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).