 |
Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms |
|
|
|
| Home | Trail Descriptions | Articles | Links | Seasonal Tips | Forum |
In dry weather, this trail may offer the easiest route up Tripyramid, but the unusual number of brook crossings can be troublesome. Do not consider this description to include a definite count - one hiker counted two more!
The Forest Service plans to relocate some of the steeper sections which may slightly increase trail length.
Distance: To Sabbaday Brook Trail junction, about 4.5 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 2800 feet on the ascent, 300 feet back over North Peak on return, plus several minor ups
Maps:
USGS Mount Carrigain & Mount Tripyramid
AMC Franconia-Pemigewasset
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map I-7
DeLorme NHA&G 44-K3 to 40-A3 - Livermore/Waterville Valley
The trail is S of the Kancamagus Highway (NH Route 112) E of Exit 32 of I-93 at Lincoln and W of Conway.
Trailhead: Roadside on NH Route 112 (Kancamagus Highway) one mile W of Sabbaday Falls picnic area and county line, elevation about 1380 feet
44.0016°N, 71.4130°W (WGS84)
From Exit 32 of I-93, take NH Route 112 E over Kancamagus Pass about 19.5 miles (about 2.9 miles beyond Lily Pond), roadside parking on R
Far End: Junction with Sabbaday Brook Trail, elevation about 3860 feet
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: White Mountain National Forest
Special regulations: No fires or camping near highway or along trail in Wilderness Area
The first part of this trail follows a series of faint old woods roads across a plain drained by many small brooks. In dry weather, you may not recognize some of the brooks listed here if they have dried up, while in wet weather you could find more! Take a look at the brook at the highway bridge near the trailhead to get an idea what the water level may be. The description below is more detailed than usual as the trail may be hard to follow with leaves or snow on the ground.
Head away from the highway about 100 feet and turn right on an old logging railroad grade, recognizable by the cuts and fills. Cross two minor brooks and turn L to follow an old road up a main brook, crossing 4 tributaries. Cross the main brook, continue up the other side, recross the main brook just below a fork and then cross back over one branch immediately. After climbing between the forks, the trail suddenly turns right and goes down and up over six brooks with little net gain in elevation.
The last crossing of the six is a large unnamed tributary of Pine Bend Brook and the trail continues up the far side, crossing one branch, then crosses back to the near side and crosses a branch. The trail climbs more steeply along a gully at the head of the tributary, then crosses the gully and begins a sidehill segment on the far side. After following the gully bottom briefly, the trail does another sidehill segment on the far side before climbing up the gully bottom again.
This time the trail leaves the gully L and begins a long zag to a minor ridge, which it then follows steeply uphill to the main N-S ridge of Tripyramid. If you have a map and compass, it is a bushwhack of less than half a mile each way from here to the summit of Scaur Peak, one of the New Hampshire 100 Highest Peaks. The trail drops to the far side of the ridge, then ascends S to the Scaur Ridge Trail on the right at 3.2 miles from the start. There are some moose-eaten trees near this junction. If you aren't tired from reading this so far, you will be from hiking it!
The next segment is somewhat of a respite as it is a gradual ascent along a narrow ridge. There are views of the North Slide off to the right. After crossing a shallow col, the trail begins its final ascent which mixes gradual and steep sections. When you reach the sign for the North Slide direction on the Tripyramid Loop Trail, you are nearly at the top; a walk of 50 yards toward the North Slide brings you to a view N, while it is a steep descent through scrub of over .2 miles to the top of the slide to see what you missed by coming up the easy way.
Continue up about 50 yards to the flattish summit of North Peak at 4.0 miles, where there are views in all directions obtained by wandering around and peeking through the scrub. The trail descends steeply, then more gradually, then climbs over a small knoll and descends to the junction with the Sabbaday Brook Trail at 4.5 miles, where the Pine Bend Brook Trail ends.
Middle Tripyramid: Continue on the Tripyramid Loop Trail slightly downhill to the col, then ascend the steep narrow ridge to the summit, about .3 miles and 300' from the junction. The summit is a rock slab to the left of the trail with good views S and W.
Road plowed all winter, but may be risky to park on the side during a snowstorm.
Map Notes: The USGS map does not show as brooks the two main brooks that the trail follows, although you can estimate their locations by wiggles in the contour lines. The brook next to the trailhead signed "Pine Bend Brook" is not the brook labelled "Pine Bend Brook" on the map. The location of the side trail from the top of the North Slide is incorrect; the official route hits the Pine Bend Brook Trail N of the North Peak and a herd path comes in at the summit, not S of the summit as shown on the map.
Pine Bend Brook Trail down in the birches
South & Middle Tripyramid from North Peak
| Start a discussion about this page | e-mail Content Manager |