We had a quiet Easter this year and spent the afternoon hiking up Mount Cabot in Shelburne, NH. We parked at the Philbrook Farm on North Road, the same place we started our hike to Crow’s Nest. It was an absolutely beautiful day with the sun shining bright and the temps comfortable in the 50’s. Much of the snow has melted, but we still found some on the north facing slopes and shady spots, especially where winter snowshoers had packed down the trail.
Lindsay and Alden at the start of the hike. Alden loves to hold onto pine cones.
We took the Blue Trail up to the top of Mount Cabot and down the Red Trail for a nice 3.3 mile loop hike.
The junction where the Blue Trail splits from the Red and Yellow Trail.
Andrew heads up the trail.
As we made our way up the trail, we came across a large vernal pool. We haven’t had a warm rainy night yet in northern New Hampshire and there was no sign of any frog or salamander activity.
A large vernal pool next to the trail.
The last part of the Blue Trail ascends steeply to the summit. Alden had fallen asleep and we hiked up in silence into the red pine forest.
Lindsay and a sleeping Alden hike up the trail.
Just before the summit is an open ledge view spot. We stopped to check it out when Alden woke from his short nap, excited to still be hiking. We found a dry, flatish spot and let him crawl around and explore for a little bit.
The view spot on Mount Cabot.
Alden enjoys playing in the leaves.
Here we are enjoying the sunshine on Mount Cabot.
Alden is very interested in the bark of the red pine tree.
After our break, we packed up and headed up to the wooded summit. We found a summit loop trail and followed it to another nice view and then back to the trail. We decided to take the red trail back down.
Andrew at the summit.
Everybody smile!
After coming down off the red pine forest summit we entered into a beech forest and Lindsay quickly spotted a bear tree full of claw marks. We didn’t spot any bears though.
Bear claw marks on a beech tree.
On the way down we came across a sign that said “Mary’s Aerie” and we followed the short trail to a very nice view.
A side venture to Mary’s Aerie.
A nice view of the Presidential Range from Mary’s Aerie.
Happy Easter everyone!
Outdoor Adventures 
Happy Easter to you too!
You will have to return soon to check out that vernal pool and show Alden all the neat critters that come alive.
Alden is getting so big! He is going to love nature just like his Mom and Dad!
It won’t be long before you are trying to keep up with him scampering down the trails.
hello, I would like to ask your permission to show your photo of the bear claws in the beech tree to a group of hikers at Cardigan Lodge to show an example of this. I would give you full credit and it would only appear in the one time slide show.
Hi Janis, Please go ahead and use the photo. Glad to help.
PS your photos are lovely!