Precipice Path and Straightback South

This is it.. my final hike of the Belknaps to complete the Redlining patch. I'll definitely be back to hike some of it again as I help the boys complete the Peak patch. I purposefully left the Precipice Path for my last hike so I could "go out with a bang". I had read many trip reports and seen many pictures of this trail. It's a 2 mile "U" shaped trail that starts and ends on the Straightback-Anna Link Trail (or Belknap Range Trail). There is a small spur that connects the bottom of the U to the Anna-Goat Pasture Trail mere yards from Old Stage Road. This was how I chose to hike the Precipice Path. The Precipice Path consists of a "waterfall" and "cliff walk". I had read it was best to attack the trail in a clockwise direction, essentially going up the waterfall and cliff walk, rather than down. This was my plan. I was going to tack on Straightback South as an afterthought since the summit is only a couple tenths from the intersection with the Precipice Path and had thought about trying the Marsh Crossing Trail which is not part of the redlining patch.. yet, but I am pretty sure it will be soon and I felt I might as well while I'm here. I reached out to the Belknap Range Hikers group on Facebook and was advised it is approximately 0.4 miles in length, has a decent stream crossing and a relatively steep rock climb near the West Quarry summit.. that would all come into play in my decision not to do the Marsh Crossing Trail (yet.. I'll be back!) I parked at the parking area at the end of Alton Mountain Road and confidently set out down Old Stage Road, now that I knew what to look for there. My first hike from here had us a bit confused in this area.. that confidence lasted about 15 minutes. I knew the intersection with the Anna-Goat Pasture Link Trail was a small arrow, but having been there twice before, I didn't think it would be an issue.. turns out I hiked right past it. I got to the gate on Old Stage Road and knew I had gone too far.. turned around and headed back with eyes glued on trees looking for the red blazes. I found them, laughed at my obvious miss the first time (at these moments I question what on earth I am thinking when I do miss these signs.. they always seem so obvious, yet I had waltzed right past without a thought). I headed in on Anna-Goat Pasture Link with my eyes peeled for the Precipice Path spur. I knew it wasn't far, but I also knew it wasn't marked so well unless you were really looking for it. The first time we had ventured this way, BRATT volunteer Rick Pelkey was repainting the blazes and there was a sign about wet paint which made it very obvious.. that had been removed, so I was looking for the purple. I almost missed that one too, but spotted it at the last moment and took the turn. I paused and hoped this wasn't an omen of things to come. The spur is only about 0.1 miles and I quickly merged onto the actual Precipice Path. I wasn't sure how far into the trail the "waterfall" was, or how tall it was either.. turns out, it's pretty much right as you turn onto the Precipice Path from the spur link, and it's only about 0.1 miles up. It's a bit daunting when standing at the bottom and you can see the Purple blazes zigzag their way up the rocks, but once you're going, it's really not that bad at all. I don't know how it would be if the waterfall was really flowing, it was a mere trickle on this day, so wet rocks were not an issue at all. I stopped and looked back a few times and was pretty happy with the pace I had going up the rocks. My quads were starting to get a bit angry with me, this being my 3rd hike in 6 days.. which is more than I've done in a very long time.. but I just kept moving. I felt pretty good when I reached the top of the waterfall and set out ready for the "cliff walk".. I had read one report in which the lady had said pine needles on the trail made it a bit hairy, so I was a bit hesitant about what to expect. Pine needles on a ridge trail I love.. pine needles on an incline are my worst nightmare.. so yeah, the cliff walk.. not my favorite section of trail I've ever hiked.. some sections were precariously close to the edge of a very steep drop.. and some sections had boulders way taller than me you have to scramble up or down. And going in this direction there are some pretty steep ups.. my quads were barking. I wasn't even a mile into the trail, dear Lord.. there are a couple of viewpoints along the trail, but it's mostly in woods.. and seemed neverending. Lots of cursing ensued. I FINALLY reached the junction with the Straightback-Anna Trail, breathed a huge sigh of relief and set out for the Straightback South summit. On my way up the cliff walk I had mentally checked out of attempting the Marsh Crossing Trail, thankfully having been advised of the steep section at the other end.. I knew my legs would not make it. I sort of looked for the cairn marking the trail subconsciously telling myself "maybe".. but as it turns out, I didn't even see it anyway. Wouldn't have been option had I wanted to (in looking at a map now it is much closer to the initial junction with the Precipice Path, whereas I was thinking it was closer to the Straightback side, thus it was at a point where I wasn't even thinking about looking for a trail.. now I know). I reached the other end of the Precipice Path, looked at the up to Straightback South and questioned for a moment if I really needed to go back up there having been there several times already.. but ultimately decided to head over to the summit, snap a quick picture and make my way back to the final section of trail I needed to complete. With the recent maintenance and reblazing of the Precipice Path it is quite obvious now where it joins the Straightback-Anna Link trail and I easily spotted the purple blazed cairn. I paused and thought back over all the miles and all the trails I had completed along this journey. This was it. 1 more mile. I headed in having read the first section of the trail was mild. There were a couple rather steep ledge descents, but overall it was pretty flat. I was watching the tenths tick off and kept thinking "oh dear, what is coming".. I had come up, I needed to go back down.. how was that going to happen if the trail stays this flat. Then with about 0.2 miles left the descent arrived.. and it was pine needles all the way! I very slowly made my way, slipped a couple times but managed to stay upright, and made my down, down, down.. and then there it was. The link back to Anna-Goat Pasture Link trail and Old Stage Road. I was done. I am very proud of myself for this accomplishment. I knew I could do it, but I did end up finishing much quicker than I originally thought... and now I'm done! Onto the next adventure...

Strava Activity

Old Stage Road from the parking area

The arrow I missed the first time

Sign on the tree.. set back from the trail.. you need to know it's there.

From the bottom of the waterfall looking up.

Looking back down.

 

Halfway up the waterfall.

More looking down.

The "top" of the waterfall

... and now the cliff walk.

Along the cliff walk.

What? How?

Looking back down the Precipice Path from the Straightback-Anna Link Trail

Straightback South Summit

 

From Straightback South summit looking back towards Belknap

Intersection with Quarry Trail.

The other end of the Precipice Path. Now I'll go back down.

.. well, I thought I was going down.. up first I guess.

 

The final leg of the journey.

After mostly flat... I have arrived at the down. Pictures don't do it justice. 



That's it.. I'm done.

Belknap Mountain

I'm so close now I can taste it.. after about 6 months of seriously going for this redlining patch, it almost feels a bit sad being so close to the end! Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled.. but it's bittersweet. I've never had a goal that was so "doable" for me. I'm working through a myriad of lists, as most hikers are, but they seem so distant.. so many mountains.. or the peaks are so far away. The Belknaps was so "right here".. it has been an amazing adventure planning and then going out and doing.. but I'm getting ahead of myself. Today, I had 9 miles to accomplish! Tired legs from last week and knowing I had a pretty killer day ahead tomorrow, I set out moderately (for me, which would be pretty slow for most). I parked at Gunstock and headed out on the Overlook Trail, which is merged with Round Pond Trail for the first 0.9 miles and is basically a XC ski trail, though being late Spring is pretty overgrown. Easy to follow, but the grass is getting long. I don't like the feeling of long grass on my ankles, so I'm glad I chose long tights for today! The Overlook trail branches off at 0.9 miles and as I had read heads up to the col between Belknap and Gunstock for 2 miles and has some pretty steep sections.. I knew I would climb about 1500ft in these 3 miles (from the car) and while hiking a mountain is naturally that.. going up.. I kept waiting for the "steep" part. I was watching the tenths tick away on my Suunto and kept thinking "shoot, this is going to be some steep part since I haven't climbed it yet".. I also read there was a lovely "overlook" hence the trail name. I did reach a point that had a gorgeous outlook over the Range and lake.. but it wasn't exactly what I had pictured for the "overlook" portion of this trail. That being said, I kept waiting and waiting for the climb and overlook.. and before I knew it, I was at the intersection with the Blue Trail and Saddle Trail in the col. Also, my Suunto read a few tenths shorter, so it all happened rather quickly! I enjoyed the Overlook Trail much more than the Brook Trail several weeks ago (which many people combine to make a loop). Having been up the Blue Trail a few times already this year and always feeling like it's much "easier" than anticipated.. I confidently set out for the 0.5 mile climb to the summit of Belknap Mountain. While it did take longer than I felt it had in the past, I enjoyed the climb and tried to put out of my mind the many reports/pictures I had seen of an old plane crash that is very close to the trail somewhere in this section. I don't even like thinking about seeing something like that, so knowing it was so close made me feel a bit off-kilter (for lack of a better way of putting it, this was the first time I had done that section knowing it was there). I passed a Mum and her little (very little) girl who had come up the Blue Trail from the upper parking lot on Carriage Road. I assured her they were not too far from the summit, she seemed a bit overwhelmed! Quite the accomplishment for one so little (I'd put the little one at maybe 2 or 3 years old!).. I had the summit to myself and quickly climbed the firetower for some pictures. It was rather breezy so I was a bit scared of the tower today (my typical fear of heights aside).. also knowing I had the majority of my hike still ahead, lingering was not an option. I headed down the White Trail to reach the East Gilford Trail. I had 0.3 miles of that I needed to complete, a "quick" out and back to check that off my list. This ended up being my favourite section of the entire day. Mere yards from the intersection of East Gilford and White trails is a gorgeous outlook on rock ledge. These are my absolute favourite. I stopped to breathe it in and continued down the East Gilford Trail to the intersection of Boulder Trail, where I had come up a couple weeks ago. As I reached this intersection and turned to head back one of those "crazy mountain running dudes" came barreling down the trail. I will never understand (though secretly admire) how they do it. I have so many friends who do and I think they're all amazing! Back to the White Trail and I headed down that for the Old Piper Trail, which I would be on for a mere 30 yards or so before picking up the Piper-Round Pond Link Trail. Here is where my day would go sideways. Having hiked 1.3 of the 2.3 mile trail most recently and really enjoying it.. I had not anticipated the 1 mile I had left to do, to be so difficult and technical. A very, very steep downhill that was covered in dry leaves and wet leaves slowed me to almost a standstill. Every step I was afraid I was going to fall. I don't like that feeling. I'm all for technical, but I also don't like being afraid to step. I very slowly, and in a very frustrated manner (insert many moments of cursing) made my way down this section.. the technical portion of this trail did not let up once down that descent.. it just seemed to be rock scramble or jumping over something the entire mile. It took a lot out of me mentally after having had such a relatively "easy" time so far. I finally, finally made it to the Boulder Trail intersection and thought to myself "OK, easy going for the next mile" as my memory of it most recently was flat and nice going.. while it is mostly flat-ish.. I must have been not paying too close attention the last time.. it was uphill more than I had thought. Again, I wasn't ready for that. I was now close to 6 miles into the hike and knew I had 3 miles of Round Pond Trail left. I had reached that point of "OK I'm done".. I kept thinking "there's no way I am going to be able to finish this patch tomorrow, I'm spent".. but I "just kept swimming" as I often chant to myself when I reach these mental moments! I reached Round Pond Trail and took the final turn and headed back to the car. The last 3 miles were not too bad. No more real climbs thankfully.. the last "new to me" section was after the intersection with East Gilford Trail which was more of the Gunstock XC network, so quite wide trails, and easy footing. I made it back to the car and celebrated the fact I have 1 more trail to complete on this journey!


Suunto activity

Overlook Trail and Round Pond Trail follow the XC network

Overlook Trail branches off and heads up to Belknap and Gunstock

where Overlook trail branches off the XC network

the "Overlook" on Overlook Trail

I had read about water flowing over a cliff in the trail guide.. this was it, not what I thought!

Intersection with the Blue Trail and Saddle Trail

Intersection with the Blue Trail and Saddle Trail

Heading up Blue Trail to the summit of Belknap Mountain

one of my favourite views along the Blue Trail back to Gunstock

Belknap firetower views

Belknap firetower views

Belknap firetower views

Belknap firetower views

Looking down White Trail from Belknap summit

Intersection of White Trail and East Gilford Trail

East Gilford trail from the intersection with White Trail

views along East Gilford Trail

East Gilford Trail

intersection with Boulder Trail, my turnaround point

peekaboo views along White Trail, different than my last trip on this trail!

looking over to Piper Mountain from White Trail

Intersection of Piper-Round Pond Link with Old Piper Trail

Bottom intersection of Boulder Trail on the Piper-Round Pond Link Trail

a blowdown on the Piper-Round Pond Link Trail

never know what you'll come across when hiking!