Thanks to Gordon Farrell for sharing maps in advance or our two upcoming hikes that hopefully he will lead. Remember both start from the same trailhead. The Chandler Gorge is of moderate difficulty. The second hike up to the shelter is more challenging.
3.4 mi RT, 200 elevation gain. RT hiking time 3.0 hrs.
Evans Notch, NH – 5.0 mi RT, 1,600 ft elevation gain. RT hikng 4.0 hours. RT driving 1.5 hours. (Dual Hike-see above)
Meet at the Denmark church at 8:30 a.m. The destination is the shelter at the base of the South Bald Face cliff. This group may decide to go
beyond the shelter to the cliffs or the summit/
Directions to trailhead:
Baldface Circle Trail Trailhead, 2223 Main Rd, Chatham, NH 03813
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5fwG28V7JwywbJxn9
The Baldface Shelter (also known as the South Baldface Shelter) is located approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead on the south branch of the Baldface Circle Trail
This unfortunate Press Release from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division came today as this post was about to be sent out:
“Missing hiker located deceased in Lincoln”
Lincoln: On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at approximately 8:45am, New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified of an overdue hiker in Franconia Notch. The information provided was that Kent Wood, 61 of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, had driven to the Lafayette Campground in Lincoln on Friday April 17th to camp and hike for the weekend. He started hiking Saturday morning April 18th with warm temperatures and clear skies. The last contact family or friends had with Kent was on Saturday afternoon.
After two days of not hearing from Wood, his family became concerned and called to notify New Hampshire Fish and Game. While gathering information on where to search, rescuers learned that Kent was prepared for warmer conditions and not the 3-5 inches of snow that had fallen between Sunday and Monday in the Franconia Notch area. A search effort was started on Tuesday morning to locate the hiker. Search teams from New Hampshire Fish and Game, PEMI Valley Search and Rescue and the Army National Guard Helicopter were deployed to search in and around the Lonesome Lake and Kinsman Pond area.
At 7:41pm Conservation Officers located the hiker deceased 5.5 miles from his vehicle on a remote section of the Kinsman Pond Trail in Lincoln. Rescuers then carried him out to the trailhead arriving at 1:10am Wednesday April 22nd. New Hampshire Fish and Game would like to remind hikers that it’s still winter in the mountains with deep snow, cold and freeing temperatures.”
This is a timely reminder that, although we were uncomfortably warm while hiking last week, winter is not over. In fact, our beloved White Mountains can produce winter conditions pretty much year round. Come prepared.
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