This is an interesting loop transitioning from the pines of the Ossipee Pine Barrens to a colorful northern hardwood forest with the yellow leaves of bigtooth aspen littering the forest floor. The ledge at Jackman Lookout overlooks Ossipee Lake to the south, and west over the pine barrens to Sandwich Dome.
To get there from Tamworth, take Depot Road to Route 16 and go directly across. Bear right on Marsh Road, left on Route 41, and around the corner take a right on Ossipee Lake Road. In 2.1 miles, turn left into the Ossipee Pine Barrens parking lot.
It is suggested you bring an extra vest or cloth to sit on moist ground. Leaders are Ed Parsons and John Watkins.
Animals must be under owner's control at all times.
MEET WHEN:
10/25/2020, Sunday, 12:30pm
MEET WHERE:
Ossipee Pine Barrens Parking Lot, Freedom *See directions above, or Call Ed
HIKE LEADERS:
Ed Parsons and John Watkins
HIKE DIFFICULTY:
Intermediate
For more information call Ed Parsons at 603-960-0363. This hike is sponsored by the Tamworth Community Nurse Association.
POST HIKE:
12 hikers, all who knew each other from previous TCNA hikes, did an enjoyable 2.3 miles on the Jackman Ridge Lookout Loop in Freedom this Sunday.
We started from the Nature Conservancy's Pine Barrens parking lot on Ossipee Lake Road. We got a taste of the red pine forest of the pine barrens before heading east up a ridge of oaks and aspen. Along the way the golden bigtooth aspen leaves covered the ground, and more than one person thought of the yellow brick road of the Wizard of Oz. We turned right down to the Jackson Ridge Lookout. It has a great view overlooking Ossipee Lake, the Ossipee Range and Mount Israel and Sandwich Dome to the west. Co-leader John Watkins spoke about the imminent arrival of the Ipswich sparrow to the area, from Sable Island, Nova Scotia where it nests. He was right, as the next day one arrived at his feeder on Chocorua Lake! after the hike John checked his phones Health app advising he had taken 7,140 steps on the hike, a worthy walk for mental and physical health during these unusual times.
Picture 1 L to R: Kevin Lane, Mark Fournier, Jim Diamond, Leslie Johnson, Therese Fournier, Betsy Loughran, John Watkins, Sharon Nothnagle. Picture 2: Flora Picture 3: A yellow brick road of bigtooth aspen leaves