Cherry Mountain Hike

Jon and I have been looking to hike Cherry Mountain [Mt. Martha and Owl's Head] for a while now. We left our house in Waterville Valley and met the group at 11:00AM.

Starting out with a couple of inches of snow during a warm, sunny, beautiful, late November day with temperatures in the 40's and little wind, we headed up the seemingly gentle Cherry Mtn. trail. The Cherry Mountain Trail is a really nice one.

Glancing at the map, the trail looked like it would go straight up and it did. No switchbacks here. The trail follows the Carter Brook first at moderate grades and the steeper with good footing. 

The Randolph Mountain Club had done good work on maintaining this trail. The Cherry Mtn. trail runs through very interesting glades of hardwoods and spruces. I noticed several huge and what must be very old beeches and birches.

The trail soon becomes steady and steeper at times. Some of us were starting to get tired from the hike. Just when the tired feeling started to take control, the trail became more gradual.

We reached the junction with the summit spur. Taking a left on a snowmobile path, we quickly hit the summit of Mt. Martha. Cherry Mountain is Mt. Martha on the USGS maps, named after George Washington's wife. 

The views from the top of Mt. Martha were very nice from the limited outlooks. We could see the Presidentials and all of their early snow shining clearly. Crawford Notch looked impressive for being twenty miles away. The pictures we took will not give this view justice. There were also two other good views as well. One view was of Franconia Notch and the western White Mountains, and one of Littleton in the foreground and the distant Green Mountains in the background.

We then headed off to Owl's Head on "Martha's Mile." It's a great little trail that felt like we were walking thru a tunnel in the thick, snow covered woods. It's really about a half mile. 

The trail gets very narrow and squeezes around some very large boulders near the top. After a bit of an icy rock scramble, we emerged on the summit of Owl's Head. We found the view from Owl's Head quite stunning.

President Washington made himself known today! We enjoyed lunch and some hot apple cider. The hike back was quick and fun. It took us 50 minutes from the top of Mt. Martha to go 1.9 miles down the mountain. That's quick!

Overall, it was a very fun hike. Now we know why it's a favorite of many locals! This hike was proven to be a great winner!

Cherry Mountain [3573'] and Owl's Head [3258'] are just 0.8 mile apart on a stand-alone ridge. From the summit of Cherry [also known as Mt. Martha], there is a good view of the Presidentials from one spot, and a superb panorama of the western White Mountains from another, with over two dozen 4,000-footers visible in one glance. The open ledges of Owl's Head are home to perhaps the best view anywhere of the entire Presidential Range, from Mt. Webster to Mt. Madison.

We will be hiking up one of New Hampshire's 52 with a View ~  Cherry Mountain [Mt. Martha]. 

We start as a group, hike as a group, and finish as a group. Our pace will be that of the slowest hiker. If you are faster than the group, and don't want to stay with us or want to head off on your own, this isn't the trip for you. Likewise, this trip isn't for you if you are slower than the group and expect us to constantly wait for you or want us to go on without you.

This is an up and back hike; not a loop trail. 

We will hike about 5.4 miles and climb a total of 1,500 feet [for perspective the top floor of the Empire State Building is about 1,250 feet]. We will have lunch on the top of Owl's Head and enjoy the views.

I did all my research for this trip using the Appalachian Mountain Club's White Mountain Guide, a trail map, and the Internet. You should become self-reliant by becoming familiar with the route, terrain, and potential hazards since you are ultimately responsible for your own safety. We could alter our plans because of fatigue, weather, and/or other conditions and there is no guarantee that we will complete the entire trip as described here [e.g., we might not reach the summit].

Weather

Mountain weather is subject to rapid changes and extreme conditions. The higher we climb the colder, windier, and wetter it will be ~ we will need to be prepared. Remember, on average it gets 3-4 degrees [Farenheit] colder for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

Dangerous weather conditions will cancel ~ We will post and and/or sent an email to all confirmed participants a day or two before this trip. We will assess travel and weather conditions during the hike and make changes to our planned trip as necessary.

>>Click Here For The Current Forecast For This Trip

Clothing, Gear, Equipment, and Supplies

Below is a list describing the minimum required items to participate in this trip. Hiking safely is about being prepared so that you can respond to an emergency situation.

DO NOT rely on others to have extra items to share with you at the trailhead or out on the trail. You should know how to use all of your equipment ~ test and adjust it prior to the trip.

* Footwear: Waterproof/insulated hiking boots with synthetic or wool socks.

* Clothing: Dress in synthetics, fleece, and/or wool layers to easily regulate body temperature. Make sure your layers fit comfortably over each other. DO NOT WEAR COTTON ~ while cotton is a great insulator when it is dry, once wet it doesn't dry easily and conducts heat away from the body.

* Outerwear: Insulated jacket [e.g. fleece]. Windproof/waterproof shell [with hood] and pants [e.g. nylon or gore-tex]. Make sure your outerwear fits comfortably over all of your clothing. Fleece/wool hat, neck warmer, and gloves.

* Food and Water: Bring high-energy snacks, food for lunch [pack extra food "just in case"]. Bring enough water to stay properly hydrated during the trip ~ it's time to switch from a hydration pack [e.g. Camelback] to insulaled wide-mouth water bottles [e.g. Nalgene] because the hose tends to freeze.

* Other Essential Gear: Map and Compass [don't just bring them; know how to use them]. Plastic whistle. Headlamp with spare batteries. Personal first aid kit with an emergency space blanket. Small pocket knife or multi-purpose tool. Matches or wind-proof lighter and firestarter. Toilet kit [e.g. hand sanitizer, toilet paper]. Line the inside of your pack with a plastic garbage bag to keep your items dry.

* Optional Items: trekking poles, hiking stick, camera.

After The Hike: Everyone is welcome back at our house in Waterville Valley to socialize around the fireplace and enjoy a home cooked meal with dessert! It's BYOB and it costs $5 per person.   

Lodging Option: We have 8 bunks available at our house near Waterville Valley, NH for Saturday night for $20 per night. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. We have limited space in the fridge to store your beverages/food so it's best to bring a small cooler. Space is limited so email us ASAP to reserve a bunk!