The first trail I ever hiked in the White Mountains, the Beaver Brook Trail, climbs Mt Moosilauke (4803′). The initial ascent is a beast of a climb 2000′ up a cliff with iron bars and wooden steps anchored on the rock next …
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Backpacking a Southern Presidential – Dry River Loop
The Dry River Valley in New Hampshire’s White Mountains can be challenging to access because the trails leading into it and through it are remote, rough, and difficult to follow. Scarred by avalanches, washed out by floods, or ravaged by hurricanes, the …
Read More »Hiking Boott Spur Mountain and the Bigelow Lawn
Boott Spur is a subpeak on Mt Washington’s south face in the White Mountains and the Bigelow Lawn is the grassy tableland between them. It’s not an area frequented by most White Mountain hikers because it isn’t on the official 4000-footer list, …
Read More »Backpacking in the White Mountains: A Quick and Dirty Guide
The White Mountain National Forest is located about 2 and 1/2 hours north of Boston, 6 hours north of New York City, and about 2 hours from Portland, Maine. It’s visited by over 6 million people per year, and provides numerous recreational …
Read More »Do You Need a Bear Canister for the White Mountains?
If you camp or backpack in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, you need to store your food in: a closed motor vehicle (locking is advised) a campsite bear box at a pre-established tent site by hanging your food in a bear …
Read More »The White Mountains Direttissima
The White Mountain National Forest, known as “The Whites” has its share of difficult hiking lists and challenging hikes. The White Mountain 4000 footer list with its 48 peaks, is the list that most aspiring New England hikers cut their teeth on …
Read More »Backpacking Mt Parker Trip Plan
Mt Parker is a 3004 ft mountain in the Presidential-Dry River Wilderness with expansive views of Mt Washington and the Southern Presidential Range. It’s also on the 52-With-a-View Peakbagging List, which many New Hampshire hikers gravitate to after they’ve completed a round …
Read More »Bushwhacking Millen Hill and Mt Dartmouth
Millen Hill and Mt Dartmouth are two trailless peaks adjacent to Mt Jefferson in the White Mountains Presidential Range. Millen Hill is on the New Hampshire 200 highest list, while Mt Dartmouth is on the 100 highest list and the more difficult …
Read More »A Kilkenny Ridge Traverse Trip Plan: Backpacking the 4000 Footers Guidebook
The Kilkenny Ridge Traverse is a moderate 2-3 day, 27 mile scenic traverse of some of wildest and remote scenery in the White Mountains. It’s a particularly attractive route for backpackers interested in avoiding the crowds of day hikers who frequent the …
Read More »Backpacking a Carrigain Notch Loop
Carrigain Notch is a wild mountain pass between Mt Carrigain and Mt Lowell in the Pemigewasset Wilderness. It’s a deep chasm that’s seldom hiked end-to-end unless you want to penetrate deep into the White Mountain National Forest on a backpacking trip far …
Read More »Bushwhacking East and West Russell Mtns
East and West Russell are two adjacent peaks on the New Hampshire 500 highest list that tower above Russell Pond and the Russell Pond Campground in the Waterville Valley Region of the White Mountains. They’re almost due south of the Loon Ski …
Read More »Bushwhacking Unknown Pond Peak
Unknown Pond Peak is the 100th highest mountain on the New Hampshire Hundred Highest peakbagging list, a list that I’ve been slowly working on since 2012. I haven’t done an off-trail trail hike for a while since I’ve been pursuing The White …
Read More »Why are the White Mountains So Tough?
The White Mountains in New Hampshire have a well-deserved reputation as a challenging place to hike. People are always a bit surprised by this because they’re not that high in elevation, only topping out at 6,288 feet on Mt Washington. Still, people …
Read More »Great Hikes: A Presidential Traverse
One of the great hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is called a Presidential Traverse. It’s so-called because hikers climb all of the mountains in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains in one continuous hike that’s nearly 23 miles …
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