52 With a View

Winter arrived over a month early this year and upset my autumn backpacking plans. While I still mourn the lost season, I’ve embraced the winter conditions and been out hiking and snowshoeing a good amount already. I’m a trip leader for the 6000+ member Random Hiker’s Meetup, which hikes primarily …

North and Middle Sugarloaf are two smaller peaks located next to Mt Hale with great views of Mt Washington and the Presidential Range. They’re not an obvious destination in winter because the Forest Service road leading to their trail head is gated in winter and closed to wheeled vehicles. But the …

Mt Tremont (3371′) is a picturesque 3000 footer in Crawford Notch overlooking Sawyer Pond, Greens Cliff, and the Sandwich Range to the south. It’s a relatively short (2.8 mile) but steep hike (2550′ of ascent) up to the summit viewpoint. You can also approach the peak from the south on …

Climbing Mt Israel is close to becoming a spring pilgrimage for me. Located in the White Mountains Sandwich Range, it’s a 52-with-a-view summit with great views of Sandwich Dome, Mt Whiteface, and the rocky summit of Mt Chocorua. I climbed Israel via the Mead Trail, coming up the more remote north …

We triggered a human generated avalanche on North Percy mountain, breaking through wind slab that was sitting on a layer of ice. It wasn’t a huge slide, but I could tell that it rattled that guys who triggered it. No one was hurt, but it served as a reminder of …

Sugarloaf Mountain (3701′) is a 52-with-a-view peak in the Nash Stream Forest, a multi-use conservation area in North New Hampshire, north of the White Mountain National Forest. If you ever get the chance to get up to the Nash Stream Forest, it’s a lot wilder and less developed than the Whites …

Black Mountain (2757′) is a 52-with-a-View peak located in Jackson, NH with good views of Mt Washington on a clear day. The trail up to the summit follows the Black Mountain Ski trail and passes the Black Mountain Cabin, just below the summit. This is a primitive log cabin managed …

Jennings Peak (3440′) is a 52-with-a-View mountain in Waterville Valley at the top of Acteon Ridge. It has a great view of massive Sandwich Dome Mountain (shown above) which at 3993′ is just seven feet shy of being a 4000 footer. I climbed in on a frosty day with four …