Loop 5.4 miles; 1,550 feet elevation gain
Summits: Mt. Morgan = 2,220 ft; Mt Percival = 2,212 ft.
Route: Mt. Morgan Trail (1.7 miles) to Crawford-Ridgepole Trail (0.8 miles) to Mt. Percival Trail (1.9 miles), then the Morgan-Percival Connector.
Review: A 5-hour scenic loop hike with gorgeous views of Squam Lake and the surrounding areas. Mt. Percival is the better lunch spot of the two peaks, with vast granite ledges and beautiful views.
The ladders and cave portion of the Mount Morgan trail is not for the faint of heart. The last of the three ladders is awkwardly positioned, requiring a hair-raising and wide sidestep to the right and a difficult, seemingly impossible step up a sheer face without the benefit of a handhold! Fortunately Dick was there to pull us up via the top of our backpacks! Thank you, Dick!
Following the ladders is a boulder cave, which is somewhat difficult to navigate with a large pack. I stood up too quickly and whacked my head on the boulder directly above the exit to the cave, leaving me with a noticeable bump on the head, but thankfully no headache.
It is possible to bypass the ladders and cave via a trail that leads to the right of the ladders; this is recommended in wet weather.
The rest of the trail is steep in parts, but otherwise quite manageable.
The apres-hike stop of note for food and libations is The Common Man on Route 3 in Holderness.
Thanks to the AMC Narragansett Chapter, leader Peter Broderick & co-leader Sue Warthman, for a most memorable hike!
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