Adventure with Alex

Today Alex and I joined Rob and Lhotse for another hike in the Deer Hill area of Chatham, NH. Our recent visit to Deer Hill Spring had sparked our curiosity about the nearby mineral sites and the White Mountain Trail Guide spoke of an old mica mine in the vicinity, up on Lord Hill.

Lord Hill via Conant Trail, to Old Mine Loop, back to Conant

Despite the guidebook’s suggestion of parking back on FR9 we followed a somewhat washed out dirt road for a half mile or so, over a dike, and past some interesting looking camps, until we reached a point where the road steepened and would require more than 4WD to ascend. We parked, and started ascending an old washed out dirt road rather steeply, for not having warmed up at all, and soon came to a sign forbidding wheeled traffic. 5 minutes later we took a right at the split where the Old Mine Loop Trail climbed up onto a short ridge and leveled out. The next half mile went quick as we passed through an interesting area with a wet bog-ish forest on our left, reminiscent of a scene from the Neverending Story, and a more open pine forest on our right. The trail here was almost level, and I suspected a very old railroad may have been here at some point.

We took a sharp left on what some maps label “Old Mine Road”, and quickly started noticing large quartz rocks scattered over the trail. Each time we thought we found one worthy of carrying home we found another twice as big, or twice as clear, or twice as smooth, than the one in our hand. Our packs started to get a little heavier.

We hadn’t heard a sound, other than Lhotse’s panting, or Alex’s coo’ing, for quite sometime, when we heard a distant metallic clank.

“Did you hear that?” Rob asked.

I did, and knew we were pretty close to the mines proper as that was obviously someone mining. A fortuitous event in my opinion, as it meant someone was around to ask some questions about the hobby that had been peaking my interest. A minute later I could make someone out in the woods to the left of the trail, oblivious of our presence. I assumed who ever it was was used to long periods of solitude in areas like this, and not wanting to startle him by getting too close I called out, “Hello, can we stop and chat with you for a bit?’

“Why yes”, he said, and we made our way over to his tilling pile and the hole in the earth he had been toiling at. As he laid his tools down I took a inventory of him. Here was an older gentleman, retired I would soon discover, with a formidable white beard, friendly toothy smile, darkened skin, hands that showed a lifetime of hard work, practical glasses, button down collared shirt, and belted jeans covered in dirt, wearing a Sierra Club ballcap. A true “Mainer” and mountain man in my opinion, and I mean that in the most respectful way!

He was happy to answer my tirade of questions about his hobby. We spoke for 20 minutes or so, asking him about the tools he was using, the types of rocks and crystals one could pull from these areas, the best thing he’s ever found, and how one could get started in this hobby. After learning of local mining hobbyist groups we said a farewell, but first Rob snapped this picture.

Doug, the Miner

We carried on up the hill, adding specimens of Quartz and Mica to our packs as we went, trying to remember the names of at least some of the minerals and gems Doug had told us could be found out here. Only 100 yards away we found the two larger “open pit” mines that had been picked quite clean according to Doug.

After adding yet more rocks to our packs… my own was getting quite heavy, we made our way up to the small summit of Lord Hill (1,257ft). A short distance off the summit afforded an excellent view to the west that included the aptly named Horseshoe Pond and the intriguing far off Square Dock Mountain.

Conant trail looking west from the summit of Lord Hill

Horseshoe Pond, a quick glance at the map above and you can see where it gets its name

Following the northern part of the Conant Loop trail we descended, passed through a gap in an old stone wall, and paused only once at an very old, ancient it seemed, large cellar hole. Alex, it appeared, had already seen enough interesting things on this hike.

Old (large) Cellar Hole in background

We completed the 3.3 mile loop in just 2 hours flat, which was pretty good considering the 30+ minutes we spent exploring the mining area. Our conversation with Doug had solidified my idea that hunting for semi-precious stones with Alex when he is older would make for some great trips to cool spots in the mountains.  As Doug had explained, the memory of the occasional great find of a rare gem will fuel you for years as you toil in a hole looking for the next rare gem. Recreational mining, or rock collecting, is definitely a unique pursuit. I’ve certainly become more aware of it’s presence lately in the White Mountains. Indeed, it seems every hike we go on it isn’t long after leaving the trail-head that I realize it is always worth the effort to be out here with Alex, no matter what we are doing.