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Mount Pierce and Mizpah Spring Hut
Route Summary This loop hike brings you to Mount Pierce which is a 4000-footer in the Presidential Range. You will also pass by AMC's Mizpah Spring Hut and Nauman Tentsite. Both the summit and portions of the walk between the hut and the peak offer fantastic views.
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Trail Guide The Tale of Mount Pierce: The Hares and the Tortoises. It was the best of times, with a few unfortunate "incidents". On Saturday, Sept 29th thirteen dayhikers and two dogs were optimistic about the weather forecast. We left the parking area on Mount Clinton Road at 10ish for the moderate climb. There were a few breaks to shed layers (then add as we neared the summit). The Mizpah Spring Hut caretaker later told me wind gusts were recorded at 60 mph! (On Mount Washington?!) Anyhoo, it was windy. The "hares" of our group were full of goose bumps by the time the "tortoises" reached the summit of Mount Pierce (4312 feet) for the first lunch. Alex, our "hare" on Red Bull, decided to continue on to the hut to wait for the group and duck out of the wind. Near the Mount Pierce summit was where Tessa was pegged as a "lost dog" and tied to the sign post by well meaning hikers. I guess all of that whining and howling into the wind can be interpreted any number of ways! Here is where Jack was dining at the summit, heard Tessa was tied, and he dropped down to the trail junction to free her. He also followed her down the trail a bit to be sure we met up. This was Jack's first opportunity to be the hero. He jogs around those trails with such agility and ease! Thanks Jack! After that, Tessa never got out of my sight. After a brief stop at the summit (for the tortoises, longer for the hares), we descended to Mizpah Spring Hut to meet up with Alex. By the time we reached the hut, the sun was bright and the sky blue. Several hikers warmed up with hot soup, the sun streaming in the windows warmed all. After a brief jaunt (2.6 miles) down from the hut, most made it to the parking area uneventfully. Here's where Jack appears again. A few hikers missed the last turn to the Crawford Connector to Mount Clinton Road. Jack realized they were on a different trail before too long and they only added a mile to their hike. Once again, hikers were happy Jack was along! Sorry I did not wait at that turn for you guys! They were all smiles and looked very buff after that extra mileage! The Willey House was open for our ice cream stop, with limited flavors. No maple walnut... Oh yeah, the foliage was nice as well! All in all, a nice hike and beautiful day. |
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Driving Directions
The trailhead for Crawford Connector is located on Mount Clinton Road, off of Route 302, in Carroll (Twin Mountain), New Hampshire. From the West:
From the East:
Facilities Toilets at the parking lot. Other Notes WMNF Recreational Pass A parking permit is required to park at White Mountain National Forest trailheads and parking areas. You can purchase a WMNF permit from the forest service and other vendors and can also pay-by-the-day using self-service kiosks located in many parking areas. For more information on parking passes please refer to the White Mountain National Forest website. Rates:
More Mt. Pierce and Mizpah Spring Hut Trail Reports |
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