Although I live close to Sandwich Mountain (often called Sandwich Dome), and have hiked all the trails that lead to its summit in summer, I had never previously climbed it in winter. It is on the list of the New England 100 Highest Peaks, and so when I was thinking of a suitable hike, around four or five miles each way and not too steep, I decided to ascend that mountain by the Drake's Brook and Sandwich Mountain trails.
I reached the trailhead on Tuesday February 3rd 2004 at about 9 AM. There had been no recent snow, and all the more common trails were fully broken out, so I left my snowshoes at home. Since there are no really steep sections I only brought my four-point instep crampons.
The first part of the trail is an old logging road that climbs gently for 0.4 miles. Then the trail proper begins, almost immediately crossing Drake's Brook. In summer that crossing can be tricky, but after several very cold days the brook was frozen solid, with a coat of snow on top of the ice. Beyond that the trail follows the brook at a gentle grade, rising about 1,200 feet in a little over two miles. The sun was shining when I started, and there are few things I enjoy more in the winter woods than sunlight coming through open birches onto the snow. Soon, however, the birches were joined by hemlock, ending the open woods at much lower elevation that usual.
After the two miles along the stream the trail makes a sharp bend and ascends the western side of the ravine. The first 100 vertical feet or so of that ascent are steep, I stopped to put on my instep crampons and regretted having left my full crampons at home. Fortunately the steep section turned out to be merely "interesting" rather than really difficult! Beyond that the trail made several switchbacks as it climbed, so while it was steeper than the section along the brook it was not really steep.
The trail ends on the Sandwich Mountain Trail a short distance before the spur trail to Jenning's Peak. While the snow on Drake's Brook Trail was solidly packed, the Sandwich Mountain Trail, which goes along the ridge between Jenning's Peak and the main peak, had a couple of inches of drifted snow in most places. Not enough to be difficult, but definitely enough to increase the effort required. The Smarts Brook Trail did not appear well packed, but walking a short distance on it I felt a fairly solid pack under some loose snow, I believe that it was hikeable that day. Beyond the junction with Smarts Brook Trail the Sandwich Mountain Trail climbs a bit more steeply, and as I approached the summit I found a few deep snow drifts, as well as a few areas with ice on the trail.
There was almost no wind when I reached the summit, and though the sun was behind some high clouds the views to the north and east were excellent. I enjoyed the views and rested for some time, as I had pushed the pace on this trip and was feeling a bit tired. It seemed a bit early for lunch, so I decided to have it later on Jenning's Peak.
The descent was uneventful, but when I reached the Jenning's Peak spur I did not feel up to the short, but very steep, climb to its summit. Instead I had my lunch in the trees by the trail.
All in all, a very enjoyable hike to a mountain I had never climbed
in winter.