You Are Here: 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