Get a grip this winter: traction aids for walkers

January 27, 2022February 25, 2026 / Ellen Kolb

Southern New Hampshire – and northern, for that matter – serves up a varied weather menu each winter. As I write this, the weather forecast is for up to a foot of snow from a coming storm. Maybe I’ll finally need snowshoes for a local hike. So far this season, all I’ve needed is a set of traction aids to strap on my sneakers or boots.

Investing in a traction device like YakTrax or a set of Stabil cleats (both of which I’ve used) can make the difference between taking a walk at the nearest park and staying home for fear of falling on the ice. Cleats aren’t just for hill hikers.

*At Horse Hill: birch stump (at left) left by a busy beaver; lodge (at right) on Lastowka Pond. Ellen Kolb photos.*

I was recently at Horse Hill nature preserve in Merrimack. Conditions on those trails are less than ideal: bumpy ice topped by a dusting of snow, with some pine needles sandwiched in between just to make sure things stay slippery. I found the same conditions around Lake Massabesic a day earlier. Without cleats, I wouldn’t have lasted five minutes at either place. I’m simply not as surefooted as some of my neighbors. (I’ve even been known to strap on cleats just to walk to the mailbox.)

I found my cleats at a local outlet store specializing in outdoor equipment. You can shop for them online as well.

I had the chance to head north to Waterville Valley’s Nordic ski center not long ago, with beautiful trails extending into the White Mountain National Forest. That was a glorious snowshoe hike in spite of bitter cold temps. I seldom hike where a trail pass must be purchased, but this was definitely a worthwhile trip.

If you decide to explore a Nordic center, be sure to check the facility’s website or Facebook page in advance for trail conditions and Covid adaptations.

Cross-country ski trail in White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire — *At Waterville Valley, groomed Nordic trails extend into the White Mountain National Forest.* *Ellen Kolb photo.*

A walker’s view of rail trails: video of Granite State Walker’s presentation to NHRTC conference

December 17, 2021December 16, 2021 / Ellen Kolb

The New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition biennial conference went virtual this year, and the online environment didn’t get in the way of an informative event. I was invited by fellow NHRTC board members to talk for a few minutes about a walker’s view of the trails, and how even the slowest of users can become an enthusiastic advocate for rail trails. My presentation is now up on Vimeo, and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

The Granite State Walker Explores NH Rail Trails-Broadband High.mp4 from NH Rail Trails Coalition on Vimeo.

For all of you who have suffered through videoconference indignities this year, you’ll sympathize with the post-slide-show Q&A here featuring my deer-in-the-headlights reaction to someone’s unintentionally muted mic. Once that problem was solved, our ace moderator kept the questions flowing.

You can find other presentations from the conference at The New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition Vimeo page.

Kicking leaves: Rockingham Recreational Trail, Epping NH

December 2, 2021February 25, 2026 / Ellen Kolb / 2 Comments

One more thing to love about autumn in New Hampshire, as if there weren’t enough already: playfully shuffling and kicking my way through the fallen leaves.

I recently arrived in The Big City (well, big for New Hampshire) for a long-booked three-hour business appointment, only to find it had been cancelled due to a broken piece of equipment. I understood the situation but was miffed nonetheless. Then it occurred to me that with three open hours ahead, I could probably find a decent trail nearby.

Epping was only a few miles away, with its piece of the Rockingham Recreational Trail that I hadn’t yet explored. Off I went. I found a small pullout at the trail crossing on Depot Road, just north of Rt. 101’s exit 6.

Rail trail, autumn scene, New Hampshire, with marker for old bridge along railroad — *Rockingham Recreational Trail, Epping, New Hampshire. The marker indicates the former site of a railroad bridge along the route.* *Photos by Ellen Kolb.*

Fall colors are weeks past. Leaves are down. It’s all quite low-key, which is actually perfect for recovering from a moment of being miffed at a blown appointment.

The trail was covered with crisp dried leaves that rustled with my every step. At some spots, the wind had piled them up. And so I did something I never had a chance to do back when I was a kid in south Florida, and something I used to get annoyed at my own kids for doing after a wearying session of raking: I kicked the pile. I made a racket. Those leaves flew into the air.

It felt great. I had fun. And when I found other piles, I kicked through those, too. I was alone, so I wasn’t worried about looking silly. Pretty soon, I was downright grateful for the busted thingamajig that had caused cancellation of my appointment.

Go ahead. Find yourself a leafy late-fall trail, and send those leaves flying.

*Wetland along Rockingham Recreational Trail, autumn, Epping NH.*

Autumn walk to Oak Hill’s fire tower

November 11, 2021February 25, 2026 / Ellen Kolb

Take time for Oak Hill when you’re passing through New Hampshire’s capital city. Concord has many fine parks and trails, but only one includes a fire tower. The tower on Oak Hill was rebuilt not long ago, so it’s as shiny-and-new as you’ll ever find it. A hard frost or two has smacked down the local insects. Autumn colors are muted now, more gold-and-bronze than scarlet-and-yellow. Trees are losing their leaves, and so views are opening up. Wear something that’s blaze-orange; ’tis the season.

Find maps to all of Concord’s trails at concordnh.gov/1033/Hiking-Trails. Oak Hill is #12.

Oak Hill is exactly that: a hill covered with oak trees. It’s all a walk in the woods except for the fire tower and a couple of vistas (conveniently marked on the trail map). Follow the Tower Trail’s yellow blazes from the parking area on Shaker Road. Once at the tower, a climb to the landing just below the cab will reward you with a 360 degree view.

_{With apologies for my unsteady camera work: Oak Hill’s fire tower with one of the neighboring communication masts.} _{All photos by Ellen Kolb/Granite State Walker.}

Along Oak Hill’s Tower Trail: granite marker at the Concord-Loudon town line.

Mount Kearsarge in Warner, seen from the Swope Slope vista on Oak Hill in Concord, New Hampshire.

Return to Andres Institute trails, Brookline NH

October 13, 2021February 25, 2026 / Ellen Kolb

I needed a hill climb as a mental palate-cleanser the other day. Not a big hill, just one with a view. Brookline (the New Hampshire version) is not-too-terribly far away, so I scooted down Route 13 to the Andres Institute of Art with its hilltop view of the Wapack Range.

A new driveway is now a stone’s throw north of the former entrance. Look for the address 106 Rt. 13. There’s plenty of parking. Even first-time visitors will have no trouble following the signs into the AIA’s property.

The property was once a tiny ski area (rope tows, not gondolas) on a little hill in Brookline. The ski area is long gone. The current owner is a patron of the arts with a passion for sculpture created by artists from all over the world who come to New Hampshire to work in granite. Their work adorns a network of trails winding around the hill.

At the summit is the payoff: a view of the Wapack Range, complete with seating. A striking sculpture entitled Phoenix is in the foreground of the vista. For a short walk uphill (a generous half-mile or so), it’s a pleasant experience.

_{Wapack Range from Andres Institute of Art summit: Kidder, Monadnock (pointed summit), Temple Mountain ridge}

Late-day haze dulled the view a bit. The silhouette of the range was clear enough, though, and I even caught a glimpse of Mount Monadnock playing peek-a-boo behind Kidder Mountain.

On the October day I was there, the paths had a golden glow. Beech and aspen leaves are turning. Flashes of crimson from maples are hinting at the peak foliage that will be on display on a couple of weeks.

The AIA trails can be very popular, but my late-day midweek autumn visit was delightfully quiet. A mental palate cleanser, indeed.

“Phoenix” by Janis Karlovs, Latvia, 1999, Andres Institute of Art

“Rebirth” by Evrim Kilic, Turkey, 2019, on display at Andres Institute of Art, Brookline NH

Granite sculpture "Animals" by Tony Jimenez, Costa Rica, installed at Andres Institute of Art, Brookline NH — “Animals” by Tony Jimenez, Costa Rica, 2017, Andres Institute of Art. Pure whimsy!

More about the AIA trails, from 2015: Easy Uphill

Madame Sherri’s castle may crumble, but trails remain

July 17, 2021 / Ellen Kolb

As reported by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the castle ruins at Madame Sherri Forest in Chesterfield are now a bit more ruined. Time, weather, and probably a few too many human footsteps resulted recently in a collapse of one of the arches supporting the stone staircase. That makes me a bit sad. I’ve always found the remains of the “castle” – actually a once-fancy house – to be a charming visual gateway to recreational land.

(See Forest Society photos of the damage.)

But don’t fret. There’s still enough of the old structure left to spark a smile and fire the imagination, even with caution tape in place. Even better, the adjacent trails are unaffected.

ruins of Madame Sherri Castle in Chesterfield, New Hampshire — *Madame Sherri’s castle, before July 2021 arch collapse*

The Chesterfield Conservation Commission maintains a list of trails and features. The 50-mile Wantastiquet-Monadnock trail runs through the property. My favorite feature of the forest is Indian Pond, a fairly easy walk from the forest’s small parking area.

The Madame Sherri Forest is still very much worth visiting. Enjoy what’s there.