Trip Reports

One of my regular readers contacted me recently about a car break-in they experienced at a trailhead parking lot in the White Mountains. Unfortunately, it happens, despite the efforts of the park service to patrol these lots. Your best protection to prevent …

Last weekend I spent Saturday night on top of Mt Cabot in northern New Hampshire. It was a stormy night and I was glad to take refuge in Cabot Cabin, a fully enclosed house, near the mountain’s summit. Sleeping in this fully …

It's been a while since I've done a section hike on the Appalachian Trail, but I got back to it on Saturday, completing a very short section that I'd missed last Autumn along the Kinsman Ridge Trail in The White Mountains. This …

The North Country of New Hampshire does not disappoint. That’s what I was thinking about 5 miles into a grueling backpacking trip I took last weekend along the Kilkenny Ridge, covering 32 miles and climbing 9,000 feet in two days. The Kilkenny …

I had a big walk on Saturday, climbing another 4,000 footer on the White Mountain List named Owl’s Head (4,025 ft), hiking the 18 mile round trip with about 2,500 of ascent in exactly 9 hours, starting from the Lincoln Brook trail …

I got back up to the White Mountains on Saturday and climbed Middle Tripyramid (4,140 ft) on the White Mountain 4,000 footer list. I’m getting near the end of that list and hope to finish it off by early autumn. Saturday’s hike …

Major Gear System Changes I made some pretty big changes to my gear list for The Challenge this year, replacing leather boots with trail runners, swapping in an ultralight cuben fiber backpack, using chlorine dioxide tablets for water purification instead of a …

Bondcliff (4,265 feet), taken from West Bond, Day 1 Hiking the Bonds It was time to get back to hiking in my own back yard, so I took last Friday off and had myself a quick two day hike in the White …

From the Hills to the Sea After wild camping at Shielin of Mark, I started the last phase of my journey across Scotland, leaving the hills and mountains behind and walking through glen and farmland to the sea. I was sad to …

The Magnificent Trees of Glen Feshie, Day 8 The Cairngorms to Shielin of Mark Looking back on my Challenge crossing this year, the most exciting days for me were the 3 days following my zero day in Kinguissie where I walked down …

Planters at the Columba House Hotel in Kinguissie, Scotland (Meindl Boots) Taking a Zero When I was planning my original Challenge route, I built in an rest day into my schedule, called a zero day here in the states. My plan was …

The TGO Challenge: More than a Hike Hiking across Scotland in the 2010 TGO Challenge this year was a great adventure and one of those life-list hikes that I’ve always dreamed of taking. But while the scenery is breathtaking, there is a …

Just a quick note to let you know that I successfully finished my 180+ mile TGO Challenge hike across Scotland this morning on the east coast in Montrose. This was a fantastic experience and I am eager to return and do it …

Connecticut Appalachian Trail My work-hike balance has been seriously off kilter the past few weeks, but I got back into the groove this weekend with a 1 night backpacking trip on the Connecticut Appalachian Trail, my first foray into the state. Spring …