The Cohos Trail adventure begins TOMORROW!

Hi all!  It's official: I (Rob Rives) will begin my journey on the Cohos Trail starting around 7 AM tomorrow morning, July 22nd.  While I'm on the trail, I'll be carrying a Spot Gen3 tracking device that will be broadcasting my track in 24-hour segments.  You can follow it at: http://tinyurl.com/cohostrail.  Thanks to the Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School of North Conway for the loaner Spot device!

Listed below is a tentative itinerary that I will be following on the trail.  The times are all very approximate, and take into account a decent night's sleep each night.  I fully intend on not sleeping full nights, and may even run through a night or two - so this information will become invalid if all goes well.  The Spot track will have my up-to-date location at any moment. 

Day 1: Davis Path trailhead to Cabot Cabin (54 miles)

7:00 AM - Leave Davis Path trailhead, with watch and SPOT device tracking.  Wearing small hydration pack with liquids and food for trip to Mt. Clinton road.  Run Davis Path, Isolation West, Eisenhower Trail and Edmands Path to Mt. Clinton road.

1:00 - 2:00 PM - Begin running past Mt. Washington hotel, Cherry Mountain road and Cherry Mountain trails.  Cross Hwy 115 and continue on Slide Brook, Rail Trail, Ramparts and Colonel Whipple.  Right on Whipple Road, left on 115A to Jefferson.  On towards Waumbek trailhead, where overnight pack will be cached.  Drop smaller pack.

6:00 - 7:00 PM - Begin Kilkenny traverse.  Over Starr King, Waumbek, Weeks summits, down to Bunnell Notch.  Up to Cabot Cabin.  Cook dinner #1 and sleep a little.

Day 2: Cabot Cabin to Baldhead Mountain Shelter (35 miles)

4:00 - 5:00 AM - Make quick breakfast #1 and begin walk north over the remainder of Kilkenny.  Pick up large cache #1 at South Pond Link (12 miles from cabin).  Continue on snowmobile trail, cross 110 to Bell Hill Road.

8:00 - 9:00 AM - Continue north through Bald Mtn Notch, Old Summer Club, and behind Percy Peaks to Nash Stream Road.  Jog off the road for Sugarloaf junctions, meet road again at end.  Progress north through Moran Meadow, Bulldozer Flat and Gadwah Notch.  Quick down and up miles bring me to shelter.  Eat dinner #2 and assess.  Further or not?

Day 3: Baldhead Mountain Shelter to Lake Francis Campground (40+ miles)
 
4:00 - 5:00 AM - Make quick breakfast #2 and continue to Kelsey Notch, Dixville Bypass, ski trails, Three Brothers Trail and Huntington Cascades to Wayside picnic area.  Pick up large cache #2. 

8:00 - 9:00 AM - Cross Route 26 and continue up SST to High/Low Route junction.  Take High Route, re-meet Spruce Trail and take Short Route to avoid Nathan Pond.  Continue to Coleman State Park. 

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Continue down to Heath Road, Bear Rock Road and McAllaster Road.  Up past Creampoke, Weirs Tree Farm view, Clarksville Bog and over to Dead Water Road.  Take to Cedar Stream Road.  Follow to Lake Francis Trail, and on to River Road.  Leave trail to go to campground if necessary.  Eat dinner #3.

Day 4: Lake Francis Campground to Fourth Connecticut Lake (26+ miles)

4:00 - 5:00 AM - Make quick breakfast #3 and continue back to trail.  Stop at Young's for supplies?  Follow trail to Canadian border, making dinner #4 if and when necessary. 

That's all for now!  The weather looks decent and I'm feeling strong.  Time to go for a dance with the mighty Cohos Trail.

-- Rob Rives, 7/21/2015