Today was a fine day for some hearty snowshoeing; the kind of roaming that makes a hiker forget about time or modern day obligations. The forecast called for 40mph winds (Mt Washington recorded a minimum of 40mph wind speeds during this trek, according to the Mount Washington Observatory) and several inches of snowfall atop my local Mount Moosilauke (4,802’).

I’ve had this double traverse in the back of my mind since the first time I had climbed the scattered ledges of Blueberry Mountain several years ago, I always thought this would be a warm weather endeavor, but as temperatures were nearing 30° this morning, that’s pretty darn warm for a February snowshoe adventure.

*Departing the Blueberry East Trailhead*

With all the recent jaunts up Moosilauke’s Glencliff Trail this winter, I knew the gate to the standard Blueberry Mountain Trailhead on Long Pond Road (former North and South Road) would be closed and locked. While not for everyone, I parked at the Glencliff Trailhead on High Street as I knew my Subaru wouldn’t be side-swiped by a plow or towed or ticketed for being in an illegal spot.

With wind howling overhead I stepped into snowshoes; a 7:13am start back down the side of the road. The gate was an easy step-over and with no signage indicating hikers were not allowed, I continued trekking past a huge stack of fresh logs across from the Appalachian Trail/Town Line Trail junction.

Reaching the Blueberry East Trailhead in 1.0-mile I stepped off the active logging road and, with great surprise, onto a snowshoe track heading northwest along the Blueberry Mountain Trail.

The yellow blazed path is easy to follow on the east side of the mountain - especially in winter - small cairns stand trailside when other old logging roads are crossed, even with a fresh 4-6” of powder the top rocks were still visible through the snow.

Passing several old roads and logged clearings, the early 1930’s path continues through open hardwood with a patch of dense new growth just off to the right, not my kind of bushwhacking forest!

As ~2000’ is reached the path cuts through a delineated wall of conifer, one can look back into the hardwood forest but proceeding ahead the forest grows thick with a variety of evergreen boughs; at ground level the path begins to traipse through a lush moss carpet (in warm weather, today was snow, snow and more snow).

I could tell by the influx of scraggly red pine that I had arrived to the area where bare granite makes up the trail, often patched with wet areas, today it was a winding sea of drifted powder.

*Slides of Moosilauke visible through the cloud*

Surprisingly, despite the blowing snow, over my shoulder to the east I could see one of Moosilauke’s slides glistening bright in the scarred ravine - on a clear day this is a stunning view over to the neighboring high peak. The low sloping forested summit dome of Mount Clough (3,561’) was also visible slightly left of these slides.

Larger cairns mark the ascent up ledges and around wind-bent red pine, navigating through herd paths of past hikers venturing over to any of the welcoming ledges for views or snacks. As one climbs, views to the south appear - today mine were limited to the immediate surrounding humps of Wyatt Hill and Webster Slide; traditionally, in better weather, Cardigan, Carr, Cube and several other peaks would perk up.

As the trail crests up and over the broad ridge crest of Blueberry, a short spur trail cuts off to the right from where a large boulder rests mid-trail. This path, not long ago a rough bushwhack, zig zags up and over several steep steps before reaching the true summit of the mountain at 2,662’.

*Standard “good weather” view; ascent: April 12th, 2020*

If one looks closely at the highest standing rock, bolts can still be found; in the 1876 edition of Osgood’s White Mountain’s, the US Coastal Survey signal beacon was still standing upon this site. From the summit, the once Jeffers Mtn Trail departed, crossing the Hogsback ridge by way of old forest road and then descended to meet up with the old Black Mtn Trail which ran from North and South Road to the summit of Black Mountain (2,820’).

Many of these trails - Owls Head to Blueberry Mtn, Blueberry Mtn to Jeffers Mtn, the trail along Hogsback ridge - all fell into disuse and sadly became abandoned as the world dipped into WWII. The trail up Sugarloaf Mtn lasted a few extra decades with Camp Walt Whitman maintaining the route, but this unfortunately is also now de-listed (although I have heard of the old route still being followed by a capable trekker).

Back along the Blueberry Mountain Trail, descending to the northwest, I was in unfamiliar territory - all new terrain at this point. I had read that there are more broad ledges to follow, now with sweeping views to the west. All I had today were grand views of Sugarloaf Mountain (2,609’) and partially along The Hogsback (2,810’) which gradually swings southeast eventually ascending to the top of Jeffers Mountain (2,994’).

Gliding down the open rock ledges on a thick layer of drifted powder, it was more like skating down the slope than traditional snowshoeing, fast and light! Eventually, the views faded and I slipped into the dense spruce cover, meandering through until reaching the hardwood band at a similar ~2000’ on the western side of the mountain.

Footing grew rocky for a stretch, even with deep snow and following prior ski and snowshoe tracks, hidden boulders reached up and tossed ankles every-which-way. Thankfully this was a brief section and within ~0.5-miles the footing mellowed out and it was obvious I had landed on more old logging grades.

Fresh logging cuts adorned either side of the trail as I continued to descend over patches of wet ground, the ice crunched underneath and a glance back several times showed my snowshoe tails broke through to standing water.

While following the very pleasant grade of FR 107A, another grand view of Sugarloaf Mountain and its south-facing ledges is framed beautifully by the trees just ahead. A stone wall is followed for much of this old road as several other old logging roads veer off into the northern woods. While crossing a small brook I glanced over to spot an old cellar hole amidst the snow - certainly a much needed return in fair weather to the western side of Blueberry Mountain is in store.

With half a mile to go I made the final left turn onto FR 107 (also Blueberry Mtn Road) which I would follow to the closed gate where the Blueberry West Trailhead can be found.

And with a few strong swigs of deliciously warm tea, I turned around and traced my footprints all the way back up and over Blueberry Mountain. Back through hardwood forests over the now familiar logging roads; re-entering the dense conifer forest around 2000’.

I had grown accustomed to the minimal winds on the western slopes of the mountain but when I neared the ledges once again, the winds picked up once again, perhaps stronger than on my ascent and with shocked eyes I glanced at all of my tracks completely drifted over; 6-14” of powder covered my snowshoe tracks to trudge back through and sidehill across on several of the ledges.

Descending the scattered, bare ledges on the eastern side, this time, was like nobody had been through that stretch all winter. Skating through the drifts one stride at a time, meandering through tight switchbacks, I glanced up once to see through the sideways-blowing snow that all nearby hills were lost in a gusting, snowy haze; all I could do now was skate-snowshoe my way back to Glencliff.

Today was a good day for some hearty snowshoeing.

Overall stats for the day:
10.58-miles
3hr 50 minutes
3,330’ elevation gain

Blueberry Mountain - 2,662’

Blueberry Mountain Trail: End-To-End

Jeffers Mountain

Mount Cabot via Unknown Pond Loop