Great Brook Farm, MA

May 29, 2012
Distance: 5.3 miles
Time: 2 hours 21 minutes
Map: Great Brook Farm
Parking: Large parking lot. $2 metered daily fee until 6pm. You can also get an annual MA park pass ($25 MA residents/$45 non-residents).
Restrooms: Ski center lot has pit toilets. Main lot has restroom with sinks as well
Post hike lunch: Chipotle, Nashua, NH

It was raining the morning we left from NH.
We stopped by here on our way home from our vacation, to get an easy hike in.
It was sunny & hot in MA.
The dogs forgot about their sore feet and ran like crazy.
After a while I put them on leash to keep them closer to us.

Hiding

Moxie in foreground, Trek a dot in the distance.

Year to date miles: 181.6

Ripley Falls, White Mountains

May 28, 2012
Distance: 1.2 miles
Time: 1 hour
Map: AMC White Mountains Trail Map Set
Parking: Dirt parking lot off Route 302.
Restrooms: None
Pre hike breakfast: Frontside Grind
Post hike dinner: Cafe Noche
Directions: AMC White Mountain Guide

This is a short out and back hike. 20-30 minutes to the falls.
This is an easy hike to a waterfall.
We saw a red fox next to the parking lot.

The trail immediately crosses railroad tracks.

Keep left where the AT splits to the right

Please throw a stick.

Ripley Falls

Look - I found a stick!

Glen asking Trek for a belly rub?

Year to date miles: 176.3

Chocorua Lake, White Mountains

May 28, 2012
Distance: 0 miles
Time: 1 hour?
Map: AMC White Mountains Trail Map Set
Parking: Dirt parking lot off Route 16
Restrooms: Porta Potty
Pre hike breakfast: Frontside Grind
Post hike dinner: Cafe Noche
Directions: AMC White Mountain Guide

This was not a hike! We wanted to give the dogs a break, so we took them for a swim. There were many people & dogs here. Lots of sunbathers & some people tubing in the lake.The lake is right off the road, so there is car traffic noise. You can see the summit of Mt. Chocorua from the lake.

East Ponds Loop, White Mountains

May 27, 2012
Distance: 5.5 miles
Time: 4 hours 3 minutes
Map: AMC White Mountains Trail Map Set
Parking: Dirt parking lot off Tripoli Rd
Restrooms: None
Pre hike breakfast: Local Grocer - they don't open until 9am
Post hike dinner: Shalimar
Directions: AMC White Mountain Guide

This is a loop hike. We walked around the larger of the two ponds. A great place for dog swimming - with an incredible view of mountains rising above the  pond. There were many bugs, and all of us got bitten up, including the dogs - who had bug bites wherever they had no fur.

The trail was flooded by the smaller pond - we had to bushwhack to the left of the flooded trail a short ways to get past the flooded area. We never did get to the shore of the smaller pond.
This hike is easy/moderate.
It has some tricky stream crossings which might be difficult if the water was high.
This hike had a lot of dogs on it.



I found 2 booties in our van - which I put on Trek - unfortunately they didn't stay on long.

The terrain on this hike wasn't difficult. Many parts of the trail were just dirt trails.

Dogs were onleash a lot - due to the other dogs we met, plus to limit their running around - because they had sore feet at this point

The larger of the two lakes. There is a sandy beach area as well - but we hiked off to the side.

This purple flowered bush we found next to the pond was attracting a lot of butterflies.

We saw frogs and large tadpoles in the pond

Plant or frog eggs?

We never saw a moose on our trip. But, guessing this is moose poop. Next best thing. Not.

Back at the parking lot.

Year to date miles: 175.1

Mount Monroe, White Mountains

May 26, 2012
Distance: 7.2 miles
Time: 8 hours 7 minutes
Map: AMC White Mountains Trail Map Set
Parking: Large paved parking lot
Restrooms: Pit toilets
Pre hike breakfast: Frontside Grind - Hippy bagels are awesome, as is their coffee
Post hike dinner: Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Company
Directions: The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains
Ammonoosuc Trail

This is considered a strenuous hike. We found this hike insane! Steep, long, and incredible views.
The rocks near the summit are very rough on dog feet - booties are recommended in order to prevent feet from being torn up.

At the large parking lot

We headed up to Lakes of the Clouds Hut and then right to Mt Monroe.

There was plenty of water for the dogs on this hike. The trail followed a river most of the way.

The beginning of the hike was very level. We knew that meant it would be really steep later.

Is agility training for hiking or hiking training for agility?

Waterfall into the pristine Gem pool

Short side trail to the Gorge

The trail is starting to get more challenging & rocky.

View from the trail

The dogs skipped the ladder & climbed up the rocks

The rock scrambling begins.

Dogs with waterfall in the background

Entering the alpine zone

At this point the views become amazing

As the trail gets more rocky, cairns mark the trail

Approaching Lakes of the Clouds hut

Alpine wildflowers

From the hut, we head to Mt Monroe

Looking down at the hut & the lakes in the mountains

On the summit - very chilly and windy!

Glen on Mt Monroe summit

Trek on Mt Monroe summit, wind blowing on his coat

Moxie on Mt Monroe summit

Trek, Moxie, and Lynn summit photo. Mount Washington in the background.

Back at the parking lot.

Year to date miles: 169.6