FULL MEMBERS ONLY: Hedgehog Mt. Loop

Hedgehog Mountain (2,532ft)

Elevation Gain: 1,500ft

Trails: UNH

Distance: 4.7 miles roundtrip

Duration: 4 hr (includes stops for breaks along the trail, at the east ledge and at the summit)

Difficulty: Moderate

Another NH 52 With A View! And views ga-lore! Such a beautiful trail with a moderate ascent and stunning views that rewarded us today! Jon and I met with friends Luciano and Lee at the Post Office in Campton, NH. From there we carpooled with them up to the UNH trailhead on the Kancamagus Highway via routes I-93 and 112. On the ride up we couldn't believe our luck, the sun out and it was getting warm.

We arrived at the trailhead parking lot, met Dave and got started on the trail right away. Conditions- hard crust on top of solid base of snow. Break through crust slightly but just 1-2 inches. Top was actually softer snow than lower down. Only MicroSpikes were needed. The trail was like a sidewalk, amazing!

We hiked this looped trail clockwise. The trail grade was fairly gradual and constant for the first 2 miles, then it narrowed and emerged onto the east ledge. We stopped for lunch here, enjoying the warm sun and the stunning views. I picked a natural rock bench for us to lunch on, with an impressive view of Mt. Passaconaway. We spent about 15 minutes here having our lunch and taking more photos. After our ledge lunch break we started up to the summit.

I was impressed with the many ledges as we approached the summit. There was nobody at the summit. The folks we crossed paths on the trail were hiking the opposite direction and in total, probably saw about a dozen…and a cute dog.

As we started to descend we saw a fantastic view of snow covered Mt. Washington! On the descent we stopped at Allen's Ledge checking out the upper ledge and resting a bit to admire views from the lower ledge.

The friends who joined us were eager to go on this hike to get out of the house in winter. It felt great to get out and hike with everyone. We covered a variety of topics including caring for elderly parent, retirement planning and Donald Trump. We all got a good laugh at the woodpecker holes in the tree and shared, shall I say, fantasies? After the hike, Luciano and Lee spent the night at house enjoying a delicious dinner prepared by Jon. It felt great to be outdoors, hiking in snow, and surrounded by good company and the beautiful New Hampshire White Mountains!

Trip Report: Mike Boisvert
Photos: Jon Normand

Get to know our fellow sustaining members! Dinner afterwards at Mad River Lodge...lodging available. 

We will take the UNH loop to Hedgehog Mtn. [2,532'] which offers fine views from several viewpoints. The first section of the trail, an old railroad grade, has the broad stateliness of a promenade, and is an excellent warm-up for the hike. A 2 miles, the sun-washed East Ledges, spread out before us, with views south and southeast. Reaching the summit at 2.9 miles we'll have a closer view of the mountains we saw at East Ledges, as well as the eastern slope of Tripyramid...a bit past the summit we can even see Mount Washington. On the descent we'll check out Allen's Ledge, where we'll see the Presidential Range, the Carrigain Range, North and South Twins, Franconia Ridge, Mount Willey and the Bonds! 

Distance:      4.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 1450 feet

What to wear/bring: Wear warm clothing suitable for the hike in layers...no cotton or blue jeans.  Wear a warm hat and gloves and bring hand warmers as a precaution. Bring along plenty of water (at least 2 liters), lunch, snacks and anything else you may require for a day hike. Make sure your pack is big enough to place your jacket and excess clothing into it as you warm up. For footwear, have winter insulated boots and MicroSpikes in case we encounter icy trails. We may need snowshoes if we had a snowstorm just prior to the hike…we’ll let you know a few days before. Contact us if you have any questions. 

Afterwards:  Everyone is welcome to join us back at our house in Waterville Valley to relax by our fireplace [BYOB and bring snacks] followed by one of Jon's delicious dinners. We ask $10 per person to help pay for our food costs. Showers are available so bring a change of clothing to make your visit with us more comfortable.

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house [with Wi Fi] near Waterville Valley, NH. It's $35 for Saturday that includes dinner. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. Space is limited so email ASAP to reserve a bunk!