Friends of Horton Center on Pine Mountain

01/21/2022

Horton Center Winter Rendezvous
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Pine Mountain Trail from Gorham for hikers
(Gorham to Pinkham B road to Pine Mt. road for interested snowmobilers)

To: Interested parties and churches
From: Jeff Scott, John Tostenson, Reuben Rajala
Re: Invitation to winter trek to Horton Center, Saturday March 5

Greetings! Several of us lovers of Horton Center have been dreaming about taking a group snowshoe or micro spike hike up the Pine Mt. trail from Gorham on Saturday, March 5, (weather and conditions permitting).

Note: If there are interested snowmobilers, you would park/ride from Gorham, across the Presidential Rail Trail, to the Pinkham B Rd. and to Pine Mt. Road and up to HC. Contact Reuben for info…if you bring your own or wish to rent one in Gorham. Pine Mt. is part of a large snowmobile trail network in the area, maintained by the State and local snowmobile club. The Bear Springs Trail, at the base of Pine Mt. on the east side, is part of a local loop, connecting Gorham to the Pinkham B Rd. just above Barnes Field and Dolly Copp.

In order to join the hike with us please send your name(s), telephone number, and e mail address to Jeff so we can include you in an e mail chain for updates and info. Send to [email protected] or call Jeff Scott at 719-588-4333.

Our goal, as individuals, is to celebrate and promote the beauty and joy of Horton Center in all 4 seasons. We may even make a Facetime call from HC to those attending the Deans retreat that same day! We look forward to hearing from you. Read on!

Important information, recommendations and what to bring:

• Date, time and location: In order to allow adequate time, including a break and warming time at HC: we will meet, park and depart from parking near the Congregational Church in Gorham, NH, at 9:30AM, on Saturday, March 5.
• Weather related: If weather or conditions are deemed inclement there is no alternative date. Those on e mail chain will be notified of the go/no go decisions.
• Hike basics:
o This hike is considered average to moderately difficult in non-snow conditions (see link below). The trail is approximately 2.45 miles from parking to trail head to HC, and took 2.5 hours each way, recently, for Jeff Scott (mostly in shape!) in icy crust conditions using micro spikes. One should allow more if snowshoes are necessary.
o Prospective climbers should have some experience in winter hiking and be in relatively good shape for this hike. The trail is generally gentle to moderately pitched and somewhat steep in a few places. If you are only interested in a partial hike, let us know.
o Food/nutrition etc.: Hikers should bring their own nutrition (bars, lunch, etc.) and liquids for the day and plan accordingly as there will be no water or facilities.
• Necessary equipment. Come equipped to use either your micro spikes and/or snowshoes (some snowshoe rentals may be available in Gorham at Gorham Hardware Store (603-466-2312) but you’ll need to reserve ahead of time) suitable for an uphill trek. Well-fitting micro spikes, yak traks, or similar short crampons are acceptable for icy conditions. “Creepers” are not acceptable. Hiking poles are recommended.
• Other recommended (from the 10 essentials): Comfortable backpack, warm clothing (layers, breathable, wool vs. cotton), headlamp or flashlight, matches/fire starter, whistle, rain/wind jacket and pants, pocket knife)
• Warm up on top: We will try to provide a means of warming at HC (fire outside, woodstove in Spirit Lodge or electric baseboard heating in the MET).
• Hike Safe card: As a simple precaution, consider purchasing a “hike safe” card from NH Fish and Game (available online $25 per individual, $35 per family) that defrays any added medical costs to an individual should Search and Rescue medical attention ever be warranted.
• Please contact Jeff or John for the hike. Those who are interested in traveling by snowmobile on groomed trail from Gorham, contact Reuben.
• If you have any questions, please call or write us. Shalom! Jeff, John and Reuben.

Jeff John Reuben
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
719-588-4333 603-359-1564 603-723-1455

https://trailsnh.com/hike/n/357730602/Pine-Mountain-Gorham-NH
See Pine Mountain Trail description herein.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5365158.pdf

05/08/2021

Laurie Tostenson and I were blessed with 4 more helpers this year in opening up the Spirit Lodge kitchen at Horton Center. Will Smith, Earle Woodward, Sam Strong, and Judi Strong. . . All members of the West Lebanon Congregational Church. What normally takes Laurie and I a day and a half to complete, we completed everything in 5 1/2 hours. Even had time to deep clean the exhaust hood and filters.

The reality that camp is going to happen this year is incredibly exciting.

Although Friends of Horton Center on Pine Mountain has relenquished it's non profit status, the sentiment and drive is the same.

Here are a few pics.

John and Laurie Tostenson

06/07/2020

Spent two productive days on the Mountain. Deep cleaned the kitchen as well as put new curtains in 6 cabins. Staff are arriving on Monday. Check out the grill top. I was able to get that black stain off.

04/06/2020

Sunrise from Randolph Ledge. Soon my friends .. .. Soon!

03/29/2020

03/17/2020

Paul E. Hewitt, 91, of Fredericksburg, Texas, passed away on March 8, 2020.

01/27/2020

My dearest friends. Our dear brother in Christ, Merle Cole passed away on the 25th. I know we all share a profound sorrow for his passing. His dedication to his wife Carol, to his family, Horton Center, and the people of the program is an inspiration to all.

His seemingly tireless work, sometimes at his own expense, at Horton Center will be remembered by all who worked with him. I have attached the link to his life celebration.

My prayers go out to his family. We all know he is with the Saviour and reunited Carol. His faith guided his life and now he is in glory.

Shalom my friend. Til we meet again .

John Tostenson

Share Memories & Support the Family.

01/26/2020

The sign is long gone, yet it remains. Thinking of Horton Center, our thin place. I know this sign brings back many, many memories.

It won't be long before the next generation of campers descend upon camp and the seeds of agape love are sowed.

John "+"

01/01/2020

A brand new year. A brand new start. Think on things that warm your heart. A song, a thing, a place you love. Those things that you hold so dear. The mountain waits neath a pristine snow for we the Oncelers to reappear. Old friends and new, gather, come. The mountain calls to everyone.