Volume II Outdoor Play: Hiking New Hampshire’s Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway (SRKG): 75 Miles on a Fourteen Trail Loop.
by Stephen L. Priest and Timothy J. Priest
Prelude
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| SRKG TRAPEZOID TRAIL BLAZE |
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 of Bog Mountain SRKG Trail 7 Off Route 4A and Kimpton Brook Bridge |
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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.
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 counterclockwise 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 clockwise 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
To give you a preview of what lies ahead in this series, I can simply say this: I was exhausted by the end of the day. 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.
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| A view from Peak of Bog Mountain of Mount Kearsarge |
