[3/4 time]

Lincoln, NH is a 3-hour ride for me, so I thought I’d try something closer as today promised to be such a beautiful day. I hit the road at 5 AM and headed for the Squam Range. I figured I would climb Mt. Isreal. Three hours later I pulled up to the trailhead.
I needed my DeLorme to find Mead Base Camp; there are a few unmarked intersecting dirt roads.
Up I went over a very well maintained trail through a thick deciduous forest with what look like some old growth trees still standing. A few of these monsters had to be 4-5 feet in diameter.
It was 2.1 miles to the top with an elevation gain of about 1700 feet. There is very little level walking and nothing very steep. It just keeps going up. It was a little tough on my knees coming down.
It took 1:55 for me to reach the top, including several breaks along the way and a short sit at a ledge that overlooked Squam and Winnipesaukee Lakes. It was a great spot. I could see the Ossipees and Belknaps and far to the west to what I guessed was Monadnock.
There is a small sheltered ledge just before the summit with a view to the south and east. From the summit the views were expansive from the southwest, northward across to the east.
It was a bit cool and breezy at the top so I headed back about 75 yards to the ledge for lunch.
It took 1:30 to arrive back at Mead Base Camp.
Since Sandwich Notch Road was open I figured I’d take a trip to Waterville Valley. It was early afternoon. The Center Sandwich end wasn’t too bad, but I’d be worried about my exhaust system on the Waterville Valley end. I have a high-clearance pick-up with 4-wheel drive. I never needed the 4-wheel, but I was thankful for the high clearance.
However, I did see a couple of cars parked at the Guinea Pond Trailhead and another at the Algonquin Trailhead.
It took 3-hours to get home.

[Mewalkinwoods]

3/4 time, on 16 May 2010 - 08:00 PM, said:

Lincoln, NH is a 3-hour ride for me, so I thought I’d try something closer as today promised to be such a beautiful day. I hit the road at 5 AM and headed for the Squam Range. I figured I would climb Mt. Isreal. Three hours later I pulled up to the trailhead.
I needed my DeLorme to find Mead Base Camp; there are a few unmarked intersecting dirt roads.
Up I went over a very well maintained trail through a thick deciduous forest with what look like some old growth trees still standing. A few of these monsters had to be 4-5 feet in diameter.
It was 2.1 miles to the top with an elevation gain of about 1700 feet. There is very little level walking and nothing very steep. It just keeps going up. It was a little tough on my knees coming down.
It took 1:55 for me to reach the top, including several breaks along the way and a short sit at a ledge that overlooked Squam and Winnipesaukee Lakes. It was a great spot. I could see the Ossipees and Belknaps and far to the west to what I guessed was Monadnock.
There is a small sheltered ledge just before the summit with a view to the south and east. From the summit the views were expansive from the southwest, northward across to the east.
It was a bit cool and breezy at the top so I headed back about 75 yards to the ledge for lunch.
It took 1:30 to arrive back at Mead Base Camp.
Since Sandwich Notch Road was open I figured I’d take a trip to Waterville Valley. It was early afternoon. The Center Sandwich end wasn’t too bad, but I’d be worried about my exhaust system on the Waterville Valley end. I have a high-clearance pick-up with 4-wheel drive. I never needed the 4-wheel, but I was thankful for the high clearance.
However, I did see a couple of cars parked at the Guinea Pond Trailhead and another at the Algonquin Trailhead.
It took 3-hours to get home.

It sounds like you had a great day. Any pictures?