blue sky out the window. As a result, I decided I would go for a sunset hike. West Rattlesnake fit the time constraint perfectly.
Arriving at the plowed Mt. Morgan parking area, I was somewhat surprised to see other vehicles there. Once at the Old Bridle Path trailhead, I could see the fresh snow from the night before had already been very well packed. While the trail was certainly barebootable, I decided to wear my snowshoes anyway, for traction and for the additional exercise. With temperatures hovering around freezing, I wore only a short sleeved shirt on the ascent and added a long sleeved shirt once I stood around on the summit ledges.
Since the Old Bridle Path is quite gradual, it's an easy snowshoe. After going to the summit, I went down to the view ledges to catch the beginning of the sunset. While not a bad sunset, it wasn't anything special, as just about the only cloud in the sky happened to be where the sun was setting. As a result of this thick, low hanging cloud, the colors weren't overly vivid. Nonetheless, it was still very nice to watch it set from such a nice, wide vista with two frozen over lakes in plain sight.
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The Old Bridle Path trailhead on Route 113
Looking southeast across Squam Lake toward the Belknap Range from West Rattlesnake
The sunset as seen from the West Rattlesnake ledges
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