Terrifying 25: Brook Trail

Thursday, June 4, 2026 - It has been over a year since I did a "Terrifying 25", and sprained my ankle. Time to get back on that horse: a "Terrifying 25" going up Mount Chocorua from the southwest: "Brook Trail".

On the map:
Yellow = "Required", have not climbed
Blue = "Optional", have not climbed
Green = "Have Climbed"

Of 33 total trails, I have climbed 18 of them, with 15 to go:

I'll be going up "Brook Trail" for 3.7 miles up to the summit of Mount Chocorua. Since the AMC's "White Mountain Guide" says: "An excellent loop trail can be made by ascending Brook Trail and descending Liberty Trail, that is what I will do:

I started the day picking up a friend who lives near Lobster Cove in Manchester, and we went into our Breakfast-in-Boston:

(At The Union Club, I discovered they have a puzzle-table too):

I left Boston behind me, and at noon I was up at Chocorua Lake, with its great view of Mount Chocorua:

I started hiking at 12:20

As you can imagine, Brook Trail goes up alongside Claybank Brook:

The Trail has some nice stretches:

But the hike takes a long time because much of the trail is gnarly with roots:

I'm glad I wasn't here when this happened:

After 2-and-1/2 miles, you crossover The Brook and start going UPHILL:

This Trail is on the "Terrifying 25" list because it is "potentially dangerous in wet or icy conditions", especially where it ascends "steep, open ledges":

Just to keep things interesting, a yellow helicopter kept buzzing around The Mountain (and AROUND ME) - I had to check to make sure I hadn't accidently activated my SpotBeacon (I hadn't!):

After 3.45 miles and 2:30 hiking, The Big Cairn marks Liberty Trail coming in from the right (yes, that is still Mount Chocorua in the background):

Pretty views:

I reached The Summit after 3.69 miles and 2:48

360-Degree views up here:

Time to head back down The Mountain:

At 4 PM I encountered Jim Liberty Cabin:

and The Trail GOING DOWN:

An hour-and-1/2 later I was on (relatively) level ground. The main problem is that both trails today are WET, with streams crossing (and using "the trail"), and there are boggy conditions. It makes for slow (and wet) going. And the bugs are pretty bad, also:

I finished at 5:48 PM, hiking 7.57 miles in 5 hours 19 minutes. The Hike was harder than I expected, probably for 2 reasons - It was longer than the 6 previous hikes I have done, and the trail conditions were not very good:

I grabbed dinner at McDonald's in West Ossipee, NH, and got home by 9, in time for a hot shower. Thank You God for this GREAT "Terrifying 25" Adventure! Lobster Cove in the morning, Mount Chocorua in the afternoon!

For my listening pleasure today:

starting my day with jazz - various artists - Happy Hour Jazz, 2001 compilation album, last heard 6/08/2021:

And then it was time for "Debut Albums" as a Theme:

The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event, 2008 debut album, last heard never - one of a few bands I discovered (and like) in the last 20 years:

Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield, 1966 debut album, last heard never - really good album, puts a smile on my face:

Al Stewart - Modern Times, 1975 6th album, last heard never - I like his 1970's albums:

Dire Straits - Dire Straits, 1978 debut album, last heard never:

Elvis Presley - The Sun Sessions, 1976 compilation album, last heard never. Although not his "first album", it is a compilation of his "first recording", made in Memphis, Tennessee, for Sun Records in 1954 and 1955:

Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about visiting Art Museums and National Parks (and hiking in the Rockies)
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