My buddy Pauly and I went to Ragged Mountain to ski for a bit. It was the fist time I’ve been there in over 30 years.
Views from the trial
When we got there the temps were cool in the teens and twentys. We were a little late but there was still plenty of parking. We were in the back lot but got a ride up ot the lodge from the shuttle.
Ragged Mountain Summit
Skiing was fun. The whole mountain was not open yet but we made the best of what was open. Most of the trails were loose granular with some ice here and there. The more the day went on the more ice showed up and the less snow to find.
Views in the clouds
We skied till about 2pm. I really liked the barnyard slopes and the barn you get to see through. Some of the unopened trails looked like they would be fun. I’ll be back when more snow and more trails are open.
This year I bought an Indy Pass which gives me access to a bunch of smaller local mountains in the area.
Riding the slow lift up
Today I decided to check out Tenny Mountain in Plymouth, NH. It was new years day and pretty cold outside.
Frozen Trees along the way
When I pulled up to the parking lot there was a sign for Indy Pass holders to go to the ticket window. The whole process was very easy. I just had to buy a RFD card for the mountain.
More frozen trees along the trail
I am spoiled by the high speed quads. The lift seemed to move a little slow and it was getting colder.
Wind mills at the summit
Only about half the mountain was open. Much of the snow on the green trails was skied off. There as just the crusty frozen tracks from the snow cat in some spots.
More Views to be seen
The blue trails were not bad on the edges. Mostly loose granular. I only did 5-6 runs before I called it a day. But I would like to revisit when conditions are better.
We bought some tickets for a NYC Christmas trip bus trip. The bus picked us up in Concord, NH at 6am and brought dropped us off at Rockefeller Center in NYC. We would meet the bus in Times Square at 8pm. Steph, Kristen, Ayvree, my Mom and Aunt Corey had the whole day to explore.
Made it to Manhattan
The bus trip was a bit long. It took 5 hours. There was one break at a rest area on the way down. When we arrived at Rockefeller Center the temps were very cold and the streets were very crowded.
We made our way through Rockefeller Center, and it was shoulder to shoulder with people looking at all the Christmas decorations.
Some Christmas Decorations
From there we went across the street to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Beautiful church and I usually stop in there when I’m in that area. From here are group split and my sister and Ayvree went on to Time Square to find some Broadway show tickets. We already had tickets to the Rocketts later that afternoon.
The creche inside St. Patricks Cathedral
So, the four of us walked up Fifth Avenue to check out some of the Christmas window displays. There were a lot of amazing displays. Louis Vitton covered their whole building and made it look like luggage. So over the top.
Windo display at Tiffany & Co.
We made it to Central Park and decided to take a pedicab. They were expensive and we needed two of them. But after a bit of haggling over price, we were off.
The ride lasted about an hour. Our drivers were awesome. Showing us all kinds of movie sites, fountains, the Ghost Busters building, the Friends fountain, Strawberry fields and John Lennons apartment and so much more.
Louis Vuitton was over the top with the wrap on the whole building to make it look like luggage.
They were also really good about taking pictures of us as a group near all the attractions.
The ride lasted about an hour then they dropped us off at 5th Ave where we got on. We had enough time to grab a bite and walk back down to Radio City Music Hall for the Rocketts.
Standing in front of the Friends fountain.
This was my first time in Radio City. It is a beautiful music hall. The show itself was nothing less than amazing. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen. It was a total emersion show. I was not expecting that.
Pedicab in front of John Lennons appt.
Right before we went into the show my aunt lost her wallet. We looked all over but did not see it anywhere. After the show we went to the lost and found and someone had turned it in. Faith in humanity restored.
Imagine memorial at Strawberry Fields
After the show we met up with my sister and niece again. We walked around and made our way to Times Square. There were even more people out now. It was packed. Lights were flashing and people everywhere. After a bit of sight-seeing we walked to meet our bus. At this point we were all tired and cold and glad to be back at the bus.
Inside Radio City Music Hall
The ride home went smooth. It was again 5 hours, but we were able to sleep on the bus so that helped.
Today I hiked with a festive group of friends. Up to Mt. Roberts. We met up at the Castle in the Clouds parking area. I rode up with my buddy Jack. When we arrived, there were a few people from our group already there. Temps were in the low 20’ maybe even teens with a cool breeze and clouds covered the sky.
Truckin up the hill ugly sweater stile
As we got our bags together more people started to arrive. I think there might have been 10-15 of us in all and most people were hiking in their festive ugly sweaters.
I love a good view point. Even if there was not much of a view.
We headed out toward the trail head and started marching. Some wore snowshoes but most wore microspikes. At the bottom the snow was ok. The trail was well trampled and would really get packed down with all these people.
Little bit of a view
As we hiked up we took a few phots of everyone and the spectacle that we were. Before long we came to the first viewpoint. A small .01 mile spur that looks over the lake’s region. At this point there were clouds blocking most of the distance view.
Frosty pine needles
Frosty branches
After that first view we were now climbing up for or a little while until we got to another clearing. Again, not much for views. Just a solid gray background.
Now that we were on somewhat a ridgeline the snow was a little deeper. Because the snow was so cold the it did not pack down very well and that made it a little difficult. It was kind of like walking on marshmallow. Everyone looked like they were a bid drunk hiking up.
Not much to see at the second view point
The higher we got the deeper the snow got. The last .5 miles would have been a bit easier with snowshoes but we did ok and everyone made it to the summit.
Winter wonderland
At the summit we were all having a good time. I had a quick bite to eat got something to drink. We managed to get a group photo of everyone before starting back down.
Its cold out and more clouds blocking the views
One by one people started leaving. I was in the last group to leave. The trek back down was much faster going then the way up. I noticed that I broke the tip of my pole off somewhere along the way.
Summit group shot!
When we got to that last down hill Jack and I tried to do a short buttsled run. But the snow was to thin and the rock were to big so we did not make it far.
Before long we were back to the open fields of Castle in the Clouds and we could see our cars. We could also see the other waiting for us.
Sunny skies at the end
I always have a great time with these group hikes. The people are wonderful and everyone is always laughing and smiling.
It was the day after Thanksgiving and it was the last somewhat nice day before some snow is supposed to arrive over the weekend. So, I decided to take a ride back to Pawtuckaway and look for the three cemeteries that are inside the State Park boundaries.
Foundation next to the Goodrich Cemetery
My research showed that two the cemeteries were off of the same trail and the third one was right off tower road. There is a lot of debate over how many cemeteries are actually within the park boundaries. This is partly due to the many cemeteries are just outside the boundary but are still remote.
Walking along the North Mountain Bypass traiil
To the best of my knowledge I found only three. If anyone knows of one I missed, please let me know in the comments.
The Goodrich Cemetery
The Goodrich Cemetery is also sometimes called the Tower Road cemetery. This may add to the confusion about how many cemeteries are in the park.
Gravestones lined up in the Goodrich Cemetery.
This cemetery is located between the Middle Mountain trail and the Tower Trail along Tower Road. There is a small parking lot right next to the cemetery.
View of the Goodrich Cemetery from the opening
Some of the stones are still in great condition and still very readable. The cemetery is boarded by a nice stone wall. There is also a foundation next to the cemetery. Likely the home of one of the Goodrich family members. Or maybe a barn of some sort. Not really sure.
A few of the smaller grave stones in the Goodrich Cemetery
Overall the cemetery is in pretty good shape and most of the stones are still up right.
Chase Cemetery
The Chase Cemetery is located on Round Pond Road along the North Mountain Bypass trail. About a quarter of a mile in there are some foundations on the left hand side and one really large foundation that might have been a barn at one point.
Metal fence around the Chase Cemetery
After checking out the foundations I traveled into the woods a bit, about 100 yards and saw the old metal gate that surrounded the small family plot.
The Chase Cemetery in Pawtuckaway State Park
I could see the fence was breaking down and falling over in many areas. It has seen better days.
Close up of one of the graves in the Chase Cemetery
It looked like some of the graves had been broken but someone stood them back up. There were also a few small stones that I could not make anything out on. Over all there were not many graves. After a few pictures I continued on to the next cemetery.
Bartlett Cemetery
The Bartlett Cemetery is located further up the North Mountain Bypass trail. This is located about another quarter mile up the trail.
The split rock in front of the Bartlett Cemetery
At one point the trail takes a sharp left and there is a stone wall with a heard path next to this. This path leads to a large split rock and behind this rock is the Bartlett Cemetery.
Veteran Grave in the Bartlett Cemetery
There were a few veterans buried in this one. It was large but not all the grave markers were professional and readable. Some looked like just stones popping out of the leaves. The cemetery is boarded with a stone wall along most of its sides.
A small grave marker sticking out through the leaves
I enjoyed this one because it was kind of hidden and kind of significant as well.
I loved this sign on this section of trail. I felt like a VIP.
Date:
11-23-2025
Location:
Harrisville – Dublin, NH
Distance:
6.09 mi
Elevation Gain:
653′
Total Time:
3 hr 28 min
Parking:
2+ cars
Jack and I decided to close out the southern portion of the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway and travel from where we left off in Harrisville and walk down to the Dubline trailhead.
Little Road walk heading up to the Town of Nelson
When we met at the Dublin Trailhead it was cold out. Temps in the 30’s. From here we got in to my car and made our way to Harrisville. We parked on a pull off on Seaver Road near the lake.
Cool stone bridge going over a drainage ditch
After a small road walk, we got to the trail, this part of the trail was pretty wide and easy to follow. We passed a cool single stone bridge. There was another wooden bridge a bit further down and a large beaver dam at the low point holding back the whole pond.
Looking down from the dam
After more walking we came across a dam for a reservoir that had a small waterfall below it. Got a few pictures from on top of the dam. Below the dam there is a crooked bridge that goes over the running water.
Jack standing on the crocked bridge
We followed the water line a bit and even went down to the water. The reservoir is very low. Not far from here we arrived at Splitoir Shelter. We took break here and had some coffee. We checked out the accommodations and signed the logbook.
Water is low
We also checked out the privy. Again, pretty standard. Upper pooper and a lower pooper all right out in the open. After that we packed up and moved on.
The Splitoir Shelter
As we were walking the trail changed quite a bit. Sometimes wide open and sometimes a tunnel of sticks and grass. We came upon an old foundation. It had a sign that noted its first owner was a revolutionary war veteran.
Upper toilet and lower toilet.
The trail got really diverse when we got to the Wildwood Wilderness Preserve. We walked through hardwood forests, then then evergreen forests, by swamps, by old shed, stonewalls, marshes and all kinds of cool things.
Walking through some cool sections of the trail
The last mile was mostly through a hardwood forest. It was a bit of a slog for me but when I saw the register at the beginning of the trail by the parking lot I was happy. Jack was already at the car and unpacked so I made my way over and we were off to grab my car where we started.
Entering the Wildwood Wilderness
This was more interesting than I thought it would be. Good hike for a cold cloudy day.
The logbook at the trail headGobble-GobbleOur route for the day
