Trailhead Off Rt 11 in Gilford, NH - turned a 2 mile loop into a 3 mile adventure
Packed trails for the second weekend running, turns out Lockes Hill is a popular snowshoeing spot for Gilford. Where only one of us has alot of traction we didnt want too much exposed rock. We hiked the same trails last fall so we knew this was an easy Saturday, never underestimate ability to mess up an easy naturewalk.
The goal was to find Kimball Castle. There are maps at the trailhead and cool little signs explaining wildlife and tree types, happy nature bu11$%t. Nothing gives any direction as to where the castle is or how to get there. The conservation area describes itself as the former estate grounds of Kimball Castle, they even talk about where local stone was mined to build the damn thing.
Last fall we did the normal loop hike and never saw any castle. Great views of Winnepesauki & some power lines, but no flippn castle. At the main lookout we noticed some shoe tracks going west away from the power lines, but after a 1/2 mile and no castle we started to question ourselves. We had lost alot of elevation going this way, going back up would've sucked and we were also walking away from the car. With my iphone gps and my compass I knew we needed to head North to get back to our ride, the castle pictures I had seen gave a clear view of the lake, putting it on that end of the forest area. We got our bearings pretty easy, after another 1/2 mile bushwhack we were back on packed snow trails and out to the road.
After a short solo roadwalk I returned to pick up the wife & dog, saw the damn Castle from the breakdown lane on Rt 11. I am a fool. If we had followed the powerlines out we would've ran right into the thing. I trudged up a small ledge next to the road and scored this one pitiful picture of the castle. Whatever, win some lose some.
Packed trails for the second weekend running, turns out Lockes Hill is a popular snowshoeing spot for Gilford. Where only one of us has alot of traction we didnt want too much exposed rock. We hiked the same trails last fall so we knew this was an easy Saturday, never underestimate ability to mess up an easy naturewalk.
The goal was to find Kimball Castle. There are maps at the trailhead and cool little signs explaining wildlife and tree types, happy nature bu11$%t. Nothing gives any direction as to where the castle is or how to get there. The conservation area describes itself as the former estate grounds of Kimball Castle, they even talk about where local stone was mined to build the damn thing.
Last fall we did the normal loop hike and never saw any castle. Great views of Winnepesauki & some power lines, but no flippn castle. At the main lookout we noticed some shoe tracks going west away from the power lines, but after a 1/2 mile and no castle we started to question ourselves. We had lost alot of elevation going this way, going back up would've sucked and we were also walking away from the car. With my iphone gps and my compass I knew we needed to head North to get back to our ride, the castle pictures I had seen gave a clear view of the lake, putting it on that end of the forest area. We got our bearings pretty easy, after another 1/2 mile bushwhack we were back on packed snow trails and out to the road.
After a short solo roadwalk I returned to pick up the wife & dog, saw the damn Castle from the breakdown lane on Rt 11. I am a fool. If we had followed the powerlines out we would've ran right into the thing. I trudged up a small ledge next to the road and scored this one pitiful picture of the castle. Whatever, win some lose some.
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