Winter Solstice Hike to Cannon Mountain

Winter arrived at 5:44 this morning. I wanted to do my first official winter hike today although it has felt like winter hiking for the past month. I decided on Cannon Mountain (4,100') but was having a dilemma as to which trail to use, Kinsman Ridge Trail or Hi-Cannon. After recent snow followed by a day of rain then a hard freeze the trail conditions were uncertain as I was not able to find any current trail reports for these two trails.

Hiking to Hermit Lake in a Snowstorm

With a snowstorm in the forecast for today and heavy rain on the way for tomorrow I decided to hike in the snow. I wanted a trail that I knew would be broken out so I chose the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. It's not a long drive for me and it's a popular trail. I just wanted to get out in the freshly, falling snow. My first intent was to hike up into the floor of Tuckerman Ravine but with a late start and avalanche warnings I would have to be satisfied with hiking to Hermit Lake.

Hiking To a Frigid Mount Pierce

Frigid weather was in the forecast for this weekend with cold temps and blowing wind that would create subzero wind chills on the summits. I chose Mount Pierce (4,310') for its short minimal exposure above tree line. I would like to have added Mount Eisenhower but I knew that weather and trail conditions would be extremely hazardous, this would be confirmed by a hiker that I met along the way. So this would be a quick trip up the Crawford Path and back down the same way.

Snowy Hike to the Tripyramids

The weather forecast was calling for colder temps, wind and snow showers. I was looking for a 4,000 foot hike that I had not done in December but had already completed for my winter 48 4,000 footers. The Tripyramids fit that criteria. This hike would take me up the Pine Bend Brook Trail to North Tripramid (4,180) and over to Middle Tripyramid (4,140).

Hiking Up to a Wintry Mount Cabot Summit

After perusing my numerous weather resources I was getting conflicting forecasts. I finally just stuck my head out the door into a very damp, cold, cloudy and dark morning that felt downright raw. The weather was not motivating me but after deliberation I relented and slowly got myself going. My plan was to hike Mount Cabot. After checking the unbroken Unknown Pond trailhead from the Mill Brook road yesterday I decided to go in from York Pond.  My route would be York Pond trail to Bunnell Notch Trail and up the Kilkenny Ridge Trail to the summit of Mount Cabot and return on the same trails.

Perfect Day on Wildcats A and D

A check of the weather showed one more good day in the forecast before cold temps, rain and snow move in on Sunday. Today's forecast included temps in the 50's, blue sky and sunshine with no wind, perfect! I would be joining fellow hikers Larry and Jill for a hike across the Wildcats tagging 4,000 footers D and A in that order. Our hike would take us up the Polecat ski trail at Wildcat Mountain Ski Area across the Wildcat Ridge Trail and down the Nineteen Mile brook Trail for about a nine mile trek.

Super Moon Hike To Mount Pierce

With a Full Super Moon rising on Monday night I was looking to hike a 4,000 footer to get a preview on Sunday evening. I would be joining fellow hikers Todd, Christina and Jill on Mount Pierce (4,310') to try and capture some photos of the moon coming up over the Presidentials. Jill would be meeting us on the summit after hiking to Mount Eisenhower.

Mount Tecumseh From Tripoli Road

The forecast was for less than optimal weather today with cloudy skies and snow showers. I would be hiking with fellow hikers Henry and Jill to Mount Tecumseh (4,003'). Henry was bringing along a four-legged friend named Roxie. Our route would take us up the Mount Tecumseh Trail from Tripoli Road. Come to find out none of us had hiked to Tecumseh from this side. This would be a round trip hike of 6.2 miles.

Breaking Trail on the Carters

The last weekend of October and the chance to hike a few more summits for this month. With recent snow it was going to be a hike up into winter. A loop hike of Middle Carter (4,610') and North Carter (4,430') seemed to be a good choice with possibly a side trip to Mount Hight dependent on the conditions. I would be joining fellow hikers Brian and Jill for this hike. Starting at the Nineteen Mile Brook trailhead parking lot we would road walk to Dodge Camp then up to the Imp Trail to North Carter Trail then across the Carter-Moriah Trail over Middle Carter then South Carter down to Zeta Pass continuing on the Carter Dome Trail to the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail back to the trailhead parking lot to complete the loop.

A Preview of Winter on Waumbek

Rain on Saturday turned into snow overnight. The forecast on the high summits called for cold temps, snow and high winds. I was looking for a sheltered hike today that would keep me off the exposed summits. A hike up the Starr King Trail to Mount Starr King (3,907') and over to Mount Waumbek (4,006') seemed like a good choice to get a taste of winter.

Watching the Sunset and Moonrise on Eisenhower

The full moon of October would be peaking at 12:23AM on Sunday, October 16th. This would be the full Hunter's Moon. I've been wanting to do another full moon hike and with clear skies forecast I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. I wanted to get above treeline for an unobstructed view and also wanted to get a view of the sunset before moonrise. I chose Mount Eisenhower (4,780') for its easy access using the Edmands Path, one of my favorite trails. The hike down would be in the dark and under headlamp.

A Hiker's Finish of the 4,000 Footers on Liberty and Flume

Today I would be joining seven fellow hikers...Jill, Kate, Mark, Lynn, Cristy, Scott and Laura for a hike to Mount Liberty (4,459') and Mount Flume (4,328'). This would be Laura's hike to summits #47 and #48 to complete her quest of hiking all of New Hampshire's 48 4,000 footers. Our route would take us up Liberty Spring Trail to the Franconia Ridge Trail over Mount Liberty and across to Mount Flume down the Osseo Trail and finally out the Lincoln Woods Trail for a 10.8 mile traverse.

A Fall Hike To Whiteface and Passaconaway

Weather forecast was calling for a cool and windy day. I had Mounts Whiteface (4,020') and Passaconaway (4,043') on my list of hikes I wanted to do in September. It was going to be a perfect Fall day for hiking these summits. My route would take me up the Blueberry Ledge Trail to Mount Whiteface across the Rollins Trail and then up to Mount Passaconaway and down the Dicey's Mill Trail to complete the loop.

Loop Hike to Mount Pierce

After climbing and standing on ladders and scaffoldings for two days while painting my house I was looking for a short, easy hike. I also needed to be at my son's soccer game by 2:00pm. So I thought Mount Pierce (4,310') would be a good choice. My route would take me across the Crawford Connector and up the Crawford Path to the Webster Cliff Trail over Mount Pierce and down to Mizpah Hut and across the Mizpah Cut-Off back to the Crawford Path and back to the parking lot. A round trip total of 8.1 miles.

Ridge Of The Caps to Mount Jefferson

Saturday was a day for paying attention to the weather although any storms were forecast for later in the afternoon and the really bad weather was expected to pass through tomorrow. With that said I had a difficult time deciding which summit to hike today. My first choice was Mount Jefferson and then at the last minute I decided on Wildcat A. But during my drive to the trailhead I could see that the high summits were completely in the clear and I went with my original plan of Mount Jefferson via Caps Ridge Trail.

Mount Adams via King Ravine

A day of perfect weather was on the way and I was looking for an exciting and challenging hike without the Labor Day weekend crowds. I found one with fellow hikers Brian and Jill. The plan was to hike up King Ravine to Mount Adams and then over to Mount Madison and down the Daniel Webster Trail to Dolly Copp where a car spot would be waiting. Our plan would change.

Up Over Back Over and Down the Kinsmans

Another decent day of summer weather and a great day to do a repeat hike of the Kinsmans with an interesting route. I joined fellow hikers Brian, Jill, Melanie, Lisa and Scott for a hike to North Kinsman (4,293') and South Kinsman (4,358'). The plan was to spot a car in Franconia Notch, drive around to Route 116 and ascend the Mount Kinsman Trail with a side visit to Bald Peak (2,470'). We would then continue up the trail and turn south on the Kinsman Ridge Trail passing over North Kinsman on our way to South Kinsman. Our trip back would take us down the Fishin' Jimmy Trail to Lonesome Lake and further down via the Lonesome Lake Trail to the Lafayette Place parking area and under I93 to the car spot. This would be a 10.4 mile hike.

A Hike To Ike

After an exhaustive work week and late to bed last night I had to drag myself out of bed for a hike this morning. My plan was to hike Mount Eisenhower (4,780') via the Edmands Path. This is one of my favorite trails in the White Mountains with its easy, moderate grade that ascends to a 4,000 footer. The weather was looking good but with possible showers and thunderstorms later in the afternoon.

Hiking To A Humid Hale

I postponed my hike on Saturday due to a morning of steady rain which we could use a lot more of, conditions are very dry. Today's forecast called for warm temps and humidity with possible scattered showers and thunderstorms. This would be a short hike today for two reasons, I got a late start and more importantly the warm humid temps. My hike today would take me up the Hale Brook Trail to the viewless summit of Mount Hale. It's either 4.4 miles or 4.6 miles round trip depending on which sign you believe.

Over the Twins to Galehead

Cooler and drier air was in the forecast for today putting an end to the heat and humidity of this past week. I would be joining fellow hikers Jill and Brian for a hike to three summits, North and South Twin Mountains over to Galehead Mountain. Our route would take us up the North Twin Trail to North Twin Mountain across the North Twin Spur to South Twin Mountain then down the Twinway Trail to the Frost Trail to the Galehead Hut and up to the summit of Galehead Mountain then back down the Frost Trail and Galehead Hut. Our final descent would be on the Garfield Ridge Trail and down the Gale River Trail to complete the 12 mile hike.

Beautiful Summer Day on the Hancocks

There was some great weather in the forecast for today after a week with hot and humid temperatures. My hike today would take me up to the North and South summits of Mount Hancock. The hike would start on the Hancock Notch Trail to the Cedar Brook Trail then the Hancock Loop Trail. I would be taking the clockwise loop up to the North summit first then descend the South summit.

Tom, Field, Willey and Avalon

After carefully watching the weather over the course of the week I decided to postpone my hike from Saturday to Sunday. It's a good thing I did as Saturday was hot and humid with afternoon rain and thunderstorms. Today was supposed to be a much better day. My plan was to hike Mounts Tom (4,051'), Field (4,340') and Willey (4,285'), all on the 4,000 footer list. I also planned on visiting the summit of Mount Avalon (3,442').

Osceolas From Tripoli Road

Unable to hike this weekend I decided to take the day off and hike the Osceolas. I had been closely watching the changing weather forecast all week. With hazy, hot and humid conditions and a possibility of rain I wanted to get an early start. My hiking route today would take me up the Mount Osceola Trail to Mount Osceola (4,340') then over to East Osceola (4,156') and return on the same trail.

Hiking To a Wet Waumbek

With inclement weather on the way this weekend I was looking for a short hike to a 4,000 footer that was somewhat sheltered. Waumbek seemed to meet my requirements. With low clouds the limited views from this summit wouldn't matter. This past week I bought a new pair of hiking shoes, the Merrell Moab Ventilator. As soon as I slipped them on in the store I had to have them, they are very comfortable. Today's wet conditions would be a good test of these lightweight, breathable summer hikers.

Cool and Windy on Cabot

With a windy day in the forecast and a late start I decided to do Mount Cabot (4,170'). It's a good sheltered hike only fifteen minutes from my house and I needed it for July. My route would take me into the York Pond fish hatchery starting on the York Pond Trail to Bunnell Trail and up the Kilkenny Ridge Trail to the summit of Mount Cabot. My return trip would take me down the same trails instead of completing the loop around Unknown Pond.

Webster Cliff Trail to Mounts Webster and Jackson

I was invited to join fellow hikers Brian and Melanie on a hike to Mount Webster (3,910') and Mount Jackson (4,052'). I suggested hiking up the Webster Cliff Trail from Route 302 to these summits since neither one had done this route before. They agreed and it was a beautiful hike across the top of the cliffs with many viewpoints along the way. There was also several good ledge scrambles and rock climbs to keep the hike interesting. The weather was fantastic with lots of sunshine and a good breeze blowing to keep the bugs at bay and providing relief from the warm temps.

Hiking Across the Carters

I've done a lot of hiking on the Presidential summits over the past month. I wanted to jump across Pinkham Notch and hike the Carters today. My hike would start at the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail parking lot with a road walk down to Dodge Camp, then the shortcut to the Imp Trail up to the North Carter Trail onto the Carter-Moriah Trail. The hike would continue south over Middle Carter (4,610') then over South Carter (4,430') dropping down to Zeta Pass and up to Mount Hight (4,675') continuing on to Carter Dome (4,832') descending to Carter Lakes and down the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail to the parking lot completing the loop.

Hiking the Southern Presidentials

With clouds and rain in the forecast the weather seemed a little sketchy today. The plan was to hike up Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Lakes of the Clouds Hut. From there proceed up Mount Monroe (5,372') to Little Monroe down to the Crawford Path. Continue on the Crawford Path and over Mount Franklin (5,001') then further on to Mount Eisenhower (4,760'). From Mount Eisenhower drop back down to the Crawford Path to Mount Pierce (4,310'). Depending on the situation a determination would be made at this point whether or not to go on to Mount Jackson (4,052') or continue on the Crawford Path back down to the Mt. Clinton Parking area.

Mount Washington and the Alpine Garden

After watching the weather forecast this week it appeared Saturday was going to be the better day for hiking. It's that time of year when the last remaining snow and ice are still in Tuckerman Ravine and alpine flowers start to bloom so the plan was a hike up Mount Washington (6,288') and across the Alpine Garden. My hiking route would take me up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the summit of Mount Washington, down the Nelson Crag Trail to a short section of the Huntington Ravine Trail then across the Alpine Garden Trail and onto the Lion Head Trail down to the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and back to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center.

Twenty-Mile Bonds Traverse

Today I would be hiking one of the epic hikes in the White Mountains, a Bonds traverse from Zealand Road to Lincoln Woods on the Kancamagus Highway. I calculated the actual distance from the map which added up to 19.9 miles, with the extra walking around the summits and spur paths the total was very close to twenty miles. I would be joining fellow hikers Jill and Henry. Today's summits included the following 4,000 footers, Zealand Mountain (4,260'), West Bond (4,540), Mount Bond (4,698') and Bondcliff (4,265'). We would also be crossing over Mount Guyot (4,580') but it does not meet the criteria as an official 4,000 footer.

A Hike Above Treeline to Adams and Madison

I've been wanting to hike both Mount Adams(5,574') and Mount Madison(5,367') and with a favorable weather forecast today it seemed to be the perfect opportunity. My route would take me up Valley Way to the Gulfside Trail over to Airline and to the summit of Mount Adams for my first summit. Then back down Airline and Gulfside with an ascent on Mount Madison via the Osgood Trail. My descent would take me back down the Osgood Trail and Valley Way.

Wildflowers and Waterfalls on the Imp Trail

I had no hiking plans today. It was late morning, the rain had stopped and a check of the weather forecast called for clearing but cold and windy throughout the day. I made a spur of the moment decision to go hiking, something close by and short. A loop hike on the Imp Trail was just what I was looking for. Between blooming wildflowers and some moderate rain over the past 12 hours I thought there might be some worthy photo captures along this trail. Well, I wasn't disappointed and it surpassed my expectations! Low light from the cloud cover brought out the forest colors providing some great photographic oppotunities. I met only two other hikers, a couple coming down from Middle Carter that reported needing traction shortly after ascending the North Carter Trail. Traction was not needed for my hike on the Imp Trail. This will be the extent of my narrative for this blog post. I'll let the photos and captions take you through my hike. Enjoy!

Cloudless Hike To Mount Carrigain

I decided to forego my hiking last weekend as the weather was not looking favorable. That's the beauty of living close to the hiking here in the mountains, I can go at the spur of the moment when the conditions are good. The forecast for this week had a great stretch of Spring weather ahead and I needed to take some time off at work so I thought today would be a great day for a hike. Sawyer River Road recently opened and it was looking perfect for a hike to Mount Carrigain (4,700'). Fellow hiker Brian was on vacation and he would be joining me today. Our plan was an out and back ten-mile hike on the Signal Ridge Trail.

Spectacular Spring Day on Franconia Ridge

While deciding where to hike this weekend I was leaning toward Mount Cabot. I saw where fellow hiker Eric was looking for other hikers to join him on a hike across Franconia Ridge. With spectacular weather in the forecast I thought this would be a great hike and let him know that I was interested. There would be no other hikers joining us. Our hiking route would be the standard loop up the Falling Waters Trail to Little Haystack Mountain (4,780') onto the Franconia Ridge Trail and over to Mount Lincoln (5,089') then continuing to Mount Lafayette and descending on the Greenleaf Trail to the Old Bridle Path.

Hike to Tecumseh

After being sick with some unknown virus this past week I was ready to get out on the trail for some fresh air. I was still feeling the lingering effects of this bug so it was a slow, later than usual start. It was going to be a short hike today and I decided on Mount Tecumseh (4,003') via the Mt. Tecumseh Trail for five miles round trip.

Hike To Washington Alongside The Cog

A weekend of warm weather was in the forecast. It looked like a great day for hiking above treeline on the Presidentials. There's a hike to Mount Washington that I've been wanting to do. This hike would take me to the summit alongside the cog railway, approximately 3 miles one way. This is not an official hiking trail and I wanted to do it before the cog started operating again for the season.

North to South Moat Traverse

A great weather forecast for this weekend although calling for colder and windy on Sunday. Today I would be joining Brian and Jill for a hike across the Moat mountains. This includes North Moat (3,196'), Middle Moat (2,805') and South Moat (2,749'). For those that don't know, these are the mountains that are seen to the west when traveling through North Conway, NH. We would be hiking the Moat Mountain Trail from North to South for a 9.6 miles traverse.

Icy Hike to Cannon Mountain

With a mixed bag of weather in the forecast for today I wasn't sure what to expect. This was the pick day of the weekend as tomorrow's forecast is for mid-winter conditions with dangerous windchills. My hike today would take me up to the summit of Cannon Mountain. The route I planned was the Lonesome Lake Trail to Hi-Cannon onto the Kinsman Ridge Trail to the summit and back down the same trails. I've hiked this route to the summit a couple of times before but never under the trail conditions I would find today. There would be a slight change to my route due to the conditions.

Spring Hike to Mount Garfield

After a week of mixed precipitation and rain the weekend weather forecast was looking great. I chose one of my favorite summits for today's hike, Mount Garfield (4,500'). This is a great hike with a moderate climb to the summit with spectacular 360° views. Today would include a couple of additional miles due to the road being closed to the trailhead.

A Twofer on the Tripyramids

Today was the last day of winter. It's been a mild winter with very little snowfall and it seemed to go by quickly. I wanted to finish the winter hiking season with a hike to two summits. Today I would be hiking with fellow hikers Eric, Todd and Christina. Our hike would take us up the Pine Bend Brook Trail to North (4,180') and Middle (4,140') Tripyramids.

Spring-Like Winter Hike to Mount Eisenhower

With only two more weekends of winter hiking remaining I wanted to add another Presidential summit to my list of winter 48 4,00 footers. Today I would be hiking Mount Eisenhower (4,780'). My plan was to drive in on the Mount Clinton Road from the Mount Washington Cog Railway Base Road. There is no gate on this end but the road is not maintained in the winter. I was hoping that last week's rain had cleared the road of snow and ice. Last week when I drove by it was still covered with snow.

Spectacular Hike To Mount Jefferson

Today I would be joining a large group of hikers for a trek to Mount Jefferson. Two of these hikers, Janet and Jill, would be completing their final summit for the winter 48 4,000 footers. We were to meet at the cog railway Marshfield Station and go up the Jewel Trail onto the the Gulfside Trail with a short spur trail to the summit of Mount Jefferson. Half of the faster hikers would be continuing on to Mount Adams and Mount Madison then down to the Appalachia trailhead.

Traverse Hike Over Flume and Liberty

Strong winds were forecast for the high summits today so plans for hiking Mount Jefferson changed to a hike over Mount Flume (4,328') and Mount Liberty (4,459'). I would be hiking today with fellow hikers Brian, Jill, Melanie and Mark. The plan was to spot a vehicle at the Whitehouse trailhead and start our hike from Lincoln Woods. Our route would take us on the Lincoln Woods Trail to the Osseo Trail over Mount Flume and Mount Liberty on the Franconia Ridge Trail then descend on the Liberty Springs Trail to the bike path and finally the Whitehouse Trail to the parking lot on Route 3.

Perfect Winter Hike to Monroe and Washington

The weather forecast was shaping up to be spectacular on the high summits with the possible exception of strong winds. I would be joining a group of hikers, John, Henry, Mark and Jill for a hike to Mount Monroe and Mount Washington. This would be Jill's #46 and #47 winter 4,000 foot summits with one more to go to complete the 48. The plan was to hike up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Mount Monroe, assess the weather situation, and if winds were to strong either go back down or over to Mount Eisenhower and down. If conditions were favorable we would continue on to Mount Washington via the Crawford Path and down the Jewell Trail.

Hiking and Sledding on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail

I had Monday off for President's Day. After being hunkered down all weekend due to frigid outdoor temps I was anxious to get out. I thought this would be a good day for some sledding. The plan was to hike up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the caretaker cabin (HoJo's) at Hermit Lake and sled down the Sherburne Ski Trail. This is probably one of my shortest hiking blog posts but it was a quick ascent and an even faster descent.

Pierce and Jackson and Ice!

A warm week with rain followed by freezing temps had me wondering what the trail conditions would be. There had to be a lot of ice out there on the trails. I was invited to join hikers Christine, Scott, Lisa and Jill on a hike to Mount Pierce (4,310') with the possibilty of adding Eisenhower (4,780') or Jackson (4,052'). The initial plan was to hike Mount Isolation which would be Christine's 47th summit on the 48 4,000 footer list. Not knowing what the river crossing would be like 5 miles into the hike the decision was made for an alternate hike to Pierce.

A Mild Winter Day on Mount Tom

After battling a couple of illnesses the past two weeks I was ready to get out on the trail today, well almost ready. I still had a resolving upper respiratory infection (cold) and was finishing up the last of my antibiotic from a previous infection. My initial plan was to hike the Osceolas but changed it to a single summit hike to Mount Tom (4,051'). I didn't want any health setbacks by overdoing it so one 4,000 footer would be enough for today. Weather was forecast to be mild with temps in the 40's and overcast skies with occasional periods of sun. My route would take me up the Avalon Trail from the Crawford Depot to the A-Z Trail and then Mount Tom Spur to the summit.

Snowshoeing to Wildcat D

I postponed my hike for one day after not feeling well yesterday. I was disappointed knowing I had missed a day of good weather and beautiful mountain views. Today's forecast was calling for an Arctic cold front to move through bringing high winds and frigid temps later in the day. I was hoping to get a quick hike in before the front arrived. After overnight snow I wasn't sure what the trails would be so I opted for a hike up the groomed Polecat ski trail to Wildcat D.

A Perfect Winter Day on Mount Cabot

We've had some great weather this week, perfect for hiking. Fellow hikers Christine and Brian asked me to join them on a hike to Mount Cabot (4,170'). This would be Christine's #46 hike of the 48 4,000 footers. Our hike would start at the York Pond Trail then onto the Bunnell Notch Trail and up the Kilkenny Ridge Trail to the summit of Mount Cabot. The weather forecast called for clear skies, temps in the lower 30's and no wind.

A Winter Day on Wildcat A

After the first snowstorm of the season this past week I was anxious to get out on the trail. There was not a siginificant amount of snow but several inches to start building a base for future snowstorms to build on. I have a new pair of winter hiking boots and wanted to try them out on a break-in hike. I also wanted to try out my new toy, a Garmin eTrex Touch 25 GPS. The forecast called for cold temps, wind and snow showers. I decided to hike Wildcat A (4,422') via Nineteen Mile Brook Trail and up Wildcat Ridge Trail.