Peaked Hill Pond is a lovely destination in the Southern White Mountains and an easy day hike for kids and harried parents. The trail to the pond is a short 1.6 miles in length and easy to follow. Fishing is also an attractive option, by float, or with waders. It’s …
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Super Tuesday in the Presidential Range
March is the best month to climb the higher peaks in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range when temperatures warm up and the days are longer, but it’s still full-on winter conditions above treeline. This is home of Mt Washington, the White Mountains highest peak, which is on the same ridge with …
Read More »Climbing Mount Moosilauke and Bushwhacking Mt Blue
Mount Moosilauke (4802′) was windy. It’s often like that. It was really cold too, registering -1*F at the trailhead at the start of our hike, with a -30*F windchill forecast at the mountain’s bald summit. That meant we’d probably need full-face protection to prevent frostbite on the final above-treeline portion …
Read More »Gordon Pond Snowshoe
Gordon Pond is a remote pond on the Kinsman Ridge Trail, just below Mt Wolf, between Mount Moosilauke and the Eliza Brook Shelter along the Appalachian Trail. I doubt many people visit it (because it’s not en route to a 4000 footer) except maybe thru-hikers who need to catnap after …
Read More »Hiking the TGO Challenge – Our 2020 Route Plan
I’m headed to Scotland again in May to hike from the west coast to the east coast in this year’s 2020 TGO Challenge. This is an annual backpacking event, now in its 41st year, where 400 backpackers, hiking solo or in small teams, attempt to hike cross country in 15 …
Read More »Bushwhacking Sugar and Jericho Mountains
Sugar Mountain and Jericho Mountain are located in Jericho Mountain State Park, just outside Berlin, NH (pronounced Ber’-lin), the “City that Trees Built.” While it’s just a short distance from Mt Washington, Berlin has a “border outpost” feeling to it. It’s also the southern hub for logging, ATV, and snowmobile …
Read More »10 Tips for Climbing Mt Washington in Winter
Backpacker Magazine got it right when they named Mt Washington (6288′) one of the 10 most dangerous hikes in America. Several weather patterns collide on Mt Washington and produce its notoriously foul weather, which can move in quickly. The winds on Mt Washington exceed tropical storm force (40 mph) 110 days …
Read More »Climbing Pierce and Eisenhower on the Second Day of Winter
Eliot needed Mt Eisenhower for his Winter 4000 footer list, so we decided to climb it on the second day of Winter (12/23). Eisenhower (4780′) is a bald dome in the Southern Presidentials, located about halfway up the ridge between Mt Monroe and Mt Pierce. It’s a pretty straightforward hike …
Read More »Hiking a Carter Ledge/Middle Sister Loop
The Carter Ledge Trail is considered one of the scariest trails in the White Mountains because it requires scrambling across an open ledge above a cliff. Carter Ledge is also on the Terrifying 25 List, which is a popular list of sketchy and yes, terrifying hiking trails in the White …
Read More »Backpacking a Sandwich Dome Loop
Sandwich Dome (3980′) is not quite a White Mountain 4000 footer but it’s still a popular mountain to climb because it commands such an impressive view. It’s also a huge mountain that can be climbed from a number of different directions along some impressive trails that boast their own jaw-dropping …
Read More »White Mountain Guide 30th Edition Review
The Appalachian Mountain Club’s White Mountain Guide is the hiker’s bible for planning day hikes and backpacking trips in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest. People come from all around the world to hike, backpack, climb and train for mountaineering expeditions in “The Whites” which are known for their rugged …
Read More »Climbing the Mt Washington Headwall and the Great Gulf Trail
The Great Gulf is a glacial valley that lies between Mt Washington and the Northern Presidential Range in New Hampshire. It’s ground zero for many of the toughest and steepest trails in the White Mountains, including the Great Gulf Trail which climbs the Mt Washington Headwall. The Headwall is a …
Read More »TGO Challenge: Route Planning Tips for Backpacking Across Scotland
The TGO Challenge is an annual backpacking event that lasts for 15 days and involves backpacking coast to coast across Scotland, a distance of 180-200 miles. It’s been held for 40 years and is organized by The Great Outdoors Magazine which is a UK publication popular with hardcore hikers and …
Read More »Climbing Mt Adams on the Great Gully Trail
The Great Gully Trail is one of the steepest trails in the Whites climbing 1700 feet in one mile. It begins at the bottom of the King Ravine headwall (3700′) on the north side of Mt Adams (5774′), the second tallest peak in the White Mountains after Mt Washington, and …
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