Dennis Dixon is heading North!: My 28th (Mount Waumbek) 4,000 footer!

I was able to do my 28th 4000 footer - Mount Waumbek - Wednesday, June 10 - in the red circle! It is the second-northernmost peak, and (after Mount Cabot last week) finishes what I call "The Far Far North Group"

It is about 3 hours to get up to the Starr King Trailhead: From Manchester-by-the-Sea, head down 128, then up 93 N through Franconia Notch, then northeast on 3 for 12 miles, right on 115 N for 6.6 miles, left on 115A N for 3.9 miles, right on Pool Rd, slight left on Starr King Rd

I have a "long" hike planned for this Saturday with some guys from the Thursday Morning Mens Breakfast - 9 miles on the Franconia Ridge Trail! So I wanted to just bang out this "short" hike this week. Um, there is no such thing as a "short 4000 footer" - they are all at least 4,000 feet! After errands around town, and going back home to get the hiking poles which I had forgotten, it was an easy/fast drive up to the Starr King Trailhead, starting the climb at 12:45. It is pretty simple: 2.6 miles up the Starr King Trail to Mt Starr King (3907 feet) then a forested ridge for 1 mile to Mount Waumbek (4006 feet) (and then 50 yards farther to get to the viewpoint!), then back down to the car. With twists and turns and overlooks, I covered 7.4 miles in 3 hours 10 minutes. I covered about 4,900 feet in climbing elevation (2450 up and back down):

Going up is a nice "walk in the woods"

sometimes the trail is a little wet

but the forest is beautiful!

The USGS mark for the top of Mt Starr King

And the view to the southeast:

Hike another mile, and then the cairn at the top of Mount Waumbek:

I recommend doing a little homework before hiking, and reading the descriptions that have been published, both/either in-print or on-line. The AMC's White Mountain Guide says "After Mt. Waumbek, on Kilkenny Ridge Trail, about 50 yards, a short side path leads right to a partial view of the Presidential from a blowdown patch." Without reading it, I would not have gone to "the blowdown patch":

and would have missed the beautiful view of the Presidentials:

So do a little reading before you go charging off into the Wilderness!

On the way home, Route 115A in Jefferson, NH has some beautiful views:

What A Great Day! Thank You God!

NOTE: I learned that iPhones are now using extra power to try to access cell towers; when hiking, put your phone in Airplane Mode, and then select WiFi to be able to use Map My Walk. When done hiking, disable Airplane Mode and you get everything back the way it usually is. I will test that this coming Saturday.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 (left at 9:30 AM, home at 7:00 PM)
177 miles -- Manchester-by-the-Sea down 128, then up 95 North, then northeast on 3 for 12 miles, right on 115 N for 6.6 miles, left on 115A N for 3.9 miles, right on Pool Rd, slight left on Starr King Rd (3 hours)
7.4 miles -- hiking (3 hours 10 minutes)
3 hours -- to get home

I listened to L albums today:

From my 160 gig iPod:

"Let It Be" by The Beatles, 1970