Sandwich Mountain, also known as Sandwich Dome, stands at 3980′ feet, meaning it’s just 20 feet away from being a 4000 footer and thus a destination for the peak-baggers. You can’t help but to pity Sandwich Mountain for barely missing the geological cut-off to attain this honor, but at the same time, it’s nice to have a formiable hike with decent views that’s not overrun by the masses eager to cross another summit off of their lists (said with the breezy contempt of one who has already crossed all of them off).
The weather was ardently halcyon, with blue skies and a warming sun that beat down on the resplendent foliage that lit up the woods.
From Jennings Peak
From the parking lot, we took the Drake Brook trail — a rather boring trail that mostly kept to an old logging road, so the climb was merciful. Our first real effort came when we took the spur trail to Jennings Peak, where we could glimpse Waterville Valley as well as a fair amount of rust-tinged foliage.
Waterville Valley from Jennings Peak
We reached Sandwich Dome shortly after noon. The most thrilling view was that of snow-covered Mount Washington in the distance.
Mt. Washington from Sandwich Dome
We devoured our sandwiches on the summit and I didn’t even think to comment about how we were eating sandwiches on Sandwich Dome. Obviously the voraciously chilly wind was dulling my wit. It was wonderful to descend the summit and reach Noon Peak, an exposed expanse of granite that was bathed in sunshine, protected from the wind, and garnished with red-colored bushes.
Sandwich Dome from Noon Peak
On Noon Peak
Foliage!
After spending a good hour sunning ourselves on Noon Peak, we quickly descended back to the parking lot, which we reached at 3pm. We were eager to return home because neither of us have Columbus Day off and we didn’t want to be caught in leaf-peeping traffic on I-93. We were a little disappointed with the quality of the foliage this year — the reds don’t seem as red, the oranges don’t seem as orange, and the yellows seem ubiquitous. But maybe, as Mr. P posited, we are just weary of leaves and the empty futures they offer.
