January 16, 2010
With my January Grid complete, I was free to hike whatever I wanted today. I decided on Mount Martha also known as Cherry Mountain.
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I was surprised when I reached the trailhead that the trail was packed down by snowmobile.
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I thought for sure the tracks would veer off as the trail got steeper but they didn't. And I was really surprised when I reached the trail junction a little before the summit. I came across a snowmobile highway.
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Just .2 miles to go.
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The trail became more difficult for snowmobiles after this, but a few did venture to the top.
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The 3563' summit was nice. Unfortunately I was in the clouds today.
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I decided to head over to Owl's Head (not to be confused with the 4000 footer in the Pemigewasset Wilderness). From here the trail was not broken out and it took me 10 minutes just to find the start of the trail.
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I would have my work cut out for me. It had been a while since this trail had been broken out. Within the first 100 feet, I lost the trail 3 times and fell into 2 spruce traps. I decided it would be to much like work to get over there. I plan to hit both peaks on a traverse sometime on a nice day so I saw no need in getting it today. I returned to the summit of Mount Martha where a snowmobiler took a picture of Madison and me.
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I returned over the same route. The whole hike only took a little over two hours so I went and climbed Mount Waumbek after (no entry).
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