A 2-3 day, 22 mile scenic loop that travels up the Dry River Valley, climbing the Oakes Gulf headwall, to a set of alpine lakes at the foot of Mt Washington. From here, hikers climb 4 four thousand footers in sequence: Mt Monroe, …
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Howker Ridge Loop Trip Plan: Backpacking the White Mountain 4000 Footers Guidebook
The Howker Ridge Loop is a 2 day, 18 mile loop that climbs all of the peaks in the Northern Presidential Range: Mounts Madison, Adams, and Jefferson. The route passes several unusual geological features including small peaklets known locally as Howks, an …
Read More »The Rocky Branch Ramble Trip Plan: Backpacking the White Mountain 4000 Footers Guidebook
Mt Isolation is a remote 4000-footer located in the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness south of Mt Washington, with outstanding views of Washington, the Southern Presidential Range, the Oakes Gulf Headwall, and the Dry River Valley. Moderate in both length and difficulty, this …
Read More »Hiking Mt Adams and Mt Madison in February
February is the height of winter in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range and it can be difficult to find a weather window where the temperatures and wind speed are safe to climb the higher peaks. I’d passed up a few opportunities the week …
Read More »Hiking a Wildcat Loop
Wildcat ‘A’ and ‘D’ are two 4000 footers on the other side of Rt 16 from Mt Washington and the Presidential Range. Hiking them usually requires an out and back hike, a road walk, or a shuttle. However, there is a way …
Read More »Hiking a Bonds-Z Traverse in February
The Bonds is a group of three adjacent 4000+ foot mountains – Bondcliff, Mt Bond, and West Bond in the middle of the Pemigewasset Wilderness. They’re usually hiked along with Zealand Mountain as a 23-mile traverse when the forest service road leading …
Read More »Hiking to Mt Isolation in January
Mt Isolation is a White Mountain 4000-footer located in the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness south of Mt Washington, with outstanding views of Washington, the Southern Presidential Range, the Oakes Gulf Headwall, and the Dry River Valley. It’s a potentially difficult hike in …
Read More »Wildcat Mountain 4000 Footer Access in Winter
The Wildcat Mountain Range has two White Mountain 4000 footers, called the ‘A’ peak or Wildcat A, and the ‘D’ peak, or Wildcat D. There are actually about 10 peaklets in total along the Wildcat Ridge Trail but those two are the …
Read More »Hiking North Twin Mountain in January
Every day I get a little bit stronger and my breathing gets a little bit easier. But getting Covid in December really kicked my ass. Even worse was the Covid cough that followed, setting me back a month or two in terms …
Read More »Best Thru-Hiking Clothes for the Appalachian Trail
Your clothing for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike doesn’t have to be overly complicated—in fact, simpler is better because you don’t want to carry anything you’re not going to use. What you do want is clothing that is durable, doesn’t chafe or rub …
Read More »Hiking a Franconia Ridge Loop in December
The Franconia Ridge Loop consists of two five thousand footers, Mt Lincoln (5080′) and Mt Lafayette (5242′). In addition to their summits, the highlight of the loop is the above treeline Franconia Ridge Trail connecting Lincoln and Lafayette, with magnificent views of …
Read More »Hiking a Z-Bonds Traverse in December
A Z-Bonds Traverse is one of the more difficult hikes you can do in winter in the White Mountains. It’s even longer than a Presidential Traverse and much more remote. It requires hiking across the breadth of the Pemigewasset Wilderness for 23.3 …
Read More »Great Hikes: Baldface Circle Trail in Evans Notch
The Baldface Circle Trail is one of the most magnificent hikes in the White Mountains with nearly 4 miles of open ledge rivaling the northern Presidentials in terms of views. Located in the northeastern corner of the Whites near the New Hampshire …
Read More »Great Hikes: North and Middle Sugarloaf
North and Middle Sugarloaf are two small mountains located just outside Twin Mountain, NH that provide outstanding views of the Twin, Rosebrook, and Presidential Mountain Ranges and only require a moderate 3.4 mile round trip walk to reach. While both peaks have views, Middle Sugarloaf …
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