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Open Avalanche Slide on East Osceola

Mount Osceola and East Osceola in February

Mount Osceola (4340′)  and its subordinate peak East Osceola (4156′) are always a challenging climb in winter.  Scarred by avalanche slides and ice encrusted cliffs, it is hard to comprehend how rugged these mountains are until you need to carry full winter gear up their steep slopes or climb them off-trail. When approached from the [...]

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Webster Cliff from Mt Avalon, Crawford Notch

Mount Field and Mount Willey in February

My friend David and I popped up to New Hampshire mid-week to hike two winter 4,000 footers, Mount Field (4340′) and Mount Willey (4285′) in Crawford Notch. While I’ve climbed these peaks many times, I’d never climbed them during the winter peakbagging season and needed them for my Winter 4,000 footer list. The recent blizzard [...]

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Norcross Pond

Mt Nancy Bushwhack

Yesterday was one on those perfect winter days in the White Mountains when it all came together – good friends, clear blue sky, gorgeous views, and a great climb. Our destination was Mt Nancy (3926′), a New England Hundred Highest Peak, which is climbed via a very steep and un-maintained herd path. Overlooking Norcross Pond, [...]

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Mount Garfield (4500') - Middle

Mount Garfield in February

The anvil-shaped spire of Mount Garfield stands an isolated sentinel at the north-western end of the Pemigewasset Wilderness with excellent views of the other peaks that ring the 182 square mile forest. Blasted by winds, its rocky summit provides meager protection to hikers, except for the bunker-like foundation of an old fire-tower. On Saturday, 11 [...]

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Mt Lincoln in July

The Grid, Gridiots and the Gridiocracy

Experienced hikers will tell you that no two hikes up the same mountain are ever the same. Which probably explains why some hikers are willing to climb the same mountains month after month, throughout the year, to experience the variety of weather conditions and seasonal changes that affect each climb. There’s a peakbagging list like [...]

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View of Franconia Ridge from North Kinsman, courtesy Pam Wilmot

North and South Kinsman Mountains in January

Try as I might, I can’t put my finger on the one reason I enjoy winter hiking and mountaineering so much. While the views from the high peaks can be exhilarating, there’s also the satisfaction of intense physical exertion, using the technical skills required for winter hiking, and the cameraderie that develops between you and [...]

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Owls Head

Owl’s Head Mountain in December

The two most difficult winter 4,000 footer hikes in the White Mountains are Owl’s Head Mountain and the Bonds, consisting of Bondcliff, Mount Bond and West Bond Mountain. The difficulty in reaching these peaks stems from their remoteness. All of them are located in the heart of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, requiring long walk-ins or snowshoes, [...]

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South Twin Mountain seen from Southwest Twin Ridge

Southwest Twin Mountain Bushwhack Attempt

My friend Barbara said, “the reason bushwhacking is so challenging, is that there’s no guarantee that you’ll reach the peak. We’re so used to getting anything we want in this world that there are few things like that anymore.” She was right, but it would have still been sweet if we’d made it to the [...]

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