Mount Chocorua

[CHRIS]

I fannaly got a chance to head North to do some hiking and decided to try Mt. Chocorua. I have heard it gets pretty busy on the summit so I arrive at the trail head just before 7am. I was on the trail by 7:00 and heading for the falls.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308018.jpg
I arrived at the loop sign just before 8.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308025.jpg
I would advise everybody if you have a chance go to the falls. they were absolutley beautiful and I did not want to leave. The pictures really don't do them justice.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308036.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308032.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308039.jpg
I decided to take a short break here and had a happy squirrel take my picture.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308042.jpg
I shot this little flower near the falls.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308026.jpg
After climbing alot of stairs to get back on the trail I was on my way.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308043.jpg.
I arrived at the summit just before 10 and hung out for a bit. I was all alone and it was great. I thought for sure there would be more people up there but I only passed two guys going down. It was hot and humid up top with almost no breeze.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308056.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308057.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308068.jpg
While I was there I met a little bird .
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308064.jpg
I was pondering for a moment where everybody else might be.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308070.jpg
While I was enjoying the views and having a snack I heard some kind of animal roaring in the woods and it sounded like it lasted about 5 seconds in the same way I had just came up. I have never heard something like this before and kinda scared the poop out of me. Because I knew I had to go back that way.Or maybe that is what happend to evrybody else? :eek:
Here is a picture of me being scared.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/080308071.jpg
I started back down about 10:10 and I was a little nervous but I had no choice. I am glad I started early because I passed so many people heading up that I stopped counting at 85 and passed alot more. I kinda felt like a ranger with all the question on how much further or how was the summit etc. I am not complaing it was fun but the summit had to be crowded. I arrived back at the parking lot at 11:55 and it was so crowded that cars were parked on the grass and about 20 cars parked on the Kang. Oh how I love starting early.All in all it felt so good to be back in the woods and clearing my head.
Here is a link to more pictures if you would like to see.
http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb96/CRIVERHD12/Mount%20Chocorua/?start=0

[mtruman]

Nice TR and beautiful pics. Quite a treat getting Chocorua to yourself. Gotta get up early in the morning to pull that off ;)

Looks like you got a great STP warmup!

[KD Talbot]

Nice TR and pics, Chris! Chocorua is often overlooked but is a great hike and some of the best views in the mountains!

KDT

[M_Six]

Great pics.

We did Chocurua as kids up the Piper Trail and I remember the black flies were so bad near the top that we couldn't wait to get to the wind at the summit to escape them. Great hike, though.

We did Champney on another occasion during a dry spell and renamed it Champney Drip. Still a good hike.

[CHRIS]

Thanks everybody. I really thought I was going to have company on the summit but I had it all to myself :D. I am planning on going back with my wife and daughter during the week after STP even if it is just to the water falls.
I really needed to do this hike just to clear my head and to get my legs in shape for STP. I can honestly say I feel ready and can't wait.

[Jimmy Legs and Little d]

Chris,
A first rate report and pictures. It's good to see the sun shining again in the mountains of NH. Especially get a kick from your "expression" pictures:D. Looking forward to your STP report and pictures.
Mike and Donna

[CHRIS]

Thanks Mike and Donna It was a really enjoyable hike. Ok a little scary when I heard the roar from the woods. But heck you gotta have fun especially with the camera :D.

[Debi]

How far in are the falls? My husband and daughter aren't interested in the summit but would hike that far with my son and I if it isn't too long or hard of a hike. We would leave them there to take pics and Will and I would summit and come back to pick them up on the way by. Is that feasible on this trail?

[CHRIS]

I made it to the falls in 45 mins at a decent pace but I would say about 1 hour hike in. The trail to the falls is rather easy going and I belive just over 1 mile. When you take the loop to get to the falls there is a little hill then down to the falls. Really not bad at all. Now when you leave the falls you do have something like 50 stairs to climb but still not bad as you can see more of the higher up falls on the way up.It really was a beautiful place but I would advise you to go early as I passed alot and I do mean alot of people going up as I was going down.

[Debi]

Chris,
Thanks. Sounds doable with the family

[KD Talbot]

Just my $.02.

1.4 miles 500' elevation to lower end of falls/55 minutes book time. Chocorua summit via Champney Falls and Piper Trail 3.8 miles 2200' 3 hours book time, then add return time. It would mean husband and daughter would be hangin' at falls 4-5 hours if you tagged the summit and began an immediate descent.

KDT

[mtruman]

You could cut the summit time back a bit by skipping Chocorua and just going to First or Middle Sister instead. The view is equally good and probably would cut off about an hour or so round trip but still a long time for the family to hang out at the falls. The hike to the falls for everyone is still worth it in my opinion though. Just a beautiful spot.

[Snow Miser]

Great TR and photos. Thanks for sharing them.

[Debi]

Kevin and Mark - thanks for the input. It would be a bit long. Hubby lugs around a 4x5 camera and could probably entertain himself for a couple hours but it does sound a little long overall. Daughter would get impatient. Guess we just have to leave them home.

[Bretton Woods Brat]

:eek: Who do you think the roar was from??? :eek:

[CHRIS]

:eek: Who do you think the roar was from??? :eek:

I have no idea what it was. I know I have never heard anything like it so maybe a bear or something. It did make me nervous going back down that way.