Nash Stream Forest – David Kotz

Percy Peaks

My third hike in three days – again, with limited views.

They say the third time’s the charm. Two days ago I hiked to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, nestled among the rolling hills and bogs of Nash Stream Forest in northern New Hampshire. Though I had waited out the rainstorm before hiking, the low clouds clung to the nearby peaks and the summit offered limited views. Yesterday, sunny weather with cloudless skies offered better luck for our hike to Mount Magalloway, whose fire tower provides wide views into Canada, Vermont, Maine, and the northern-most tip of New Hampshire… only to be foiled by dense wildfire smoke drifting in from faraway Manitoba.

Views from North Percy Peak on a cloudy, rainy day.

Today we struck out to climb the Percy Peaks, a pair of notable nubbins just downstream from Sugarloaf in the Nash Stream Forest. (I had a view of these paired peaks two days ago.)

Sugarloaf Mountain

Another 52WAV without a view.

As I sat in my car waiting for the rain to let up, while parked far up a remote dirt road in northern New Hampshire, I read again the description of the trail I was about to follow. It was quite steep, apparently, but this small peak promised strong views in almost every direction. Read on and check out the photo gallery!