By Marty Basch

Mount Parker is one of those so-called little mountains that packs quite a wallop.

The moderately difficult nearly 8-mile round-trip hike to the 3,004-foot White Mountain peak on the fringes of the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness is loaded with variations in trail conditions - including a logging operation - and holds off on the wide-ranging vistas north to Mount Washington and east until the end, forcing hikers to earn that 2,800 feet of elevation gain.

South of 3,415-foot Mount Resolution, the way to the incredible summit is along the Mount Langdon and Mount Parker Trails near Bartlett Village and the banks of the Saco River.

The weather was looking up for the solo sojourn; temps were forecast for the low 70s with a slight chance of afternoon thunder-boomers. Though the bugs were active, faint breezes were welcome and at times kept them at bay. Another plus was the way only had two easily negotiated minor brook crossings, both boons given the spring rain.

An old logging road - a portion of it also a cross-country ski trail - leads the way from the small trailhead on the north side of the river and soon enters a sizable logging operation. The trail's been widened in parts, making it look like a hilly backcountry road instead of a path and temporary trail signs have been erected. The sign for the Cave Mountain spur is still there, while moose tracks were evident in the soft dirt.

I emailed the U.S. Forest Service about the operation and was informed the logging is on private land and the USFS is not involved.

The Forest Service acknowledges the logging has obscured the trail in places, making it confusing, and thus made the temporary signs.

The service hopes "to offer a more permanent solution to clarify trail location confusion as the private land regenerates."

The logging stopped at the Wilderness border where the trail narrowed to a pleasant path up along the brook before that fades away and a trek across a forested ridge begins. What goes up, goes down into the col between Oak Ridge and Mount Parker.

A sign and trail on the Wilderness edge lead to the five-person Mount Langdon Shelter in that saddle about a half mile away before the Mount Parker Trail is followed with its change in personality. It is the trail less taken, with many a blow-down from the January ice storm of 1998 and other weather mishaps. Blazes are not as frequent, but color is found in the blooming of the white and pink trillium.

There was also the color of brown found on the trail and not just from the old downed leaves. More frequent moose droppings appeared as the trail wound up the flank of the mountain on switchbacks through oak and by small boulders.

Pleasantly dry, the trail wound up to the summit with its dazzling landscape ranging from valley to Presidential peak. Talk about an al fresco meal. Though the tuna sandwich had an edge of zest to it with sweet relish and peppercorn ranch dressing, it was really bland compared to the scenery under the increasingly darkening sky of Mount Monroe, Boott Spur and over to Mount Crawford. There were 4,000-footers galore: the Wildcats, Carters, Willey and Jackson. Ski trails, rock cliffs and lingering fingers of snow were readily spotted.

The summit itself had a surprise: mountaintop moose droppings. How perfect it would have been to see a summit moose, but alas, it was only what was left behind.

Though the western horizon with its views over to peaks like Carrigain is blocked by tree-growth, I was told about a bushwhack to ledges on that side. While trekking by myself, I tend to stick to the trail, and put that slog on the maybe-to-do list one day.

Not only were Parker's views outstanding, but there was another surprise waiting for me along the way and I didn't realize it until I was back at the trailhead. It wasn't what I saw. It was what I didn't, and it was rare.

During the nearly five-hour trek, I hadn't seen one other hiker.

That's something you don't see every day.