December 1, 2019 Sunday Mount Martha & Owl’s Head via Cherry Mountain and Martha’s Mile out & back. 5.4 miles, 2400 feet, 4:15 hours.

In order to make it back before the snowstorm, I made an early start, leaving home at 0400 and getting on trail by 0715. The first half of Cherry Mountain trail ascends moderately then the terrain just before the ridge is fairly steep. I had to stop several times to catch my breath which made me realize I’m not in my finest hiking shape. The snow was well packed so only spikes were necessary. As we arrived on Martha, there was a breathtaking view northeast of the entire Presidential range. I had heard the views on Owl’s Head were even more impressive so we quickly moved along Martha’s Mile. There were a few steep sections that required some clever footing in order to negotiate up the icy scrambles. This was a relatively short hike so I was surprised that we didn’t see a single person all day until the summit of Owl’s Head. That person ended up being a hunter. Al too was surprised and barked at him but luckily the hunter was understanding. Seeing the hunter really underscored the importance of wearing bright clothing during this time of year. Despite the initial barking, Al quickly made friends with him, watching him intensely as he ate his PB&J sandwich. After 30 min at Owl’s summit, we made our way back. The sky was beginning to gray. I didn’t see any new boot tracks on our return. When I returned to the parking lot at 1130, our car was still the only one in the lot.

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