Snowshoes (Nordic) 1:50:41 [2] 2.65 mi (41:46 / mi) +82m 38:06 / mi
With W at Kimball. Had thought about the Dike, Great Hill, end of Woodhill-Hooksett but then Kimball came to mind. Ended up walking around it on SS to my surprise. Had no plan when I got there - going around seemed a bit much. A couple, John and Bonne (& dog), had started just before me, going CCW. I went that way, saw him coming back because they'd forgotten a water bottle. Exchanged pleasantries with both - she was waiting further along. Was initially thinking I had a SS trail to follow in but theirs ended shortly. Snow wasn't deep anyway. Had a few questions in my mind re route tho I'd done it enough in past. Twice I sat down on a rock. I did wonder if they might catch up with me. Then I saw their dog and there they were. We chatted & on they went - faster walkers tho he might have been about my age.
But they stopped again to help their dog get snowballs out from his pads. I went ahead, they caught up but we were on the SVT by then and fell into a pace & got to talking about Kimball/Dunbarton hiking, kayaking. They brought up Great Hill and more. Then Nottingcook came up. John said he knew the name of a Bow orienteer, me, mentioned my name & we got a laugh from that. He'd called me maybe 6 months ago about map making. I referred him to Jim Arsenault for comprehensive help - which he'd done to his considerable benefit. We walked back to our cars, the walk having been better. Both dogs were tired-theirs was 13 & tolerant of W's young antics.
The dam was a bit of a concern. The ice was frozen but water moving under it. There were no prints on the snow near it. I made my way across w/o any creaking/cracking/groaning.