Don't We All Have an "Emergency" Supply of Hikes Close to Home?

You're probably familiar with a variety of scenarios which result in having too little time to drive to a trailhead and then "hike the hike". But, in such situations, don't we all have an "emergency" hike or two that offers some pleasant views and is within a short drive or walk from our home?

Has a thread similar to this already been posted? Even if it has, perhaps there's no harm in providing another opportunity for folks to post a few photos to showcase their hometown "emergency" hikes.

Living in Bethlehem, it's pretty easy to have a collection of "emergency" hikes. Yesterday (19-October), I needed to dip into my "collection" because waiting around for a repairman took up a sizeable chunk of the day.

There's a hillside in Bethlehem which is an easy walk from my home. It gains about 300 feet of elevation (enough to work up a sweat if attacked with vigor!:rolleyes:). Anyway, there are some pretty nice views from there.

Particularly in autumn, there's a nice view of the "Little Town of Bethlehem" peeking through the trees.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/St.../Bethlehem.JPG

There's a very nice unobstructed view of the Presidential Range from this hillside.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/St...ntialRange.JPG

A large chunk of the Pilot-Pliny Range can also be seen from this hillside.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/St...iny_Ranges.JPG

There is also a nice view toward Cherry Mountain.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jMddpAdzX0E/St.../CherryMtn.JPG

1HappyHiker

Great idea for a thread John. It's a good reference when you need a hiking fix, but only have a little time to spare. And that shot of the Presidential Range is a beautiful one for such little effort. Thanks for sharing.

You are so fortunate to be able to step outside your home, walk a short ways and have available to you the views in your pictures. We have a local park within 15 minutes of where we live, it has its own charm and parts of the trail follow a river, but nothing like this.

Donna:)

Thanks for another great TR of another little-known hike. :)

Great little spot! We used to go sledding up there in the winter in the "old days". Nowadays you just have to avoid the green teas :D:p

I think this is a great idea for a thread!

Living in Ashland, we tend toward

• East & West Rattlesnake, Holderness (mostly East to avoid the crowds)
• Rattlesnake Mtn, Rumney

These are hikes we can do after work and usually before dark, except in the dead of winter.

I'll see if I have any trail reports that I can link to...

Valerie

Bob; Donna; Patrick; Chris; Valerie: My sincerest thanks to each of you for taking the time to post a reply to my posting, and for your kind words.

And Donna, I am not being boastful when I say that I do agree with you about being fortunate to be able to step outside my home, walk a short ways and have such wonderful views available. My wife and I moved to NH five years ago from the flatlands of Delaware. We are so thankful for having the opportunity to live in the heart of the White Mountains. This region and its people are so very special.

I Love the colors in the first photo, it's a perfect beautiful fall photo.

I envy you for making that move, my dream at some point is to do the same. I often tell people that down here and they are baffled why, it's tough to explain it, it's just very strong feeling.

I have a tripod, but sometimes I just want to take a picture when Im out at the bars or running errands or will be in an area anyway, and I dont want to set up a tripod.

My emergency hikes are in the western part of the state. I used to hike Mt Monadnock for years, but it gets so crowded. I gave up the day we pulled in and were about 20 cars back in line just to get to the gate! Pack Monadnock is a good quick hike, or we have some little nubs close to home that are nice. Its always nice to climb just high enough close to home that you can pick out peoples houses and fields etc....