The Sandwich Range encompasses the southwestern portion of the White Mountain National Forest including everything, roughly speaking, from the Kancamagus Highway south to Squam Lake. While it includes several 4000 footers and the region is heavily forested, the terrain is quite varied …
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Hiking Mt Lafayette and Mt Lincoln in October
The two most popular peaks to climb on Franconia Ridge, are Mt Lafayette and Mt Lincoln, two 5000-footers with stellar views of Franconia Notch and the Pemigewasset Wilderness. These two mountains are sublime and magnificent in their own right, but they really …
Read More »Great Hikes in the Whites: Moat Mountain Traverse
The Moat Mountain Traverse is a classic White Mountains hiking route that can be hiked year-round. It’s a good early spring hike to do when the high peaks are still snow-covered but the lower elevation trails are starting to clear. But my …
Read More »Great Hikes: A Huntington Ravine Trail Loop
The Huntington Ravine Trail is one of the hardest hikes in the White Mountains. Located on Mt Washington, it climbs 1400 feet in 0.9 miles up the headwall of Huntington Ravine, a deep glacial valley on the east side of Mt Washington. …
Read More »Hiking a North Moat Mountain – Red Ridge Loop
The North Moat Mountain / Red Ridge Loop is a 10-mile loop hike located just outside North Conway, New Hampshire that climbs the steep and rocky summit of North Moat Mountain before descending the Red Ridge Trail down a series of open …
Read More »Backpacking a Reverse Kate Sleeper Loop
Autumn has arrived in the White Mountains, but leaf-peeping season is still a few weeks out. The Forest has been surprisingly empty the past two weeks and you can hike all day and just see a handful of people if any. I’ve …
Read More »Great Hikes: The Ice Gulch Loop
Ice Gulch is a narrow, boulder-filled ravine in the Randolph Community Forest on the north end of the White Mountain National Forest region. It’s so-named because you can find snow and between the rocks there in August and it’s quite similar in …
Read More »Hiking Mt Madison in September
Mt Madison is the fifth highest 4000-footer in the White Mountains, topping off at 5367′. It’s a beautiful mountain to climb and you can follow many different trails to the top. For this hike, I chose one of the less used ones, …
Read More »Great Hikes: Howker Ridge Watson Path Loop
I was in awe the first time I climbed it up the Howker Ridge Trail to Mt Madison. Howker runs along the top of a ridge that’s capped by these strange rocky peaklets, called Howks, which poke out above treeline at intervals …
Read More »Backpacking a Jumping Brook Loop
Jumping Brook is a mountain stream that’s pretty close to the geographic center of the Pemigewasset Wilderness. It drains the eastern slope of Mts Guyot, Zealand, and the Bonds, before it meets the North Fork of the Pemigewasset River. The closest trail …
Read More »Great Hikes: Mt Washington, the Huntington Ravine Trail, and a Boot Spur Loop
While I enjoy hiking solo in the White Mountains in summer, there are a few trails that I won’t hike alone, in any season for that matter. The Huntington Ravine Trail is one of them. This trail, which climbs a cliff face …
Read More »Great Hikes: Climbing Mt Madison by the Pine Link Trail
When I want inspiration, I head above treeline in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. There’s something about the big views and the physical exertion of climbing a mountain that lifts my spirits and lets them soar. For this trip, I hiked up to the …
Read More »AMC White Mountains Hiker Shuttle
The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) runs a hiker shuttle (link to schedule) in New Hampshire’s White Mountains between its lodges and several major trailheads that can make getting around easier if you don’t have a car during your visit or you don’t …
Read More »Backpacking the Fire Warden’s Loop
The Fire Warden’s Loop climbs Mts Hale, Zealand, South Twin, and North Twin Mountains, with an optional extension out to Mts Guyot, West Bond, Bond, and Bondcliff. It begins and ends along the North Twin Trail, making it a convenient loop for …
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