winter Archives - R. Wayne Gray

Mount Willard – 02/17/23

On February 17, 2023

Location: Hart’s Location, New Hampshire

Date: 02/17/23

50 degrees mid-February? Yeah, that is definitely hiking weather. First picture is from the summit, second from the scenic overlook outside the entrance to the Mt. Washington Omni (was going to pass it by, but the mountain was looking it’s best after setting records a couple of weeks ago). The third is stitched together from a few shots on the summit. Not great due to the sun, but still an impressive sight once you get up there.

(click on this for full size)

Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!

Sabbaday Falls, 2/5/23

By richgray

On February 5, 2023

In Photos

Location: Sabbaday Falls, Kancamagus Highway, White Mountains, NH (Albany, NH)

Date: 02/05/23

Sabbaday Falls on the Kancamagus Highway (and one of the Pemigewasset Overlook). Glad we held off a day. Around 20 degrees, which puts it 30-40 degrees warmer than it was yesterday.

Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!

1/31/23 Hiking Down Quechee Gorge

By richgray

On January 31, 2023

In Photos

Location: Quechee, Vermont

Date: 01/31/23

This certainly isn’t a long or arduous hike: maybe a mile overall, more if you explore some of the other trails here. The hike down to the bottom of the gorge is around a half-mile, and just over 150 feet down. The trail runs along the river, and there is a fence protecting you from a fall (which will likely be lethal). Well traveled on weekends in the winter (I would imagine… I had the place to myself on a Tuesday, but it was cold), and pretty icy.

Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!

: Bridge crossing the gorge (Route 4)

: The trail leading down to the bottom of Quechee Gorge. Note the fence.

: Bottom of the gorge. You can kayak up to this point in the summer from the North Hartland Dam.

: Bottom of the gorge with thick ice.

: Top of the gorge. Way too many flowers along this bridge.

Owl Head Mountain, 1/24/23

By richgray

On January 25, 2023

In Photos

Location: Peacham, Vermont

Date: 01/24/23

First real snow of the season, in the form of three storms over the course of a week. This was shortly after the second, which dumped around 10 inches in the area.

Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!

: Fresh powder on Owl Head Mountain summit.

: Overlooking Kettle Pond from Owl Head Mountain.

: The road leading up to Owl Head Mountain (essentially a hiking trail in the off-season).

Ripley Falls Winter Hiking, 04/06/22

By richgray

On April 6, 2022

In Photos

Location: Hart’s Location, NH

Date: 4/6/22

They list it as a moderate hike, but honestly, there isn’t much in the way of difficulty here. It’s probably best to avoid it after a snowfall, as a section of it runs right along a steep ridge (the AllTrails comment about a ski pole going right through and finding air gave me some pause). Very short – one mile out and back – but the falls definitely makes it worth it. The whole area out on the Crawford Notch Rd. (before you hit Attitash) is gorgeous, with many trails and trailheads.

Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!

: Tracks at the start of the trail.

: These are just off a parking area, which you might have to hike into in the winter (short).

: Looking in the other direction at the trailhead.

: Spots can be icy, so crampons recommended.

: Ripley Falls trail.

: A bit of small stream fording in the winter – not sure if it runs in the summer.

: Ripley Falls

: Ripley Falls

: Willey Station

: Across the road from Willey Station.

: Same shot, but looking along the range more. I think they shut the dam and flood this area in the summer, but I only seem to hit in the winter time.

Hiking the Flume Gorge, 3/26/22

By richgray

On March 26, 2022

In Photos

Location: Lincoln, NH

Date: 3/26/22

Heavily trafficked in the summer (and fairly expensive to get in), the Flume Gorge is incredible in the winter. Definitely a must-hit if you find yourself in the Franconia corridor in the winter (crampons are a must, however). A bit late in the season, but the snow pack was still lighter than it usually is in late March.

Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!

Mt. Willard Winter Hike, 3/22/22

By richgray

On March 22, 2022

In Photos

Location: Carroll, NH

Date: 3/22/22

Mt. Willard is always a great hike, summer or winter. The overlook/payoff is amazing, especially in the winter.

Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!

: Crawford Notch Station, at the trailhead

: The trail is largely wooded

: Mt. Willard Summit 1

: Mt. Willard Summit 2

: Mt. Willard Summit 3

: Rail line at the base of Mr. Willard

: The obligatory Omni Mount Washington shot… probably five miles from the trailhead

White House Trail, Winter Hiking – 03/09/22

By richgray

On March 9, 2022

In Photos

Location: Lincoln, NH

Date: 3/9/22

A very short and easy trail that is probably mostly used as a starting point for other trails. Still, a nice walk in the woods, although it is fairly heavily trafficked on the weekends. You can access this just north of the Flume Gorge at the Liberty Springs Trailhead parking lot. For a bit of a loop, hike the length of the trail and take a right at the end of it to hike the bike path back to the parking lot (not the best idea on a weekend – snowmobiles abound!).

Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!

: Start of the White House Trail.

: Still a fair amount of snow in early March.

: There is a bit of elevation here, but not much.

: You won’t see the river until the end of the trail. This runs along the bike trail.

: Actually part of the Franconia Notch Bike Trail (which become the Franconia Notch Snowmobile Trail in the winter).

: End of the White House Trail.

Ice Castles 2021

By richgray

On March 6, 2021

In Photos

Location: Woodstock, NH

Date: 01/30/21

Finally hit the Ice Castles in Woodstock, NH this year. Cooooooooold, but very cool.

: Ice Castles entrance

: Ah, ice on fire!

: Big snowflakes temporally suspended 20 ft. up

: Tiny lights

Lake Willoughby, Winter Edition

By richgray

On March 6, 2021

In Photos

Location: Lake Willoughby, Vermont

Date: 2/22/21

We headed out to hike the Burke Mountain Overlook, but they close the road in the winter, and there wasn’t an easy way to access it. Short hike, with the plus that it overlooks Lake Willoughby. Sooo, we went to the lake instead. Just as photogenic in the winter, with ice shacks instead of boats. Hit up St. J’s Locally Social Coffee for Dirty Chais and Mocha Lattes on the way back through… it was a good day.

: Lake Willoughby in the winter

: Lake Willoughby

: Ice fishing on Lake Willoughby

Tag: winter Page 1 of 2