I'll begin by encouraging you to hike Mount Major during the week since this is a high-traffic trail on weekends. Take my advice a step further and wait until winter when the summer crowds and leaf peepers have receded, but don't let my warning deter you from this hike - the views of Lake Winnipesaukee are incredible! It's also a great option for families and dogs. Or friends who want to meander up the mountain while carrying a conversation. This is what four of my friends and our sister pups (sups?) did last weekend, and although it was crowded, we thoroughly enjoyed our hike.
This hike has several routes, but we took the Mount Major via Brook and Main Trail Loop, found on All Trails. This lollipop loop was 4.3 miles with an elevation gain of 1,158 ft. We followed the loop counterclockwise, but from our experience, I'd recommend doing it clockwise, ascending the blue-blazed Major Trail and descending the yellow-blazed Brook Trail. The Major Trail is quite rocky near the summit, so climbing up it will be much easier than going down...especially with slippery fall leaves.
At the summit, you'll find what remains of Mr. Phippen's Hut, a stone shelter built as a refuge for hikers in 1925. George Phippen, who purchased the mountain summit in 1914 for a whopping $125, offered the hut as a place to warm beside a wood stove or spend the night for a spectacular sunrise. In 1926, fierce winds blew the roof off the hut, which was replaced the following summer with a sturdier roof. That too was blown off in the winter winds of 1927 and was never replaced. The old roof remains on the mountainside just yards from the stone foundation of the hut. Maybe you can find it and send me a picture. Here is one of the hut, which hasn't had a roof in almost a century.
In addition to historic ruins, you'll also have sweeping views of the Major Mountain Range and Lake Winnipesaukee on this mountaintop. If you decide to do this hike, choose a weekday along with good company, and you're guaranteed to enjoy it.
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