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
In 2021, Steve authored Outdoor Play: Hiking New Hampshire's Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway (SRKG): 75 Miles on a Fourteen-Trail Loop. Fourteen different hiking companions joined him during that project. Some hiked only one trail, while others completed two or three. His adult son, Timothy, joined him on five of the fourteen trail segments.
Nearly six years have passed since the book was published, and much has changed on the Greenway. Trails have been improved, sections have been rerouted, trailheads have been relocated, and new structures have appeared along the route.
Steve has already revisited two of the fourteen trails to document these changes. Three months before Timothy and Steve undertook the 1,787-foot traverse of Bog Mountain on Trail 7, Steve re-hiked Trail 3 from Sunapee Town Hall to Deer Hill Road in Croydon, New Hampshire.
Timothy and Steve decided it was time to return to the SRKG to document the changes firsthand and begin laying the groundwork for a possible second edition. To do that, they would need to re-hike most, if not all, of the Greenway's fourteen trails.
Trail 7: Bog Mountain:
New Trailhead, New Bridge, Same Big Climb
At a summer SRKG gathering, we learned that Trail 7 had undergone notable changes, including a new bridge near the Route 4A trailhead. When Steve hiked Bog Mountain in 2021, he followed the trail in a counterclockwise direction, entering just a few feet from the North Wilmot Library. During a later SRKG outing on Mount Kearsarge, we discovered that the southern entrance had been moved and was now located approximately one mile farther south on Route 4A.
Tim and I decided it was time to return to Trail 7 to see these changes firsthand and continue documenting how the Greenway has evolved since publication of the original guidebook.
Parking and Shuttle Logistics
Trail 7 requires either two vehicles or a reliable pickup plan.
For this hike, we parked one vehicle on North Wilmot Road near the Wilmot Library. Using a second vehicle, we drove south on Route 4A and turned onto Schoolhouse Road, parking near the SRKG Trail 6 sign (Great Brook to NH 4A - Wolf Trees).
This arrangement allowed us to complete the 4.5-mile traverse without backtracking.
A Caution
Exercise caution when leaving Schoolhouse Road and crossing Route 4A. Traffic can move quickly through this area. After crossing, enter the trail through the opening in the roadside barriers.
A Perfect Fall Day and a Tough Climb
We began hiking at noon on a crisp autumn day with temperatures near 50 degrees and fall foliage at its peak. Five hours later, we emerged on North Wilmot Road.
Although the hike took slightly longer than expected, the extra time allowed us to appreciate the trail's many changes. The nearly 1,800 feet of elevation gain, however, remained as challenging as ever. By day's end, I was thoroughly exhausted. Fortunately, Tim was there with encouragement, water, oranges, and a steady hiking pace whenever the climb became difficult.
My walking stick, handmade by a friend and fellow SRKG hiker in 2021, once again proved its value on the steep granite slopes. Combined with sturdy hiking boots and plenty of water, it helped make the climb manageable.
Once Route 4A is crossed, the familiar green-and-white SRKG trapezoid markers point the way toward Kimpton Brook and the new bridge. During Steve's 2021 hike, crossing the brook required scrambling across slippery rocks, fallen trees, and occasionally getting wet feet. The new bridge makes the crossing significantly safer and more accessible.
A Traverse Across Bog Mountain
One of the pleasures of hiking Bog Mountain is the variety of landscapes encountered along the way. Within minutes of leaving the trailhead, we entered a sugar maple forest where rows of trees were connected by tubing in preparation for the next spring's maple syrup season.
Further along, we passed several massive glacial erratics, enormous boulders deposited during the last Ice Age. These geological reminders of New Hampshire's past stand in sharp contrast to the carefully maintained trail winding through the forest.
Throughout the hike, the SRKG's distinctive green-and-white trapezoid blazes guided our way. Like many hikers, we occasionally stopped to scan ahead for the next marker. Spotting one always brought reassurance that we remained on course.
Dud's Dell: A Quiet Tribute on SRKG Trail 7
During the first hour of our climb, Timothy and I noticed a weathered wooden sign nailed to a tree. It simply read "Dud's Dell."
Neither of us knew what the name meant, but it was memorable enough that I decided to research it after returning home. What I discovered revealed the story of one of the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway's most dedicated volunteers.
Who Was Dudley Wallace Moseley?
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, New Hampshire.
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 carrying a walking stick and clearing branches as he walked
Local hikers even coined a phrase for his trail-maintenance 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, respected his work, and wanted future hikers to know that this peaceful place was his.
It's exactly the type of quiet, handmade memorial that reflects the spirit of the Greenway.
A Moment to Pause
When you reach the Kimpton Brook area on Trail 7, take a moment. Look at the sign. Listen to the water. Feel the stillness of the forest.
This little hollow is part of Dud's legacy, one of the many places where his hands, footsteps, and care helped shape the trail we enjoy today.
As you continue toward the summit of Bog Mountain, you'll be walking a path maintained for years by a man who devoted himself to making the Greenway a better place for everyone who followed.
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 much more than a trail system. It is a community effort built by people who love the outdoors and want to share that love with others.
And now, thanks to a small wooden sign beside the trail, Dud's story continues.
Looking Ahead
Trail 7 reminded us that the Greenway is constantly evolving. New bridges replace difficult crossings, trailheads are relocated, volunteers leave lasting marks on the landscape, and stories such as Dud's Dell quietly emerge from the woods.
As Tim and I continue revisiting the remaining SRKG trails, we look forward to discovering what other changes, memories, and hidden stories await us along the way. This journey is not simply a return to old trails. It is an opportunity to document how the Greenway has changed while honoring the people who helped shape it.
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