Mount Major hiking, area mountain biking questions

Submitted by degggendorf t3_11ffh66 in newhampshire

Hey all,

I am coming up next weekend (edit: meaning a week and a half from now, March 10-12) for a little getaway trip, just want to double check my low-key-ish activity plans to make sure I come prepared. For reference, I'm from RI and am accustomed to Adirondack High Peak hiking, but am less familiar with you folks' area in between.

  1. Hiking Mount Major: looks like you have some fresh snow on the ground right now, with a few more inches possible this weekend, but then sun and warm temps through next weekend would mean that we won't need snowshoes, right? I'm thinking carry some microspikes just in case, but bare boot will be probably be fine?

  2. Mountain biking in the same area: not looking for anything challenging like the (double) black diamond trails right on Mount Major, something like flowy blues and greens will be about right. Is Ramblin' Vewe Farm looks good from Trailforks at least; would that be a good option for stringing together a couple hours of riding?

Thanks for the help!

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Comments

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newenglandpolarbear t1_jakie9e wrote

For #1 bring everything, snowshoes, micro spikes, glove warmers, etc. We recently had an experienced hiker pass away climbing mountains due to being under prepared. Winter hiking in New Hampshire is not something to screw around with.

You know the saying: "When in New England if you don't like the weather, wait a minute, it'll change." It may not look like snow now, but that could change. GFS Model shows below freezing that weekend.

Edit: Since OP doesn't actually want any advice, and will personally attack you if you try, I will no longer be responding to them, I encourage you all to do the same.

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kearsargeII t1_jakvt5s wrote

Mount Major isn’t exactly like hiking in the Whites. It is low elevation, far below treeline, and a fairly short hike. I honestly wouldn’t consider it much more risky than any walk in the NH woods, though the top can get a bit exposed. Unless the weather is truly atrocious, I would think that anyone with the right equipment, ie winter clothes, micro spikes, would have no real difficulty summiting.

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newenglandpolarbear t1_jakzvi9 wrote

>I would think that anyone with the right equipment, ie winter clothes, micro spikes, would have no real difficulty summiting.

Which is exactly why I suggested what I did. It'll probably be a piece of cake, but that doesn't mean you go under prepared.

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degggendorf OP t1_jakmxz2 wrote

Glove warmers!? I appreciate your concern, but last weekend I hiked the highest mountain in the Adirondacks (plus two others), below zero the whole day, with a wind chill at the summits something like -30. I think I'll be okay below freezing for two miles, that's like light jacket weather.

Of course I'll watch for new snow, but generally stuff fully melts between storms around there, right?

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newenglandpolarbear t1_jakzr71 wrote

Listen pal, I wear shorts in sub freezing weather, but that's also irrelevant. You came here for advice, I gave you advice. Don't be an arrogant jerk.

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degggendorf OP t1_jalytq8 wrote

You gave irrelevant advice that I didn't ask for...from my perspective you mansplaining light hiking to me seems awfully arrogant too.

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OG_Kush_Wizard t1_jaksh5v wrote

Do you want advice or to hear what you want to hear?

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degggendorf OP t1_jakuswm wrote

...you know I'm asking about the 1,700 ft hill called Mount Major, right?

If you think that's equivalent to one of the Franconia Range, then you're not the type of person I'm looking for advice from.

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bonanzapineapple t1_jal0si8 wrote

It's also March. Very much still winter in NH

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degggendorf OP t1_jalyxuj wrote

Oh gee whiz thanks, I didn't know how to read a calendar, I thought it was going to be summer

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Zephyr-4444 t1_jaj8ndq wrote

Hello, We are supposed to get another 5-8 inches of snow Friday night. That means you will be breaking trail on Mt Major in Alton unless you wait till later on Sunday. You may need snow shoes. I haven't ridden at Ramblin Vewe in Meredith but the trails would be powdery fun. You might want to look at Ahern State Park in Laconia as well, there are lots of riding trails there.

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degggendorf OP t1_jajb3e5 wrote

Oh hey sorry, I should have specified dates since "next" weekend is ambiguous. We will be up there March 10-12.

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Zephyr-4444 t1_jan5pds wrote

If there isn't snow next week you should be fine with spikes. The views will be beautiful.

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degggendorf OP t1_jan71f6 wrote

We can expect snow on the trails regardless, right? Like there's snowpack all winter, just a matter of how fluffy it is based on how recently there's been more accumulation?

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Zephyr-4444 t1_jan95vc wrote

Absolutely, packed snow and there might be some areas of ice where there's a lot of sun exposure or running water over the trail

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GRADIUSIC_CYBER t1_jakepw6 wrote

Impossible to say that you WON'T need snowshoes, I would just plan on having snowshoes and microspikes for Mt. Major, and leave snowshoes in the car depending on conditions.

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Hextall2727 t1_jam0zqs wrote

You won't be mountain biking unless you have a fat bike. We have a couple of storms going on in the next few days and local riders will have to snowshoe the trails for bikes, but they likely won't be firm enough for skinny tires. And if they were... They'd be ice ribbons where you'd need studs.

That being said, there is a network of trails near wolfboro, but I don't know the local fat bike scene and if they get packed out. There's a bike shop in town that night be able to steer you.

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degggendorf OP t1_jam19og wrote

>We have a couple of storms going on in the next few days

Is that snow unlikely to melt in the following week of sun and ~40°?

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Hextall2727 t1_jam1foq wrote

Yes. It'll still be here. Plus the trails have been packed down all winter... Which means they are likely dense packed snow and ice that'll be there until may.

Our trails are in the woods and aren't in direct sun. Then we have our mud season. Then mtb carefree in about June.

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degggendorf OP t1_jam4z45 wrote

Gotcha, that snowpack is just what I was wondering about. Thanks!

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