Hiking locally for once?
At the close of my first week commuting to corporate America, I had no interest in making long drives on both weekend days. Having already flagged the 100-mountain-long "NH Fire Towers" list, I decided to get started on the "trailless", yet simple Southern New Hampshire peaks. I was lazy about researching these and thankfully found great directions on nhfamilyhikes.com for everything I did today. The site doesn't feature routes, which gave me at least a tiny challenge, but if you want a route, drop a follow request on Strava or an email!
Mine Hill, Auburn NH
When I arrived at Lake Massabesic this morning, the wind and sun were in a fierce battle of strength. Due to many large-truck driving ice fishers filling up the pull off my Shore Road, I enjoyed a wind-blasting road walk from the nearby Circle of Fun playground to the start of Fire Road 42.
After tucking around the gate, I walked up Fire Road 42 briefly until I arrived at a clearing. Here, I made a right on Fire Road 43, went around a massive blowdown, and then up Fire Road 44. I followed some footsteps at one point, thinking there was a shortcut, but it led to someone's trap instead.
Once I was nearing the top, which was super evident as the tree spaced and gave way to the view over the cliffs, the private property signs came in. Keeping the signs to my left, I approached a long wooden staircase that got me to the top without crossing any property lines. You end up super close to the house at the top, but there are enough signs in place to know where the boundary is. By the end of the obvious house area, the foundation of the fire tower was right there! Though the fire tower has been down since 1989, the view down to Lake Massabesic isn't too overgrown yet. While short, I enjoyed this little adventure!
Warner Hill, Derry NH
I know very well that this fire tower doesn't deserve an entry as a "hike." I parked at the end of the driveway and walked 2 minutes to the standing and well-maintained firetower. Very sturdy for how high it was!
Jeremy Hill, Pelham NH
I have to shoutout the folks over at NH Family Hikes again for this one, the parking directions were so helpful! After parking at the end of Jeremy Hill Road, I went the wrong way down the cable barrier path flanked by old property lines. I soon realized this was wrong and backtracked to where a more obvious gate blocks a pavement-mixed surface trail. I followed this path for 0.3 miles until I saw state land signs on my left and headed through them.
After briefly following this uphill path, it forks into a small loop that brought me to the fire tower ruins. In its heyday, the tower stood 60 feet high and housed a weather station. Jeremy Hill Fire Tower was built in 1918 and saw active use through 1981. As I approach more challenging towers, I look forward to ~actually~ researching the routes and history!
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