xNHAT Ride Report
Gill
Clem Smith and I recently rode the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. It’s a stitched together route that crosses northern NH from the Connecticut River Vermont border to Bethel Maine. The trail winds 83 miles along a river valley in view of, but thankfully not over, the Presidential White Mountains. It combines on and off-road riding including rail trails with both gravel and packed earth surfaces, double track, dirt roads and paved country back roads. There are times when you feel you’re in the wilderness (as when a black bear crosses the path 15 yds in front of you) but there are also towns along the way in which to stop and get an ice coffee and a sandwich or strike up a conversation- so it’s a nice combination of solitude and civilization. Vistas in some sections are so pretty you feel compelled to get off the bike and just hang out for awhile. If in good shape you could put your head down and complete the ride one way in a day. But lazing by the lupine, lingering over lunch in a riverside brewpub, chatting up strangers along the way seems a better way to go (besides my legs and especially my butt would have it no other way). I bunked at two hostels one of which, Rattle River, is on the AT and a popular stop for thru-hikers, who, btw, are a great group of people - fun, companionable and self-effacing about the awesomeness of what they’re achieving. I met a lot of nice people on this ride, it was reaffirming.
I normally do short rides, 90 minutes tops, so 173 miles was a stretch. Fortunately the trail area is a large watershed with ample opportunity to rejuvenate tired legs in cold rivers, or if brave rejuvenate everything with a skinny dip (didn’t want to get that brooks saddle wet). But what really made it all easyish and enjoyable was Clem Smith being such a great bike. Whatever the surface: loose, ballasted gravel, soft ATV chewed MUPs, washed out dirt road sections, long paved uphills and fast downhill double track, didn’t matter, Clem was even-keeled, comfortable, rugged and fun to ride (shout out to the Thunder Burts as well). So, all in all a memorable ride on a terrific bike through scenic country in glorious weather. Sometimes things just work out. I highly recommend the xNHAT.
Michael Morrissey
It sounds great! Thanks for sharing as I have never heard of this trail and only last month visited New Hampshire for the first time!