Mount Shaw

Summit: Mount Shaw

Trail route: Mt Shaw Trail, Black Snout Trail, Italian Trail

Trail conditions: Dry with some wet and muddy sections, 

Weather: Cool start, cold and windy on the summit, with sunny start and cloudy finish

Total miles: 7.2

Total time:  4:44

With favorable weather in the forecast I wanted to do another 52 With a View summit since I'm very close to completing the list. Marty would be joining me again, he's hiked Mount Shaw but did not have good views the last time he was here.

Once again I'm glad I had the iphone directing me to the trailhead. You'd have to be very familiar with the area to find this trail since there are no signs to indicate there is a trail here. Marty was already in the parking lot when I arrived, we were the first two there this morning. 

We started hiking up on what appeared to be an old forest road. I really had to pay attention to the blazes in order to keep on the trail as we hiked further up. This would be the case throughout the hike especially this time of year with the leaves off the trees and covering the trails. There were some easy water crossings over Fields Brook although we had to be careful of a few icy rocks.

We got into patches of snow then a consistent snow cover up on the Black Snout Trail. It was a fairly easy walk on a cross country ski trail to the summit. There was a cold wind blowing at the top and it was nice to have an extra layer on. 

The views up here were spectacular this morning. Views to the north were especially nice with the White Mountains snow-capped summits in the distance. Got the video and pics I needed as my fingers were getting cold to the bone. I put on my gloves and we started our descent.

We took the Black Snout Trail down to Black Snout and Big Ball Mountains. It was a good decision to descend this way with great views toward Lake Winnipesaukee on the way down. We then turned onto the Italian Trail back to Mount Shaw Trail and completed the loop. From here it was a short walk back to the parking lot.

Mount Shaw was my #51 of the 52 With a View list. My final hike to complete the list will be Mount Roberts which I hope to do before the end of November. This was a very enjoyable hike today with good company, Thanks Marty!

Enjoy the photos and videos! 

Fields Brook

Mount Shaw Trail

Arrow points the way

Brook crossing

Ice formations

Hiking up into the snow

More snow as we get closer to the summit

Preview of winter

View from the summit of Mount Shaw

Another view from the top

Ossipee Lake

Looking past Mount Chocorua to Mount Washington

Blowdown block the trail

Lake Winnipesaukee from the Black Snout Trail

Ice along the trail

More ice

Open woods

 

Frozen pond

Black Snout

Lake Winnipesaukee

Gunstock Ski Area

Ledge walk

Heart blaze

Holdout leaves on this thorn bush

Arriving back at the parking lot

Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!