Training Log Archive: jima

More meandering in the Broken Ground - started off in the flat area that was my core stomping ground as a kid. The "Red Gate" is long gone, but the trails are still there.
Headed north into the more intricate parts - quite a mix. Some sections of rather bland, varying thicknesses of vegetation. Did a better job overall maintaining contact with the map.
Not quite the boulderishness of Pawtuckaway or Burnt Mtn, but some sections with a nice sprinkling of them - also found a large reentrant with some monsters and 5m+ cliffs. Some sections think with blueberry, other thicker areas of either small pine or close-packed saplings. Completed a couple more trail loops and discovered some more spurs for future exploration.

Wildlife for the day - 1 gray fox, a lot of birds (not yet an expert on these), several humans being walked by their dogs.

More running around in the Broken Ground - a really nice area overall. Had a rough plan to visit some hilltops, wander around some marshes and beaver ponds. Did some of that, then started following old logging trails and ATV trails. Lost touch with the map (2 foot contours get rather busy). Headed off cross-country again, hit a trail that was going the general direction I want to go, then hit a spot I'd been by earlier with a very distinct large depression. Resumed wandering, then headed back in. Hit stop instead of split, so the last bit of time/distance is estimated.

Matching up plots to landowners - City of Concord, State of NH, Unitil Energy, a couple of major absentee owners of wood lots, then others where I know at least the names, growing up just down the street. Definite potential for A-Meet.

Aerial photos look good going into Loudon as well - but no detailed contours past the city/town line.

Wildlife sightings - 2 deer (one I just saw the white tail heading away, other was an 8-10 pt buck chilling in a thicket about 20 feet from me until he saw me, then he bolted). 2 hunters - one in a stand, another driving empty-handed.

Belknap Range - Hiking and trail maintenance,
Camp Bell - along the Old Stage Road, up Blue Trail to Anna. Looks like I hit stop on my watch rather than a split at the base. Turned back on near top - distance and climb estimated. Cleaned out some water bars, moved some blowdowns, then tackled juniper infringing on the trail near the top.
Red Trail - Anna to Mack, just some water bar clean-outs.
Red/Orange down to Round Pond, then the Red Trail back down to the Stage Road and back to Camp Bell. Some gorgeous views coming down - right along the top of a gorge for part of the way down, then a couple of ledge overlooks - great sight lines back up the valley and over to Swett and Piper.

Checking out some of the trail network in Concord's Broken Ground - my old stomping grounds...
Definite great O map potential - need to spend some more time out there further off trail.
Cool and breezy - broke a sweat, but never felt warmed up.