Today I’m pleased to present a new guest blogger, Tamar Smookler, LMT of Inner Truth Massage, Littleton, NH!
What a perfect time of year it is for hiking in the White Mountains! A refreshing cool breeze, crisp sunshine, and virtually no bugs is a beautiful thing.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking a solo day hike to the Sugarloaves, off of Zealand Road in Twin Mountain. I met a few smiling faces along the way, but for the most part enjoyed only the sound of the wind, the river, and birds overhead… oh, and my jagged breathing and grunting up the few steep inclines to the top! Boy was I glad to have brought plenty of water and snacks!
This was a great hike to start off the season. Mostly gradual elevation gain with a couple of challenging sections that lead to not one, but two amazing views to enjoy. It’s a double reward. Three quarters of the way up, the trail splits, one way to Middle Sugarloaf peak, and the other to North Sugarloaf summit.
So after reaching one beautiful, bare open ledge with 360 degree views, relatively little effort took me to the other one.
View of Mount Washington
Hiking the Sugarloaf Summits, Twin Mountain, NH
Sugarloaves, Twin Mountain, NH
What a treat! The trail is well maintained and is speckled with huge boulders left behind by glaciers, long stone staircases, and a carefully crafted wooden ladder near the summit. Round trip to both ledges is about three and a half miles long, taking about three hours total with plenty of time to rest, relax and have a picnic lunch at one of the peaks.
North Sugarloaf even has an old abandoned smoky quartz quarry to check out. There is so much beauty in this area, and I am grateful to be able to get out there and appreciate it. Just a reminder, if you do hike alone, don’t forget to tell someone where you are going and to bring a cell phone and first aid kit just in case. Also, the weather can be unpredictable, so pack some rain gear and warm layers and plenty of water and snacks. Stretching your hamstrings, quads and calves before and after your hike will also prevent injury. Happy trails!
Tamar Smookler, LMT
