Summit: Smarts Mountain
Trail route: Up Lambert Trail, Down Ranger Trail
Trail conditions: Dry with wet and muddy sections
Weather: Warm and sunny with hazy sky
Total miles: 7.8
Total time: 5.28
The weather forecasters were reporting that today would be the warmest day this week. I decided to make the long drive to Smarts Mountain for another 52 With a View summit. This would be the final summit on the list in western New Hampshire.
Once again I relied on my iphone GPS to get me to the trailhead parking lot since I'm quite unfamiliar with this area of New Hampshire. I was the first one in the parking lot today but another hiker arrived shortly thereafter. I talked to him for a few minutes, he was section hiking the AT over Smarts Mountain and on to Mount Cube today. We both started on the Lambert Trail at the same time but he was soon out of sight.
The Lambert Trail, also part of the Appalachian Trail, is a very enjoyable hike that follows the top of a ridge with some ledge scrambling and a few nice views along the way. The trail was dry for the most part with a few minor wet sections.
I reached the summit tower which really isn't the true summit but a good spot for a tower and climbed almost to the top. With a "bad" shoulder I did not want to be pushing up on the door into the top of the tower. There were good views in every direction although very hazy today. I continued along the trail and bushwhacked out to the true summit, there are no views from here. I went back to the tentsite where there is a view and ate lunch there. It was a beautiful day for lingering and basking.
As I was descending I veered left at the trail junction onto the Ranger Trail. I had given some thought to returning on the Lambert Trail having read trail reports that indicated the Ranger Trail was very wet and muddy down low. I wanted to experience a new trail so Ranger Trail it was.
I knew if I returned on the Lambert Trail there would be some up and down sections, the Ranger Trail was all down and the last two miles are a very gradual incline. The reports I read were accurate as there were some very wet and muddy trail areas along the way but my boots kept my feet dry. It had warmed up nicely and I was down to short sleeves, a sharp contrast to what I experienced last Saturday on a hike above tree with winter conditions.
Back at the trailhead parking lot there were several vehicles, except for the hiker early this morning I had seen no other hikers during the entire hike. This was another enjoyable 52 With a View summit. Smarts Mountain was #50 and I now have two summits remaining to complete the list!
Enjoy the photos and video!
Map at the trailhead
Kiosk in parking lot
The hike starts here
There were good views from the Lambert Trail
Ledge scramble
Another view from the trail
A go around blowdown
Standing by a large blowdown
Smarts Mountain
Summit tower on Smarts Mountain
Bent tree
A nice walk in the woods through here
Bog bridges over mud
A set of wooden steps...
...then a set of rock steps...
...and finally a set of iron rung steps
The only ice during the hike
First view of the summit tower
Looking straight up the tower
View from the tower
Warden's cabin
Inside the cabin
Convenient mirror for the well-groomed hiker
Wandering around the summit
View from an tentsite
Another view
Someone propped up this heart rock
Eating lunch at the tentsite
Heading down the Ranger Trail
Lots of leaves on the trail
Water crossing
Two miles out from here
Lots of mud and water in the trail down low
Grant Brook
Grant Brook
Trail and weather conditions today were a sharp contrast from my hike on Saturday
Completing the loop
Back at the trailhead parking lot
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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