Stratham Hill

Trip Details
Date: September 21^st, 2018
Total Distance: 0.82 mi (via Garmin fenix 5X)
Total Time: 51 minutes
Total Elevation: 174 ft gained
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Due to a work event, BishopX and I needed something quick to on our hiking day. We decided to bag Stratham Hill. Why Stratham Hill? Well, BishopX's work event was in Portsmouth so we were already in the area and he was tied up until after 1400 so we needed something rather quick. In addition, Stratham Hill finds itself on the NH Fire Towers list, which is different than the Fire Lookout Tower Quest list. The NH Fire Towers list included both past and present towers and included peaks where towers are no longer even standing. So, Stratham Hill at is peak elevation of 292 ft was our challenge for the day. It also provided Codename Val Kilmer a chance to hike his first mountain.

Stratham Hill is located within Stratham Hill Park, which is a multi-use recreation area that is also home to the annual Stratham Fair. It was much quieter this time of year, and we followed the paved recreation path for a bit before hooking onto the trail that took us directly to the summit in about a quarter of a mile.

The Lincoln Trail gets you to the summit in about a quarter of a mile. BishopX and Codename Val Kilmer are ready for the challenge.

53 ft tall

Codename Val Kilmer is ready for the climb.

A US Survey Dial from August 1910 at the summit.

The large grassy summit is quite peaceful.

The fire tower stands at 53 ft and it gives some great views. We could see peaks all the way to Mt. Washington, but the haze was just think enough to blur it out of view for my camera.

Mt. Agamenticus on the right.

Yup, this happened at the top of the fire tower...

We followed up the summit with playing at the playground for a bit before heading home. It was a nice hike and mountain for Codename Val Kilmer to start on. Up next Mt. Washington! Maybe I am kidding...maybe I am not...

BishopX getting in his hill sprints!

Codename Val Kilmer was excited to learn to use the camera. He got this good shot of me.

The distance adds a bit for drift on the fire tower and then when we were over at the playground.