Turtleback Mountain Trail,
Mt. Shaw and Black Snout

Submitted by Pat

Stats
Mountains: Black Snout (2,692) and Mt. Shaw (2,990)
Date: June 4, 2017
Time: 6 hours
Trail: Turtleback Mountain Trail

Seeing Nancy in the Village Kitchen parking lot is a trip! She looks fantastic! She’s lost 25 pounds. Incredible discipline and focus for her these past two months. So glad it has worked.

Our plan is to finish hiking the Ossipees today – two summits – Mt. Shaw and Black Snout – and finish the Turtleback Mountain Trail. We start up the Lower Bridle Path to the Turtleback Mountain Trail. We need to hike the section between the Turtleback Mountain spur trail and the Ridge Trail. Starting at 9:00 am, we move right along, making good time, despite the mud, erosion and blow downs caused by last Friday’s thunderstorm. I start feeling the effort in my legs almost immediately, as usual. I sound like a freaking broken record. Huffing and puffing, I’m still able to keep up as we climb until we reach the High Ridge Trail around 11:00 am. Nancy is impressed with my bullish effort. I am too, though I use my poles to give myself a strong uphill push.

Most of the uphill is gradual. Toward the end, when we’re on the section of the High Ridge Trail to Mt. Shaw, my speed slows way down and I’m struggling to get up each section of uphill. The mosquitoes and black flies are relentless and while the Ben’s repellent works well, I sweat most of it off which leads to them swarming me again. Their constant harassment makes it difficult for me to stop and rest.

We stop at the Turtleback Mountain Trail for Nancy to cover a hot spot on her heel. I stand around swatting at the evil insects while I wait. I finally ask if I can wear Nancy’s ball cap and I end up wearing it for the rest of the hike. Bugs love to burrow into my hair and the hat helps. I only pick one tick off my sock as we hike.

We arrive at Mt. Shaw at 12:45 pm. We eat salads standing up with an amazing view of the southern 4,000 footers – all the way to the snow on Mt. Washington. After lunch we tramp over to Black Snout, arriving at 1:15 pm. The hike down feels long and when we reach the pond and come out of the trees, the breeze blows the bugs away and dries our sweat. It feels so good to take off my boots and sit down.

Aahhhhh…