When I go on big hikes, I often take pictures of trail signs so I can remember where I was when I go back and look at the sequence of photos I shot. I’ve never really paid that much attention to them, collectively, until I saw a great collection of trail signs on Chris Dailey’s blog Hiking in the White Mountains and Adirondacks. That was all the inspiration I needed to pull my own favorites together.
It’s funny how many memories come flooding back into my mind when I look at these trail signs. I wonder if there’s a special relationship between places we visit and the names we give them that enhances our recollection of them. Regardless, I hope staring at these photos (on your laptops) makes your Monday morning meetings pass by more easily.
Tuckerman Ravine, Mt WashingtonHairy Root Spring, New Hampshire AT100 Mile Wilderness, Maine Appalachian TrailHarriman State Park, New York Appilachian TrailMoose Mountain Shelter, New Hampshire Appalachian TrailMount Mansfield, The Long Trail - VermontMount Adams, White MountainsNew York - Connecticut Border, Appalachian TrailZealand Mountain Summit, White MountainsWhiteface Mountain, The Long Trail - VermontFinger Lakes Trail, East Catskills - New YorkLowes Path, White MountainsMahoosuc Trail, New Hampshire Appalachian TrailBaxter State Park, Maine Appalachian TrailMount Madison, White MountainsKilkenney Ridge, White MountainsSmarts Mountain, New Hampshire Appalachian TrailGulfside Trail, Northern Presidentials, The White MountainsNew Hampshire, Appalachian TrailThe Long Trail Northern Terminus, VermontNew Hampshire - Maine Border, Appalachian TrailFlood Damage, New Jersey Appalachian TrailTreeline in the The Northern Presidentials, White Mountains100 Mile Wilderness, Maine Appalachian TrailMaine Gap, The Long Trail - VermontIsrael Ridge Trail, White MountainsNew Jersey - New York Border, Appalachian TrailMount Washington, White Mountains
The Zealand Mt sign reminds me of a trip I took in March 1996. The snow in this picture is a little deeper than what I experienced then but it was still impressively deep. In July I passed the same spot and took another picture to memorialize the March experience. I would guess that this picture was taken around March also. Great blog. I also loved the sign 1.5 miles short of Rainbow Springs Shelter. I was there last September and hiked that trail next to a truly RAGING brook. Love the 100 mile wilderness.
Which pic is near the Rainbow Springs Shelter -I don't recall passing by that one. Is that the picture with the twisted bridge? I ended up walking over the bridge, of course. LOL!
Philip I love trail signs and have a growing collection of them…in photo format of course. Signs have always interested me, old and weathered, hand painted, directional, state lines, they all have a story behind them, if they could only talk.
The Appalachian Mountain Club and the Randolph Mountain Club, which manage most of the trails in the White Mountains, have an annual auction each year of old weathered trail signs that need to be replaced. You would be amazed, people will pay (donate) $1000 dollars or more for one of these old signs – I was outbid for two signs this year. It's a cool thing I guess.
I also like to take pictures of trail signs. After the trip, the timestamp on the images gives me a good idea of my pace. For some reason, the white and green signs always seem to say "You're in the White Mountains"
Haha, Darren, that’s a good one with the rime ice on it, and RevLee, very funny. Nice pics, Philip. I like taking trail sign photos, too. Nice to see years later and then revisit the spot and see an old friend.
Love it… fun collection. One of my all time favs is on the Fischer Towers hike near Moab Utah. It says “Trail Ends” on an old weathered wood sign on the ground near the edge of a cliff.
I love the signs that have warnings of how remote the section of wilderness is. I remember encountering my first one on the Long Trail (NB) at Glastonbury Wilderness. I was so excited! Only a hiker can relate, I imagine.
Not there anymore. It was at the top of the disputed trail down the west side of Cabot. The homeowner started waiving guns at hikers and rather than fight him in court, the USFS just closed the trail.
One favorite, my son at the first sign on the second day of Skyline-to-the-Sea, a 32 mile three day hike. It was a father-son hike. He was out-hiking me then, now he’s running cross-country at college. This was the first seriously lightweight hike for both of us. We borrowed frameless GoLite packs, tarp-camped, and came off the trail carrying 16 pounds (him) and 19 pounds (me).
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I think you just turned me into a collector. =)
Oh baby, I'm going back to mine. You have some nice one from the Whites I have never seen. Thanks so much!
They're inspiring, aren't they? If you post yours, send me a link. I'd love to look at them too.
The Zealand Mt sign reminds me of a trip I took in March 1996. The snow in this picture is a little deeper than what I experienced then but it was still impressively deep. In July I passed the same spot and took another picture to memorialize the March experience. I would guess that this picture was taken around March also. Great blog. I also loved the sign 1.5 miles short of Rainbow Springs Shelter. I was there last September and hiked that trail next to a truly RAGING brook. Love the 100 mile wilderness.
Which pic is near the Rainbow Springs Shelter -I don't recall passing by that one. Is that the picture with the twisted bridge? I ended up walking over the bridge, of course. LOL!
Philip I love trail signs and have a growing collection of them…in photo format of course. Signs have always interested me, old and weathered, hand painted, directional, state lines, they all have a story behind them, if they could only talk.
The Appalachian Mountain Club and the Randolph Mountain Club, which manage most of the trails in the White Mountains, have an annual auction each year of old weathered trail signs that need to be replaced. You would be amazed, people will pay (donate) $1000 dollars or more for one of these old signs – I was outbid for two signs this year. It's a cool thing I guess.
I also like to take pictures of trail signs. After the trip, the timestamp on the images gives me a good idea of my pace. For some reason, the white and green signs always seem to say "You're in the White Mountains"
Here’s one of my favorites that DripDry took in 2010.
https://picasaweb.google.com/DripDry860/AT2010#5453306438490471762
The guy holding the traffic sign didn’t see the humor in it, but it always makes me smile.
Love it! And all this time I thought I was a little strange for shooting every trail sign I came to…now I feel like a rare stamp collector, counting the ones I share with your collection. Granted, I’m probably still a little strange. Here’s my favorite from my collection: https://www.northeasthikes.com/winter-hike-mt-adams-lowes-path-white-mountains-new-hampshire/signsnow/
Haha, Darren, that’s a good one with the rime ice on it, and RevLee, very funny. Nice pics, Philip. I like taking trail sign photos, too. Nice to see years later and then revisit the spot and see an old friend.
Love it… fun collection. One of my all time favs is on the Fischer Towers hike near Moab Utah. It says “Trail Ends” on an old weathered wood sign on the ground near the edge of a cliff.
Thanks for sharing.
I love the signs that have warnings of how remote the section of wilderness is. I remember encountering my first one on the Long Trail (NB) at Glastonbury Wilderness. I was so excited! Only a hiker can relate, I imagine.
The only thing that compared (but wasn’t nearly as cool), is the logging road Rt 108 in New Brunswick between Plaster Rock and Renous (hence the name the Renous highway), a 201-km stretch of twisty, hilly two-lane road with no services. https://autos.ca.msn.com/specials/road-trip-guide/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=26569301&page=8
There are of course, longer stretches of remote highway that I haven’t travelled, but none of them are as cool as stretches of remote hiking trail.
I have a few – I’ll try to add them with a link. Love Trail signs!!
Where is the Kilkenny ridge “Not Maintained” sign?
Not there anymore. It was at the top of the disputed trail down the west side of Cabot. The homeowner started waiving guns at hikers and rather than fight him in court, the USFS just closed the trail.
Funny, I take pictures of trail signs, too.
One favorite, my son at the first sign on the second day of Skyline-to-the-Sea, a 32 mile three day hike. It was a father-son hike. He was out-hiking me then, now he’s running cross-country at college. This was the first seriously lightweight hike for both of us. We borrowed frameless GoLite packs, tarp-camped, and came off the trail carrying 16 pounds (him) and 19 pounds (me).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walter_underwood/4267617447/in/set-72157623069080723
Here’s a link to Trail Signs on my Blog. :)
https://lynchburgcools.blogspot.com/