Ok, so first let me explain the title. We hit a very small, slightly tricky section on our descent, and I chose to just butt slide down a rock face, relying on my spikes for grip. I called out something to the effect of “butts and spikes; that’s what we have them for!” And then quipped that there we have the blog title. Well, Hummingbird loved it, and insisted that I better use it now. So this is her doing. 😉 (She will argue that I’m the one that came up with it, but I'm only using it to avoid immensely disappointing her. Though if you've been reading my blogs long, and definitely if you know me, well, you're familiar with my sense of humor, so probably used to such silliness.)
I’ve been wanting to hike Blue Job again for a while, and check out Little Blue Job while there, as I’d never hiked that neighboring/sub-peak. (Not sure which it technically is.) I had read several appealing reviews for LBJ, as well as recommendations for it as a sunrise/sunset hike. Plus it was just something different to try that's relatively local. Man, I wish I'd explored it sooner!
Blue Job is a nice easy-moderate hike to an active fire tower in Farmington/Strafford, and is on the official NH Fire Tower Quest list. It's a fairly popular hiking spot. The parking lot is reasonably sized for the location, but it can fill up in the busy season. (What doesn't nowadays?) As is typical for towers, it offers a lovely 360 view.
Our hike up was uneventful overall; mostly bare ground with scattered ice and packed snow. The trail was a bit messier than I remembered, probably due to washout from recent storms, but was not miserable. The tower had very icy steps in the middle section, and we needed to put our spikes on to safely return to the ground. But it's all worth it for the scenery.
We left spikes on as we continued to Little Blue Job, figuring we'd likely have no need for them within a few yards. Turns out that must be the cold side of the mountain, as there was measurably more snow and ice. While it was probably bare-bootable, we did not regret having traction. There were definitely a few spots where navigating would have been slightly tricky without spikes.
When you are nearing the LBJ summit, the trail splits off in a few directions, most of which meet up again shortly after. We steered left, as an open field with panoramic view was calling to me. It seemed the logical route, and we admired the gorgeous scene as we traversed the trail that wrapped around to the official summit. By the way, the trails to LBJ were also in better condition for the most part, compared to where we started. It was a very pleasant hike overall, with a few points of interest along the way.
I read that the summit on LBJ was recently cut/mowed to encourage blueberry growth. This certainly afforded a more open view, and I can see why it'd be a great place to watch the sun set or rise. The view was nearly 360 (without a tower!), and terrain was an enjoyable mix of rock and field, with the clump of forest from which we had emerged to one corner, and a very cool stone wall that reminded me of pasture land. I do always love a good stone wall.
One thing I notice is that photos almost never do justice to this sort of view. Panos capture a wide angle, but not typically the detail that your eyes see when standing on a summit in person. Zoom functions on a cell phone are just bad, and while standard photos can show a beautiful scene, they don't offer the full picture of a panorama.
So that settles it! If a hike sounds pretty, go out and do it! See those views for yourself. Stretch your legs, get some nature therapy, and find out what the big deal is. There are so many attractive options that are not difficult, even for beginners. NH offers something for everyone at every level of hiking!
Remember to always dress your trail signs warmly! 😂
1/8 Blue Job & Little Blue Job, 2.1 mi, 440 ft, 1:20 hrs
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