GetWinter Hike #4: Jennings Peak

We claimed a real summit today in full-blown winter conditions. The journey is not always something pretty, sugarcoated, and perfect. But it is something real and true! It was a good day to be out….

We needed a moderate to strenuous hike as part of the GetWinter Hike series so we chose 3,460 ft. Jennings Peak partially due to it being near my house in Waterville Valley. Five guys joined Jon and I. I was feeling tremendously excited because over a foot of fresh powder had just fallen in the mountains.

My emotions surrounding a winter hike with lots of fresh snow are fascinating to me…there is so much build-up, anticipation, and excitement, and these feelings only grow stronger during the morning of the hike. I often feel extreme happiness ~ giddiness, almost ~ and deep gratitude for the experience I’m about to have.

There is the usual apprehension at the trailhead by some of us on this kind of winter hike. Did I forget something? Will I be strong enough to keep up with the others? Will we get views? Our mind goes into overdrive, until we take those first few steps up the trail. Then, peace and serenity. We’re doing it. We’re where we want to be. It’s a winter wonderland. It’s beautiful. We’re surrounded by friends. We have no fear.

Upward, onward. There was about six inches of fresh snow at the start and there was so much snow that we still sunk a little with our snowshoes. There were a few blowdowns that we had to skirt around.

I think back how I was in agony many years ago when I started winter hiking that involved breaking trail. I discovered that I was not in shape. My heart was beating faster and louder than it should be; my breathing should have been more more controlled and steady. I was evaluating myself. Fast forward to today where I’m enjoying every second and periodically checking up on everyone to see if anyone is having such a painful experience.

The agony can be seen in on the surface. But that’s not all that’s going on. Inside, like me, they are in a deeper, wiser, more tempered place. I am truly ecstatic to be in the snow, be away from the city, and be on a mountain. It is as if my hiking sends me into several layers of experience at once, with so many different emotions showing themselves, competing for my mind’s attention. We subconsciously chose to accept the pain, or accept the glory. Or sometimes accept both at once. And this process repeats and repeats.

Around 2,000 feet we started to encounter over a foot of snow and the fresh snow was clinging to the branches providing as Matt phrased it, "snow garlands." Breaking trail over the steep sections up the Sandwich Mountain Trail is hard work. Steve and Markus D. [with his bunny snowshoes] were breaking trail in these sections by kicking in steps with their snowshoes to get a good grip. The spare pair of snowshoes I was using kept falling off so I stuffed them in my pack and was barebooting behind everyone else, sinking in about 6 inches. Markus D. missed a turn on the right so Steve took over the lead. I’m at the end looking up at everyone as we climbed up.

At Noon Peak there were limited views of Drake’s Brook valley and the town of Waterville. There were snow showers up here and the wind was picking up. We took an abbreviated lunch break here. I decided to try putting my snowshoes again since the terrain was more or less level for the next mile or so. Thankfully they stayed on for the rest of the trip. We then followed the ridge to Jennings Peak where snow depths in some sections reached to a foot and half. The evergreens were iced over and covered with heavy snow. Their branches were bowing into the trail. We found ourselves in an obstacle course and loosing the trail periodically. Even so, it was very beautiful and hard to describe in words. From the junction of Drake’s Brook Trail the Sandwich Mountain Trail was difficult to follow so we bushwhacked up to Jennings Peak eventually hooking up with the spur trail. Despite some of us feeling spent, we were exhilarated. There were limited views from the cliffs that drop off the summit into the valley of Smarts Brook and the wind was quite strong here so we didn’t stay here for very long.

We cruised down the Drake’s Brook Trail, which felt like an easy walk in the woods in comparison. The trail and terrain lulled me into an almost sleepwalking state.

We hiked 6.5 miles with 2,050 feet elevation gain. It felt like more because of the trail breaking. One thing I’ve learned is that within 30 minutes from the end of just about every hike, all pain is forgotten, but the memories from the day’s thoughts remain. It was a wonderful winter hike and always needed. So much time for reflection, something we don’t always find in our day to day life.

I love the mountains. I think back on some tougher winter hikes I've been to in the past. They can open me up in ways that I am unprepared for and suddenly I feel utterly overwhelmed and exhausted both physically and emotionally. Each type of exhaustion contributes to the other. The mountain environment tunes me in to my inner thoughts and feelings whether I want it or not. With every step I take, I’ve taken leaps and bounds in thought. Refreshing, but truly tiring, work.

We claimed a real summit today in full-blown winter conditions. The journey is not always something pretty, sugarcoated, and perfect. But it is something real and true! It was a good day to be out….

~ Mike

Join our GetWinter Hikes designed to get you into winter hiking. This is a series of progressively harder winter hikes leading up to a small 4,000 footer.

This trip's focus is to get you familiar with using traction for steep and icy trails. This is an attractive ridge and valley route; good views from Noon Peak and especially Jennings Peak [3,460 feet]. The open rocky nubble of Jennings has great views south over the Smarts Brook valley and east to the wilds of the Sandwich Range. 

We will climb up using the Sandwich Mountain Trail that immediately crosses Drakes Brook and then steeply climbs to a lookout off Noon Peak at 1.7 miles overlooking the Waterville Valley village area. From there, it follows a curving, gradual ridge towards Jennings Peak. At 2.7 miles it intersects with Drakes Brook Trail and follows right up to the bare summit of Jennings Peak where there are terrific views North and West. On the return, we will come down the gradual Drakes Brook Trail that follows the brook along an old logging road.   

Round trip mileage is approximately 6.5 miles with 2,050 feet elevation gain. It is steep climbing up to Noon Peak where the trails can be very icy so we REQUIRE traction devices for this trip [MicroSpikes, Stabilizers, Yaktrax,]. It is a gradual descent down via Drakes Brook Trail. Approximate time to complete the circuit is about 4.5 to 5.5 hours.

Due to uncertain weather, you should be prepared with layers of warm clothing and winter gear. No cotton clothing. Make sure to bring snowshoes [we have some to borrow so let us know]. You can reserve and rent snowshoes from your local outdoor outfitter such as REI, EMS, or from Ski Fanatics off Exit 28 on I-93.

For this trip, we'll be having lunch on the summit. Please know your ability before signing up. Winter hiking is more demanding than three-season hiking. Please read the disclaimer above.

After the hike we can hang out by the fireplace at my house in Waterville Valley for pizza/beer (sharing costs). Your welcome to bring a change of clothing and take a shower.

Event Coordinators: Mike Boisvert and Jon Normand

Carpooling: Contact other members to carpool, share the conversation and travel expenses.

Lodging Option: I have 8 bunks available with linen for Saturday night at my house in Waterville Valley for $20 each night. You can use the kitchen facilities and store beverages/food in the fridge. I serve coffee in the morning and a continental breakfast. Contact me to RSVP. SPACE IS LIMITED TO EIGHT GUYS.

Come enjoy a terrific winter day hike in Waterville Valley!

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.