Whiteface hikers treated to spectacular views

Part of the hike group pauses at the top of Whiteface Mountain to enjoy a spectacular view from the summin

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways' annual Fall Foliage Hike was held on October 3, a beautifully sunny and crisp autumn day. Led by Art Slocum, MMRG Board Member and Secretary, the group of hikers climbed to the summit of Whiteface Mountain, the highest peak in Wolfeboro.

Near the beginning of the hike, which used an old trail off Cowper Road, Slocum pointed out several cellar holes and numerous stone walls. The plethora of stones used in New England walls and cellars originated after the region's forests were cleared, which allowed the cold winters and fluctuating temperatures to push up a multitude of stones laying beneath the newly exposed landscape.

Slocum enumerated the various types of stone walls, their different purposes and how they were constructed. Thrown walls were made where stones and rocks were simply cleared and deposited at the edge of a field or pasture. Stack and fill walls and laid walls were constructed more carefully with the lowest stones set below the frost line to create a more permanent boundary. The Whiteface Trail has both thrown walls and stack and fill types, including examples of livestock alleys and bar ways built to herd animals from one pasture to another.

From the summit of Whiteface, scenic views spanned 180 degrees. To the west, the first mountain visible was, ironically, another mountain named Whiteface in the Sandwich Mountain Range. Seen in succession while turning eastward were Mt Chocorua, the Presidential Mountain Range with Mt Washington, Lake Ossipee, Green Mountain in Effingham, and Pine River Pond in Ossipee.

Slocum informed the group that approximately 85 acres of land below and including the Whiteface summit was recently purchased by the Wolfeboro-Tuftonboro Land Bank. The property will be transferred to the Town of Wolfeboro after being protected by a conservation easement to be held by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. The Wolfeboro Conservation Commission contributed to the purchase and is constructing a new trail to the Summit that is projected to be open to the public next spring. MMRG has played a facilitating role in this conservation effort.

Parsons Furniture Company in Wolfeboro was the business sponsor for this event.

MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro. Throughout the year, MMRG offers many educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region's natural resources. For more information, visit www.mmrg.info.