CITC Brook Walk & Bald Knob

The original plan was to hike Mt. Israel, along with the adjoining trail for Beede Falls.  For multiple reasons, we decided to change those plans.

For one thing, I am trying to get more waterfalls this month to finish my Waterfall Chaser patch, and while I believe dry falls count, well obviously they just aren't as satisfying.  And like many other smaller cascades affected by this drought, Beede is apparently little more than a trickle, at best.  Like a leaky faucet. 

For another thing, Hummingbird was running a 5k this morning ("it'll be a good warmup" she said 😂), so we couldn't leave until later.  Which I love!  However, that often makes parking at popular hiking trails iffy, as many fill up.  We had backup plans if we couldn't find space, but it's still a long drive to the upper Squam range.  And with gas prices…

So after weighing options and pros/cons, we decided to just go to the Castle in the Clouds area.  Even with low water levels, we knew at least the bigger waterfalls there would still be flowing.  The large parking lot on Rt. 171 is never a problem.  And there are plenty of lovely hiking trails to choose from without detouring.  

If Falls of Song goes dry, there's a big problem.

Bridal Veil Falls was definitely weak.

All still pretty, and a legit waterfall hike!

We chose to loop around from the Brook Walk waterfall trail over to Bald Knob, which did not disappoint.  Along the way, we rediscovered the viewpoint on Oak Ridge trail, which overlooks the castle and scenic vista.  It's a really pretty spot.  And we enjoyed the benefit of hiking in a drought, as the oft-flooded/mucky trail was nice and dry.  I'm pretty sure Oak Ridge was one that was a full on stream pretty much the entire way, back when Hawk & I did it in the spring of… well, whatever year that was.  Little matter when, as I'm certain it's like that every year, esp. during run-off season, judging by it's condition. 😝  

Approaching Oak Ridge Lookout.

There's the Castle.

I see Gunstock! (LOL running joke - this is basically the view from everywhere in the Ossippes.)

Once we hit Bald Knob, we took a break on the rocky summit for lunch.  I was proud of Hummingbird for actually eating & hydrating (something she sometimes neglects), and myself for consuming the almond cheese & hard boiled eggs I'd packed, rather than my giant homemade "life cookie" (which isn't entirely unhealthy, but still a cookie, and typically what I grab first. -- Here's where Hawk inserts his Cookie Monster meme. LOL)  

We'd already hit over 5 miles at that point, so our lunch break was a welcome rest for me.  And it's such a beautiful spot, made even more enjoyable by the fact that there were no other people at the time, and even more so that we had fair weather.  Last time we were there it was winter, those beautiful rocks were a far less enticing snow pile, and the wind chill in that spot tends to be quite wicked.  So it was nice to linger for a change, taking in the views, sitting on the rocks, and recovering a bit before continuing on the second half of our hike.

Pano from Bald Knob.

See? Gunstock again! LOL (Mts. Gunstock & Belknap are those two tallest on the left center horizon.)

Happy that my dragonfly henna tattoo is holding up well. It seemed appropriate to snap a photo of it on a hike. It won't last forever!

The journey down was uneventful overall.  It was mainly backtracking on Bald Knob trail until we hit the cutoff to Shannon Brook trail.  I would have loved to backtrack further and do Bridle Path, as I think I recall liking that trail, but my legs were definitely feeling it at that point, so the shortest route down was the smartest.  We'll be back this fall, so perhaps then we'll hit that trail.  I also suspect there may be an "overambitious" hike at some point when we return to the Ossipees.  This one may have come close.  In the end we totaled 9.5 miles.  One of my longest lately!  Most of my hikes this year have not been big miles.  But it's all good!  And while I did need arnica & oils after this hike, I held up well overall.

And in the end, I also ate that cookie.  😉  And later some ice cream.  So much for that calorie burn!  LOL


Hike 34. 8/13 Brook Walk & Bald Knob, 9.5 mi, 3:26/3:50 hrs, 1690 ft.