Trip Reports

The first thing you should know about the Presidential Traverse Trail is that there isn’t a trail by that name in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, despite the fact that it’s listed as such in the AllTrails app. That fact will quickly bite …

I ran into some section hikers in Maryland who asked me if you need to stay in the Appalachian Mountain Clubs (AMC) Huts when you hike the Appalachian Trail through New Hampshire. Absolutely not! Priced at $150 per person/night, you get a …

Mt Madison (5367′) and Mt Adams (5774′) are two mountains in the Northern Presidential Range of the White Mountains. Madison is the fifth tallest 4000 footer in the Whites, while Adams is the second tallest, after Mt Washington, which is #1. Climbing …

A Twins/Bonds Traverse is a 2-3 day, 20-mile traverse of North Twin, South Twin, West Bond, Mt Bond, and Bondcliff Mountains. This route is an alternative to the classic Bonds Traverse which approaches the Bondcliff Trail from the east over Mt Zealand. …

The second half of March is usually a good time to climb Mt Washington because the weather tends to moderate as winter turns to spring. You still need to watch the weather forecast carefully and avoid high winds, frigid temperatures, and storms, …

When hiking the Appalachian Trail, you always want to bring some kind of camping shelter, be it a tent, floorless tarp, or hammock, because there’s a very real chance that the shelter will be full when you arrive. Shelter occupancy is first …

Spring hiking conditions in New Hampshire’s White Mountains can be quite unpredictable depending on your location and elevation. Despite the change in season and longer days, snow usually lingers on the high peaks well into late May, and daytime temperatures remain quite …

How long does it take to hike a Presidential Traverse? That depends on a lot of factors, but there is a way to figure it out using a navigational aid called a Time Control Plan. Time control plans (TCP) are used to estimate …

A winter ZBonds Traverse is 23.5 miles long and climbs four White Mountain 4,000 footers: Mt Zealand, West Bond, Mt Bond, and Bondcliff with 4,500 feet of elevation gain. While you can backpack it or stay at the Zealand Hut at mile …

Mt Isolation is one of the most remote White Mountain 4000 footers and makes for a long day in winter conditions. The best winter route starts from the Rocky Branch Trailhead off Rt 16 south of Pinkham Notch but still requires several …

PUDS, otherwise known as pointless ups and downs, are a frequent topic of conversation among hikers and backpackers, up there with blisters and butt chafing. They signify the numerous ups and downs found along many hiking trails, which are viewed as deliberate …

Mt Liberty and Mt Flume are two 4000 footers at the south end of Franconia Ridge in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.  They’re usually climbed on the same day because their summits are only about a mile apart and connected by a ridge. …

Here are all of the available lodging and campsite options available along the Presidential Traverse to break the hike up into multi-day segments. Above-treeline camping is not permitted in the White Mountain National Forest in order to protect fragile alpine vegetation. Please …

Mt Pierce and Mt Eisenhower are two 4000 footers in the Southern Presidential Range which runs between Crawford Notch and Mt Washington. The route up to these two peaks follows the Crawford Path, which is the oldest continuously maintained hiking trail in …