“I don’t think we’re going to make it to Sunset Field,” I said, to Ken, my trail shuttle driver. The mist on the Blue Ridge Parkway was so thick there was no way we’d make it over Apple Orchard Mountain. “Let me …
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Great Hikes: Mt Madison via The Howker Ridge Trail
There are many trails leading to Mount Madison (5366′), the fifth highest 4000 footer in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and a pyramid-shaped peak of astonishing beauty and grandeur. The easternmost peak in the fearsome Northern Presidentials, it has clear views of neighboring Mt …
Read More »AT Section Hike: Daleville, VA to Sunset Field, Blue Ridge Parkway
“A hiker that can’t eat is a hiker who can’t hike,” said Ken Wallace, the trail shuttle driver who’d come and fetched me off the Appalachian Trail just below Apple Orchard Mountain. After a two days of a stomach bug, I was …
Read More »Hiker Resupply and Mail Drops in the US and UK
Resupply and Mail Drops Mail drops are a common way for long distance hikers to resupply on a long hike. Thankfully, post offices here in the states and abroad will hold packages for pickup by hikers and people who are just passing …
Read More »Bay Circuit Trail Section 1: Plum Island to Rowley
Plum Island Date: 1-21-15 Starting Location: Joppa Flats Wildlife Refuge Destination: Newbury Lower Green BCT Map: Section 1, A to D Distance: 6.6 miles; 14.2 miles RT back to car When I got to the beach and stood on the sand, I was filled with a …
Read More »The Calm Before the Storm: A Winter Loop Over Mt Pierce and Mt Eisenhower in the Southern Presidential Range
Winter Trip Planning My co-leader Bill and I had been carefully monitoring the weather all week for an above-treeline hike over Mt Pierce (4312′) and Mt Eisenhower (4779′) in the Southern Presidential Range of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Our planned …
Read More »Secrets of the Montalban Ridge – Cave Mountain and a Mt Parker Attempt
The Montalban Ridge is one of three ridges south of Mt Washington, running from Boot Spur Mountain to the Saco River outside of Bartlett, NH, and includes Mts Isolation, Davis, Stairs, Resolution, Parker, Langdon, Pickering, and Stanton, from north to south. The …
Read More »Fire Tower Hike to North Kearsarge Mountain
The hike up to the fire tower on North Kearsarge Mountain is a surprisingly steep climb, gaining 2600 feet of elevation in a mere 3.1 miles. But the climb is well worth it, with jaw-dropping 360 views of the White Mountains, including views …
Read More »Greeley Ponds Snowshoe Adventure
While I haven’t completely given up on hiking 4,000 footers since finishing the White Mountain 4000 footers (in winter) last year, the main reason I hike the higher peaks is social, to hang out with my friends who are working on their …
Read More »The Wisdom of Hiking Groups: Reflections on Solo Winter Hiking in the Northern Presidential Range
The big story last week was the accidental death of a solo hiker, Kate Matrosova, who died from exposure between Mt Madison and Mt Adams in New Hampshire’s Northern Presidential Mountain Range. A so-called “expert hiker”, she attempted to traverse Mt Madison, Adams, Jefferson, …
Read More »Winter Fire Building Practice – Twice Makes Right
I headed back into the winter woods to practice building a winter fire, a survival skill that I want to master in case I ever need an emergency fire. (see Winter Survival Fire Lighting Skills – Why Don’t We Teach Them? and Winter …
Read More »The Winter Route up Mt Carrigan
The route up Mt Carrigan (4681′) in winter is one of the longest, but most rewarding, scenic hikes in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Fourteen miles in length with 3800′ of elevation gain, the winter climb up Carrigan is one of those hikes …
Read More »Winter Fire Building Practice Trip
This trip was motivated by an accident report I read about in Appalachia Magazine where the victim couldn’t get a fire started in winter conditions. The Appalachia Accident Editor recommended that winter hikers practice winter firelighting skills which is a topic that’s left out …
Read More »Frostnip on Mt Moriah
It took less than a minute for my fingertips to freeze, but I could tell I had a problem right away from the pain. We’d stopped to put on goggles and facemasks when we encountered strong easterly winds and blowing snow on Mt …
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