THE TOPS OF THE NEXUS
RARE ADVENTURES AT LOCAL PEAKS
In the land of the NeXus there are several local mountain peaks that provide
opportunities for adventure. It is said that in this area of Southern NH, “our
Mountains are not too high and are soil is not too deep”. Geologically speaking
the NeXus sits in the transition zone between the coastal planes of the New
Hampshire seacoast and the upper lakes regions. Ecologically transitions zones
have the greatest scientific bio-diversity of plants and animals.
Four of these local mountains will be the sites of “Rare Adventures” for Scouts attending Storer and Wah-Tut-Ca this summer. The
heights work to our advantage. They offer great challenges for the youngest scouts and more seasoned hikers get a chance to
stretch their legs. They only take a few hours to climb and are perfect for an afternoon Troop or Patrol Adventure. They all offer
opportunities for hiking, bouldering and Mt. Biking.
Parker Mountain- Elevation: 1407 ft.
The largest of the “Rare Adventures” local peaks is located in Strafford
New Hampshire, and only a “stones throw” from TL Storer. The Mountain has a great history. On it you can see the old Mica Mines that once
was an operation that harvested the useful mineral. Also on this climb
you can still find the wreck of an airplane that crashed in 1946. From
the summit you get a great view of Bow Lake.
Saddleback Mountain- Elevation: 1138 ft.
The closest to Wah-Tut-Ca, Saddleback Mountain sits between
Northwood and Deerfield New Hampshire. It is accessible from
WTCSR via the NALMC, Northwood Area Land Management Collabrative), Trail to Northwood Meadows State Park. The mountain is owned
by The University of New Hampshire. At the summit are transmitting
towers owned by NH Public Television that can be seen from Northwood Lake. Saddleback Mountain is where the Lamprey River originates and has been recognized for its research importance and has an
active research station to monitor a variety of ecosystems. From the
summit you get excellent southern views, including Wachusett and
Monadnock Mountains.
Blue Job Mountain- Elevation: 1356 ft.
Blue Job (rhymes with robe, not blob) rises to 1,356 feet and the State
Forest around the summit covers 283 acres. The trailhead and parking
lot are located in Strafford NH. The one-mile trip to the summit takes
less than an hour. At the top is a fire tower with spectacular views
including the seacoast.
Pawtuckaway Mountains- Elevation: 1010 ft.
The Pawtuckaway Mountains in Nottingham NH are famous for the
tremendous amount of bouldering opportunities. Pawtuckaway Mountains formed when magma tried to slowly bubble to the surface many
millions of years ago. The magma bubble then cooled to create a
circular rise in the elevation that created what is now Pawtuckaway
Mountains.
Many giant granite boulders are leftover from the glacial period and
give Scouts tons of opportunities to climb their favorite rock. Scouts of
Wah-Tut-Ca and Storer have used them for this purpose for decades. It
also has hiking trails with many commanding views.