Cohos Backpack: Nash Stream Forest

On Friday, September 2nd, Richard, Robert and myself met up at the trailhead in Dixville Notch State Park at 5PM.  We consolidated our gear into one car and left the other here.  We carpooled to Errol for dinner at the Northern Exposure Restaurant before heading down to Stark and camping for the evening at Percy Lodge and Campground.  This campground was still under development and was for the most part a primative camping experience.  We had a campfire before turning in for the night.

On Saturday morning, we awoke to a very heavy dew and fog.  We had a light breakfast and then packed up for our backpack on the Cohos Trail.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had a late start and didn't head up the trail until 2PM.  We started from the trailhead on the Montgomery Property, which provided a more secure location to park over the trailhead along the road.  It was sunny and warm by this time.  We followed the blue-blazed link trail to the Cohos Trail, which only took about 15 minutes.  We then followed the yellow-blazed Cohos Trail.  By 2:20 we passed through a major snowmobile trail junction, keeping straight.  The trail meandered a bit until just after 3PM, when the trail turned and started to moderately climb in elevation gain.  While this was still an old logging road, it narrowed.  At 3:30 we reached the Rowells Link Trail and almost immediately crossed over a brook on a newly constructed bridge.  This link trail proceeded through the woods until it again emerged out onto another logging road in about 20 minutes.  The trail descended briefly and then pretty much leveled out until it linked up with the Old Summer Club Trail.  This climbed at a modest grad initially and then as it approached the col with the Percy Peaks, it became much steeper.  We reached the junction with the Percy Loop Trail at 5:50.  Since we were running late, we decided to skip these peaks and descend down to the Percy Loop Tentsite for the night.  We made it to this tentside by 6:20PM.  There were already a few people here (and their dogs).  Surprisingly, there was only one platform, which was already taken (I seemed to remember a couple more platforms), but the new Trio Trail went right through the middle of the camp.  We set up camp along the trail and relaxed while we made our dinners.  There was also a good source of water here, so we could refill here.  Over dinner we discussed out plan, since we were short of where we wanted to be for the night by 6 miles.  We had the option of pushing hard for the next couple of days at about 15 miles per day or to just explore some of the area and return via the route we came.  We ended up sleeping on it.

In the morning, we awoke had breakfast and broke camp.  We decided to descend via the new Trio Trail to the Pond Brook Falls and then circle around by way of the Nash Stream Road and return over the Percy Peaks.  We headed down the Trio Trail by 8:20AM.  For a trail that was only recently completed, it was in good shape and well-worn.  The woods through here were fairly open and the trail descended at a gradual grade.  By 9:20 we had entered the first of several open logging yards with nice views of Mount Sugarloaf.  We took a break along here and then continued.  At 10AM we passed by a bog and shortly thereafter we reached the Trio Ponds Road.  We crossed the road and descended via the Pond Brook Falls Trail to check out the falls.  The trail was initially flat and then it descended along the cascades and falls.  By 10:30 we reached the main point on the falls, where several trails led to the water.  This was a magnificient set of cascades falling over large sections of smooth granite.  It was a great spot to get water.  The water felt really cold, but Richard took a quick dip.  While we were there a family, who had a camp back here showed up, as well.  We relaxed here for about 45 minutes, before deciding to head back up to the Trio Ponds Road and have an early lunch.

After lunch we walked the Trio Ponds Road down to the Nash Stream Road and followed this south back to the northern leg of the Percy Loop Trail, which we reached by 12:45.  We took another break and chatted with a guy who had camped with us the night before.  At 1PM we headed up the trail.  This trail climbed at a fairly persistent grade and we arrived back at the junction with the Percy Loop Tentsite an hour later.  As this was a reliable source of water, we took the opportunity to refill our bottles.  Continuing to climb up to the col between the Percys, we reached the junctions with the spur trail for North Percy Peak at 3PM.  We dropped our packs and climbed the fairly steep granite face of the mountain.  We summited at 3:25 (3430').  We hung out and took in the nearly 360-degree views.  There were wonderful views north over the Nash Stream Forest to Dixville Notch and south to the Presidential and Franconia Ranges.  There were also amazing views of the slightly lower South Percy Peak, Long Mountain and Christine Lake below.  At about 4PM we began our descent, which took only 5-6 minutes.  We picked up our packs and walked the short distance to the herd path for South Percy Peak.  Robert and I once again dropped out packs for the short climb (Richard stayed to rest).  The herd path was well-defined and beautifully border by a lush green moss.  The trail climbed fairly aggressively, but it was short and we were on the summit in 7-8 minutes (3234').  This peak was a little less open, but there were great views back to North Percy Peak and south towards the Presidentials.  We took in the views and descended to re-join Richard.  Once back at the Old Summer Club Trail, we began to descend off of the Percy Peaks.  This again was fairly steep initially and then it moderated.  We were aiming for a brook crossing, where we had gotten water on the way up.  We reached this brook at 5:30 and decided to camp just inside the woods...there was a nice open flat area near the brook.  It was early, so we just decided to relax, wash up and enjoy the night here.  We had our dinners and by around 9PM we were turning in for the night.

On Monday morning, we awoke to another nice day.  We got breakfast and broke camp and by 8:20 we were back on the trail heading back.  We had one more view to check out.  On the way up, we had missed the spur trail for Victor Head and we watched carefully for this on the way down.  It wasn't long before we came to its junction (8:40).  Again, Robert and I dropped our packs to check it out, while Richard hung out along the main trail.  The climb was steep, but 15 minutes we were standing at the first of two ledges.  The first ledge provided a nice view of the Percy Peaks and just a little to the south there was a second ledge with views over Christine Lake and southward towards the Kilkenny Range and the Presidentials.  It was a beautiful view with a slight undercast!  We descended and re-joined Richard and continued back along the Cohos Trail.  Since we had already done this section, it was very straight-forward to follow.  At 10:45 we reached the blue-blazed link trail back to the Montgomery Property Trailhead and 15 minutes later we were back at our car.

We loaded our gear and we drove back up to Dixville Notch to retrieve the other car, which we reached at noon.  Robert stuck around to look for water around the Huntington Cascades and Falls here, while Richard and I started home.

While we didn't reach our objective of hiking the Cohos Trail from Stark to Dixville Notch, we still had absolutely beautiful weather and a wonderful time exploring some of the Nash Stream Forest.  Highlights included the wonderful comaraderie, backcountry camping, and views from the Percy Peaks, Victor Head and the Pond Brook Falls!  Thanks to Richard and Robert for making this a nice, relaxing and social backpack!  I can't wait to try this trip again in the future!

Take a break from the White Mountains and join me for this 3-day backpack through the Nash Stream Forest, a parcel of roughly 40,000 acres.  The forest's remote location and many natural features, such as ponds, streams, mountain peaks and forest land, contribute to its natural beauty and ecological value.  It is home to an estimated 180 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.  The Cohos Trail is a 165-mile trail which heads north from Crawford Notch in the White Mountains to the Canadian border.  We will hike a section of this between Stark and Dixville Notch...through the middle of the Nash Stream Forest.  This section is approximately 38 miles and provides a true wilderness experience.  Notable features along this route include the Percy Peaks, Mount Sugarloaf, the Devil's Jacuzzi, Nash Bog, Gadwah and Kelsey Notches, Dixville Peak, Huntington Falls and magnificient views from Table Rock over Dixville Notch.

Total Distance and Elevation Gain:  Approximately 38 miles from Stark to Dixville Notch...expect 12-15 miles and 2500 feet in elevation gain per day.

Harsh weather may postpone to another date or cancel, as appropriate.

What to Bring:  You will need a pack, tent/bivy, sleeping bag/pad, extra dry clothes/towel, food for 3 lunches, 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts, headlamp, bear bag/cannister, camp stove, water filter, etc. (some double up is possible for shared equipment...tents, bear bags, stoves, water filter).  Typical summer hiking gear should be appropriate:  convertible hiking pants, good sturdy hiking boots with thick socks and a windbreaker/raingear (just in case).  Snacks and at least 2 liters of water (water can be filtered along the way).  Optionally, pack bug repellent and sunscreen and anything else that you may require for a multi-day hike.  NOTE:  There are some lean-tos along the route, but we cannot count on them, so be prepared to camp each night.

NOTE:  We will be hiking northbound out of Stark, NH.  To do this, we will need to spot a car up in Dixville Notch Friday evening.  The plan is to start the backpack early Saturday morning.  SOME ADDITIONAL LOGISTICS MAY NEED TO BE ARRANGED PRIOR TO THE TRIP (E.G. FRIDAY NIGHT CAMPING/LODGING AS WELL AS FRIDAY DINNER AND SATURDAY BREAKFAST).  THIS WILL BE COORDINATED ONCE I HAVE A FEEL FOR ATTENDANCE.