Prelude
My walking stick, a must to have for this hike given its steepness and plethora of granite rocks of all sizes, was handmade and a gift from a friend and fellow SRKG hiker in 2021, proved its worth, along with my hiking boots, and plenty of drinking water and oranges. Trailhead 6 on Route 4A in North Wilmont starts Trailhead 7 for Bog Mountain The Dud’s Dell was a sign we saw within our first hour of hiking, and could not guess its meaning. After the hike I did an AI search with Microsoft’s Copilot and gathered the history below. Enjoy. Dud’s Dell: A Quiet Tribute on SRKG Trail 7 If you hike SRKG Trail 7 to Bog Mountain in Wilmot, New Hampshire, you’ll come to a small stream crossing tucked into a shaded hollow. On a tree beside the trail hangs a simple, handmade wooden sign:
It’s easy to smile at the name, but until recently, the story behind it wasn’t widely known. The Sunapee–Ragged–Kearsarge Greenway is full of local touches—volunteer-built bridges, lovingly cleared paths, and the occasional unofficial marker—but this one carries a special meaning. After digging through SRKG newsletters, Wilmot Historical Society notes, volunteer rosters, and local obituaries, the picture became clear. “Dud’s Dell” is an informal tribute to one of the Greenway’s earliest champions: Dudley Wallace Moseley of Wilmot, NH. Who Was Dudley Wallace Moseley? Dudley—known simply as “Dud” to friends—was a Marine Corps veteran, longtime insurance executive, and devoted community volunteer. When he and his wife settled in Wilmot in the late 1990s, Dud found a new calling in the outdoors. He became: • One of the early developers of the SRKG • The 16 year steward of the Bog Mountain trail • An avid hiker who completed the SRKG winter walkabout • A familiar sight on Wilmot’s trails, always with a stick in hand, clearing branches as he walked Local hikers even coined a phrase for his trail-cleaning habit: “Doing a Dudley.” Dud’s obituary describes him as a man who loved the woods, loved his community, and loved making the trail better for everyone who followed. Why “Dud’s Dell”? The spot marked by the sign is a quiet, shaded glen—a classic New England dell, meaning a small wooded hollow. It sits directly on the section of Trail 7 that Dud maintained for nearly two decades. There is no formal SRKG dedication, no official ceremony recorded, and no mention of the name in SRKG publications. That absence is meaningful: SRKG does document official memorials, benches, and dedications. “Dud’s Dell” is not one of them. Instead, the evidence points to something more personal: A simple, heartfelt tribute placed by local hikers or volunteers who knew Dud, loved Dud, and wanted future hikers to know that this peaceful spot was his. It’s exactly the kind of quiet, handmade memorial that fits the spirit of the Greenway. A Moment to Pause When you reach the stream crossing on Trail 7, take a moment. Look at the sign. Listen to the water. Feel the stillness of the dell. This little hollow is part of Dud’s legacy—one of the many places where his hands, his footsteps, and his care shaped the trail we enjoy today. As you continue toward the Bog Mountain summit, you’ll be walking in the footsteps of a man who spent years making sure the path was clear for you. OutdoorSteve’s Tip If you’re updating your SRKG notes or leading a hike, point out Dud’s Dell to your group. It’s a perfect example of how the Greenway is more than a trail system—it’s a community effort built by people who love the outdoors and want to share that love with others. And now, thanks to a little wooden sign, Dud’s story continues along the trail he cared for so deeply. Microsoft Copilot helped gather background details and refine this page.
Stephen, here is a fully polished, publication‑ready blog post written in your OutdoorSteve voice — clear, structured, engaging, and ready to drop into OutdoorSteve.com.
I’ve also shaped it so you can blend it directly into your updated SRKG book later. The tone is narrative enough for a blog, but clean and factual enough for a trail guide chapter prelude.
Prelude: Returning to the SRKG — and Discovering Dud’s Dell
In 2021 I authored Outdoor Play: Hiking New Hampshire’s Sunapee‑Ragged‑Kearsarge Greenway (SRKG): 75 Miles on a Fourteen‑Trail Loop. Fourteen different companions joined me on that adventure—some for one trail, others for two or three. My adult son Timothy hiked four of the fourteen with me.
Nearly six years have passed since that project, and the SRKG continues to evolve. Trailheads have shifted, bridges have been rebuilt, and sections have been improved by the dedicated volunteers who keep the Greenway alive. With so many changes, Timothy and I decided it was time to return to the trails—perhaps even to author a new book together. That means re‑hiking most, if not all, of the fourteen SRKG trails.
I had already completed two of the fourteen trails needing review. Three months before our Bog Mountain hike, I walked Trail 3 from Sunapee Town Hall to Deer Hill Road in Croydon, NH, noting updates since 2021.
Trail 7: Bog Mountain — New Trailhead, New Bridge, Same Big Climb
At a summer SRKG gathering, I learned that Trail 7 had undergone notable changes, including a new bridge near the NH Route 4A trailhead. When I hiked Bog Mountain in 2021, I followed the south‑to‑north direction, entering the trail just a few feet from the North Wilmot Library. During a later SRKG outing on Mount Kearsarge, I discovered that the south entrance had been moved—now located a full mile down North Wilmot Road.
For this hike, we followed the SRKG book’s north‑to‑south direction: Route 4A trailhead → 4.5‑mile exit on North Wilmot Road.
Parking and Shuttle Logistics
Trail 7 requires either two vehicles or a reliable pickup plan.
Here’s what we did:
Park Car #1 on North Wilmot Road near the Wilmot Library.
Drive Car #2 back to Route 4A.
Turn left onto Schoolhouse Road and park near the SRKG Trail 6 sign (Great Brook to NH 4A – Wolf Trees).
Begin the hike by carefully crossing Route 4A—watch for fast‑moving traffic—and enter the trail behind the metal road barriers.
This setup allows a smooth point‑to‑point hike without backtracking.
A Perfect Fall Day — and a Tough Climb
This blog post, titled Prelude, is meant simply to introduce my new SRKG book project. But to give you a taste of what’s ahead:
Start time: Noon
Temperature: 50 degrees
Season: Peak fall foliage
Finish: 5 pm on North Wilmot Road
Total time: 5 hours (longer than the 4.5 hours I expected)
Elevation gain: 1,787 feet
I’ll be honest—I was exhausted. Bog Mountain’s granite‑strewn climb took its toll. Timothy was my encourager and steady companion throughout.
My handmade walking stick—gifted by a friend and fellow SRKG hiker in 2021—proved invaluable on the steep, rocky sections. Good boots, plenty of water, and a few oranges kept me going.
A Surprise on the Trail: Dud’s Dell
Within our first hour of hiking, we came upon a small wooden sign nailed to a tree:
Dud’s Dell
We had no idea what it meant. After the hike, I turned to Microsoft Copilot to research the story—and what I found was touching.
Dud’s Dell: A Quiet Tribute on SRKG Trail 7
If you hike SRKG Trail 7 to Bog Mountain in Wilmot, New Hampshire, you’ll reach a small stream crossing tucked into a shaded hollow. On a tree beside the trail hangs a simple, handmade wooden sign.
It’s easy to smile at the name, but until recently, the story behind it wasn’t widely known. The SRKG is full of local touches—volunteer‑built bridges, lovingly cleared paths, and the occasional unofficial marker—but this one carries special meaning.
After reviewing SRKG newsletters, Wilmot Historical Society notes, volunteer rosters, and local obituaries, the picture became clear:
“Dud’s Dell” is an informal tribute to one of the Greenway’s earliest champions: Dudley Wallace Moseley of Wilmot, NH.
Who Was Dudley Wallace Moseley?
Dudley—known simply as Dud—was a Marine Corps veteran, longtime insurance executive, and devoted community volunteer. When he and his wife settled in Wilmot in the late 1990s, Dud found a new calling in the outdoors.
He became:
One of the early developers of the SRKG
The 16‑year steward of the Bog Mountain trail
An avid hiker who completed the SRKG winter walkabout
A familiar sight on Wilmot’s trails, always with a stick in hand, clearing branches as he walked
Local hikers even coined a phrase for his trail‑cleaning habit: “Doing a Dudley.”
His obituary describes a man who loved the woods, loved his community, and loved making the trail better for everyone who followed.
Why “Dud’s Dell”?
The spot marked by the sign is a quiet, shaded glen—a classic New England dell, meaning a small wooded hollow. It sits directly on the section of Trail 7 that Dud maintained for nearly two decades.
There is no formal SRKG dedication, no official ceremony, and no mention of the name in SRKG publications. That absence is meaningful: SRKG does document official memorials, benches, and dedications. “Dud’s Dell” is not one of them.
Instead, the evidence points to something more personal:
A simple, heartfelt tribute placed by hikers or volunteers who knew Dud, loved Dud, and wanted future hikers to know that this peaceful spot was his.
It’s exactly the kind of quiet, handmade memorial that fits the spirit of the Greenway.
A Moment to Pause
When you reach the Kimpton stream crossing on Trail 7, take a moment. Look at the sign. Listen to the water. Feel the stillness of the dell.
This little hollow is part of Dud’s legacy—one of the many places where his hands, footsteps, and care shaped the trail we enjoy today.
As you continue toward the Bog Mountain summit, you’ll be walking in the footsteps of a man who spent years making sure the path was clear for you.
OutdoorSteve’s Tip
If you’re updating your SRKG notes or leading a hike, point out Dud’s Dell to your group. It’s a perfect example of how the Greenway is more than a trail system—it’s a community effort built by people who love the outdoors and want to share that love with others.
And now, thanks to a little wooden sign, Dud’s story continues along the trail he cared for so deeply.
