White Mountains

Last weekend I bushwhacked to Bald Cap, a 3,000 footer located to the north of the Mahoosuc Trail (Appalachian Trail) in New Hampshire’s North Country. I co-led this trip as part of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Map and Compass Navigation Workshop. We …

Autumn has arrived in the White Mountains and with it a flurry of hiking before  the need to gear up for snow, ice, and winter hiking. Bagging the higher or more remote peaks becomes far more difficult in the winter months due …

I went on a challenging day hike on Saturday climbing Mount Adams and Jefferson, the second and third highest 4,000 footers (both above 5,000′) in the White Mountains. We knowingly hiked up into a heavy mist layer which had settled over the …

This past weekend, I co-led an Appalachian Mountain Club backpacking trip with my friend Stephen, completing a full traverse of the Kilkenny Ridge Trail, starting at South Pond and hiking south to the Starr King trail head in Jefferson, NH. We had …

I led an Appalachian Mountain Club Beginner Hiking Trip and Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop on Mount Pemigewasset (also called ‘Indian Head’) in Franconia Notch on Saturday that was a lot of fun. We had great weather and clear views from the …

I’ve spent so much time hiking above treeline this year that I will soon qualify for a pilot’s license. I’ve got the bug bad. Standing among the cairns in the howling wind under brilliant blue skies, dwarfed by immense piles of rock and dust, there are few …

There are many mountains in the world and mountaineering traditions where it’s common to climb the major summit in addition to its sub-peaks. That’s not the peakbagging tradition in New Hampshire’s White Mountains however, where most hikers concentrate all of their energies …

My friends Claudine, Marlene and I co-led an Appalachian Mountain Club hike up Mount Moosilauke (4802′) on Saturday, the westernmost 400o footer in the White Mountain 48. Climbing this peak has a special significance for me because it’s the first 4,000 footer …

On Sunday, I co-led a mega-hike called a Presidential Traverse for the Appalachian Mountain Club. This is a very long one-day hike, on or close to the summer solstice for maximum daylight, that is started before dawn and usually ends after sunset. …

Have you ever had a perfect day in the mountains? I had one of those days yesterday, on an epic 23 mile day hike to Bondcliff (4265′), Mount Bond (4698′), and West Bond (4540′). The weather was so fine, with bright sunshine and …

June is the best time to climb the peaks in the Northern and Southern Presidential Ranges in the Whites. The days are long, providing ample daylight for big climbs and long routes, and sunny days are simply glorious. Some of my most …

As we were breaking camp, my friend Ian said “This would be a good day to take a Zero.” He got that right. The weather forecast was for 2-6 inches of rain in the next 36 hours with temperatures in the 40’s …

I popped up to New Hampshire for a quick hike last week, climbing two 4,000 footers, Mount Osceola and and bushwhacking to Middle Osceola. The first time I climbed on Mount Osceola, this was a few years back, I met a guy named …

I am really good at finding summit signs and canisters on trail-less bushwhack peaks. I have an uncanny ability to find herd paths, clear water sources, and even parking spaces in Harvard Square. I’m not sure if it’s attitude or karmic alignment …