Bushwhacks

Bushwhacking Cape Horn

Cape Horn - Actual Route

Cape Horn is an unusual geologic feature in New Hampshire’s north country called a ring dike. Two thousand feet in height, it’s a ring-shaped remnant of volcanic activity, bordered to the east and west by steep (note angry red and purple slope shading …

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Acteon Ridge Traverse

The Distant Knob of Jennings Peak from Sachem Peak

The Acteon Ridge is a sequence of trail-less peaks in the Sandwich Range Wilderness of the White Mountains. I climbed one of the peaks on the ridge, named Sachem Peak a few years ago, but have always wanted to go back and hike …

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Bushwhacking Fisher Mountain in Winter

Climbing the western ledges on Fisher Mountain

“Fisher Mountain is the best little peak that no one’s ever heard of” said my friend Ken. West of famous Welch-Dickey Mountain Loop, Fisher Mountain is an easy bushwhack up the old Dickey Notch Trail, now renamed and signed as a mountain …

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Bushwhacking North and South Huntington

Ken celebrates at the Mt Huntington canister

Mount Huntington (North) and its three subpeaks, South, West, and East have a notorious reputation in New Hampshire’s off-trail hiking community (North and South are on the NH100 highest list) Dense spruce, blowdowns galore, steep climbs, and sheer cliffs keep most hikers away, since there …

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Bushwhacking Mt Paugus in Winter

Mt Paugus (3198') Summit Register

Mt Paugus is a 3000 footer in the Sandwich Range, adjacent to famous Mt Chocorua. Known as Old Shag for its shaggy, lumpish appearance, Paugus is quite a big mountain with formidable southern cliffs which make a fine resting spot in summer, providing an …

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Bushwhacking Mt Bemis

Bushwhacks are like jungle gyms. Type II fun for hikers who enjoy off-trail hiking the way it used to be before people cut trails in the mountains.

Mt Bemis is a 3725′ mountain located in the White Mountain’s Crawford Notch, named for Dr Samuel Bemis, who built the stone house at its base which is now the popular Notchland B&B. Bemis was an interesting character: a denture maker turned …

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Bushwhacking Sable and Chandler

Mt Chandler Canister Log Book

“We have to climb 500 more feet in the next quarter mile”, said Kris, as we scrambled up the southeast face of Mt Chandler, a 3000 footer on the eastern side of the White Mountains just south of the Baldface Range. I put my …

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Bushwhacking Middle and East Scar

Middle Scar Mountain

I was grumpy at the end of our bushwhack up Middle and East Scar. I was soaking wet, my hands were cold, and my rain pants were shredded. We’d fallen off our line descending from the East peak and I was covered …

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Bushwhacking Greens Cliff

Greens Cliff

“We should have brought our crampons” said Kris, my frequent bushwhacking partner. “Even without snow,” I replied, as we clawed and scrambled our way up an incredibly steep slope below rocky cliffs. It was unseasonably warm, this first week of November, on …

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Sachem Peak and the Smarts Brook Trail

Sachem Peak is a trailless mountain on the Acteon Ridge near Sandwich Dome

Sachem Peak is a trailless mountain near Sandwich Dome noted for its rocky visage and open summit ledges. Located on Acteon Ridge just below Jennings Peak, it’s a moderately easy bushwhack from the Smarts Brook Trail which climbs Sandwich Dome from the west. …

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Bushwhackos on Mt Deception

West Deception

I’ve fallen in with a delightful group of bushwhackers who enjoy hiking up trailless peaks as much as I do. Our latest conquest were the twin summits of West and East Deception (3671′), two 3000 footers that overlook the valley with the Cog …

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