With just 4 weeks to go, I've been very busy this weekend pulling all of my gear and resupply packages together for a 2 week unsupported hike across Scotland in the 2010 TGO Challenge. That includes finalizing my gear list, which I've …
Read More »Trip Reports
Mt Hancock, North Peak
Climbing Mt. Hancock Naturegirl and I climbed the Northern Peak of Mt. Hancock (4,420 ft) on Saturday. We had gorgeous weather with highs somewhere near 70 F, despite the fact that it's still early April in the White Mountains. Trail Conditions While …
Read More »Climbing Mt Whiteface
Chris and I headed up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire on Sunday to bag Mt Whiteface (4,020 ft), another 4,000 footer in the Sandwich Range. While winter is officially over for peakbaggers trying to finish their winter 48, winter itself …
Read More »Preparing for a Long Backpacking Trip
Someone once told me that backpacking trips start well before you start hiking. Isn’t that the truth? Just planning and preparing for a 1 or 2 night weekend trip takes me at least a week of mornings and evenings, before …
Read More »North Tripyramid Ascent
Nature Girl and I took a run at the Tripyramids on Saturday, trying to bag the North (4,180 ft), Middle (4,140 ft) and South (4,100 ft) peaks. We hiked in on the lesser used Pine Bend Brook Trail in order to climb …
Read More »Vetter Comments on my TGO Challenge Route Plan
Everyone who participates in the TGO Challenge has to submit a route plan that describes the path that they will use to cross from the west coast of Scotland to the east in enough detail that it can be reviewed by Challenge …
Read More »Climbing Mt Tecumseh in February
I’m feeling pleasantly zonked and relaxed after climbing Mt Tecumseh (4,003 ft) this morning, number 48 on the White Mountain 4,000 footer list. It’s the first time I’ve gotten out in few weeks due to a sinus infection I picked up on …
Read More »Final Route Plan: TGO Challenge
I've now spent the good part of a month on detailed planning of my 2010 Challenge Route, and I've made some fairly major changes since I posted it last on January 7. I've added a nearly full rest day in Kingussie and …
Read More »Days: 12-13 Tarfside to Montrose
The last two days of my TGO Challenge walk appear pretty straightforward. I follow the River Esk to Edzell and from there begin to follow smaller roads to Brechin and Montrose and the eastern shore of Scotland where my hike ends. Technically, …
Read More »Days 10-11: Braemar to Tarfside
Days 10-11: Braemar to Tarfside The next few days will put my navigation skills to the test. I'll be passing over very wild, open country to get to Lochnagar, a cluster of magnificent Munros, south of the Royal Balmoral Castle and Estate. …
Read More »Days 8-9: Kingussie to Braemar
Days 8 & 9: TGO Challenge Route Plan (2010) If the weather is good, Days 8 and 9 will be an incredibly scenic walk. My path on these days runs along Glen Feshie on the southwestern boundary of the magnificent Cairngorm Mountains …
Read More »Chillin up South Hancock
When Naturegirl and I started hiking up to Mt Hancock (4,430 ft, above) and South Hancock (4,319 ft) on Saturday I felt like my face was going to freeze off. The trail head parking lot for this hike is very exposed to …
Read More »A Flume with a View – Mt Flume in Winter
I needed to summit a mountain on Sunday and I wasn’t going to let physical exhaustion stand in my way. Starting a new job with a steep learning curve has been emotionally challenging. I wanted to reaffirm that I can still accomplish …
Read More »Dream Lake and the Peabody Brook Trail
I did a lot of hiking last year up and down the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine in addition to climbing a lot of the White Mountain 4,000 footers. I didn’t hike nearly as much as my friend …
Read More »