This hike could be summed up as spectacular scenery for a moderate effort.  Being a loop, you can go in either direction.  We chose to go counter clockwise, ascending 2605’ Mt. Welch first.

  We crossed a small river first, then ascended gradually through pleasant, open (and slightly buggy) woods.  After 1.3 miles, you reach the first ledges and are rewarded with spectacular views.  Even if you don’t have the ambition or energy to go on to the summit, on a sunny day, the views from this open, flat expanse of rock is worth the trip by itself.

  Route 49 and the Mad River, stretching from Waterville Valley to Campton fall away nearly a thousand feet below.  The near peak across Route 49 to the south is Mt. Sandwich.  Farther east, the peaks of Tripyramid rise sharply.

  Continuing on after a break, we encountered a beautiful stand of jack pine.  Jack pines are rare in New Hampshire, and this is the southernmost of four stands of this unique tree.    

  The trail rises sharply at times, open ledges interspersed with scattered forest.  The views are constant and change as you rise.  Near the top, there are a couple of difficult pitches. Handholds are not required, but one of them is relatively narrow and if you’re not used to climbing, this will be slower going than you might imagine.

  Above the second one, you turn right and climb an exposed ridge to the open summit, which has 360 degree views.  The view of the ridge up to Mt Green and Mt Tecumseh is exceptional.  Small trees are scattered around the summit area like an oasis of green in the desert of rock, giving the summit a different feel than most in the White Mountains.

  Beyond the summit, the trail descends sharply to a shallow, narrow notch with interesting wildflowers and a large cairn.  A steady ascent leads to the top of 2734’ Mt. Dickey.  The summit is open, but there are large trees around it, partially obstructing the view.  Nonetheless, the descent is over a series of ledges that offer great and differing views.  The first views are north toward Franconia Notch.  As you descend, the trail turns left, offering views to the west and south.  The last ledge on the descent is a spectacular rock that falls away sharply to the south.

  Afterward, the descent is straightforward and relatively easy.  Near the end, you reach a junction with a rough path to Tripoli Road.  Turn left for the parking lot.

  I feel obligated to warn hikers that the low elevations of Welch and Dickey can be deceiving.  The hike is not overly strenuous, but is far harder than one might believe looking at a map.

  If you have a young child, as I do, you may be carrying them up or down some of the more difficult stretches of this loop, as I did.  Going with a young child and a party of non-hikers, the round trip took four hours, so don’t plan on being back in sixty minutes.

  For me at least, it was well worth it.  An older child could hike it themselves, maybe more easily than their parents.

  May is here, days are long, and that means hiking season is upon us.  This past week I tried a quick ascent of Mt. Jackson, at the southern tip of the Presidential range, from Crawford Notch.

  The lower stretches of the trail where in midseason form, and far less muddy than I would have expected in May.  The sun is always so strong this time of year, and I made a rapid ascent to the junction where the Webster-Jackson trail divides.  Taking the left hand route to Jackson, I soon began encountering snow patches.  Above about 3,300 feet the snow became a constant.  I expected as much, and expected to sink into soft snow as I climbed.  It was not to be.  Unfortunately, the night had been unusually cold and the snow pack had frozen into a (mostly) solid mass of ice.  Instead of the, “sinking-in,” I was prepared for (although I did fall into a couple of soft patches, once up to my waist), I found myself battling not to slip.

  Still, I had fantastic weather, and soon arrived, almost unexpectedly, at the base of the familiar rocky dome of Mt. Jackson.  Here things took a turn for the better, as the sun and wind exposed outcrop that is the summit dome was mostly devoid of snow and ice.

  The views from Jackson are always incredible, so much that I take them for granted.  Mt. Washington stands, wide and massive, just a few miles to the north.  Below falls Oakes Gulf, rugged and wild, leading down to the desolate Dry River valley.

  Nearer, to the northwest, Mizpah Spring Hut is visible on the side of Mt. Pierce.  Across the sharp valley of Crawford Notch rise the peaks of the Willey Range, and to the southeast the sharp summits of Chocorua and Carrigain stand out…

  I saw only one other hiker, a through hiker who reached the summit just after me-we talked for a minute before he headed on, bound for Mt. Washington and beyond.

  The descent was a little tricky near the top, and I took a fall on the ice, but all in all, it was a rewarding trip.

  Next time should be better, as I expect hiking conditions to improve over the next couple of weeks.  Rising temperatures should soften the snow pack as it melts.

Hello Everyone,

I have something that I would like to share with you.

As an employee at the Comfort Inn & Suites Loon, it is my job, and my pleasure, to let you know about local points of interest and things to do. I want to make sure that your stay is wonderful inside the hotel and outside too. With this goal in mind, I feel it is my duty to share with you the experience I had yesterday.

I went on the Pemi Valley Excursions- Moose Tour. I thought I knew what to expect. I have always lived in the North Country so moose are not a new concept to me. You drive around at a certain time of day in certain areas and there they are.  

However, living in this area for so long and having seen so many moose in my lifetime did not take away from the excitment I felt when we spotted our first moose along the road. I was very excited and antsy. It was still light outside. I had my hand and my camera stretched out a small open window when I heard Eric, (our wonderful tour guide!) say that this would be a good time for us to get off the bus and go have a closer look. WHAT?! I am not used to moose staying where they are when people come around, but he didn’t seem to mind us being there at all and just went about his business. Even with all the commotion on the side of the road!

I had never felt more alive, excited, and nervous, all at the same time. There was nothing between me and this huge animal other than a small number of yards! I have never done anything like that before and it was amazing!!!

One of the best things about taking this tour is that it doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Larry (bus driver and man in charge), has been given special permission by the state of New Hampshire to use floodlights and spot lights at night to see the moose. Having done their homework and having so much experience, Larry and Eric were able to light up the areas where we would be likely to see these elusive giants! It worked! Our tour matched the tour earlier in the week for the most moose seen in one trip! We saw 25 different moose! All of them big and beautiful!

Of course, there are few guarantees in life and there is always the chance that you may not see one, but over the past 10 years, Larry and his guides have enjoyed a 95% success rate. One thing I can guarantee is that if you don’t see many or any, the bus ride itself is worth it!!! Everyone was having such a good time! The tour can be up to 3 hours long and there was never a dull moment!!!

I highly recommend that you make moose tour reservations as part of your stay. It’s a fun and safe way to enjoy the wildlife and truly is a one of a kind experience!!! Give them a call at (603) 745 2744, and don’t forget to call us for room reservations at (603) 745-6700!!!

Comfort Inn and Suites Loon 

Spring has finally sprung and we are getting ready for a busy spring and summer season.  Again we are offering our Comfort concierge services with tickets available to several White Mountain attractions.  Check out our site at www.comfortinnloon.com for summer packages which will be posted next week.  If you want up to be added to our newsletter, simply sign up on the website and you will receive the latest information from us.  The White Mountains are still a great value for families and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Comfort Inn and Suites Loon now has 2009 Polar Express packages available for sale.  We are located next to the Hobo Train Station which makes this the ideal place to stay.  You can see the station from the hotel parking lot.  We have a limited amount of tickets so call soon.  Once we are sold out you can still sign up for the annual Polar Express Lottery.  This is a great family event.