Madison and Adams on an Early Winter Day

Summit: Mount Madison (5,367'), Mount Adams (5,774')
Trail route: Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Air Line Connector, Air Line
Trail conditions: All trails were well packed with occasional sections of ice and some bare rock
Weather: Cold with temps in the teens, calm to light wind on the summits, high clouds and blue sky
Total miles: 10.1
Total time: 8:26

A Frozen Mount Cabot After the Rain

Summit: Mount Cabot (4,170')
Trail route: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Trail was well packed but deep snow when stepping off the path
Weather: Cold with temps in the teens and 20's, steady breeze making it feel colder, cloudy with flurries to start and clearing skies
Total miles: 10
Total time: 6:00

A Windy Mount Monroe

Summit: Mount Monroe (5,372')
Trail route: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, then straight up to the summit
Trail conditions: Trail was well packed with minor drifting above treeline
Weather: Cold with temps in the 20's, strong winds above treeline and incoming high clouds
Total miles: 5.4
Total time: 5:00

Hancocks in December

Summits: Mount Hancock (4,420'), South Hancock (4,319')
Trail route: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Trail conditions: Trail was well packed and solid with some minor drifting across the ridge along with some frozen bend-overs
Weather: Cold with temps in the teens and 20's slight breeze on the summit, blue sky and sunshine
Total miles: 10
Total time: 5:45

Flume and Liberty for #287 and #288

Summits: Mount Flume (4,328'), Mount Liberty (4,459')
Trail route: Lincoln Woods Trail, Osseo Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Liberty Spring Trail
Trail conditions: Trails were broke out with loose, unconsolidated snow
Weather: Cool with temps in the 20's and 30's, blue sky and sunshine with a spectacular undercast
Total miles: 10
Total time: 7:30

Fishin' Jimmy to the Kinsmans

Summits: North Kinsman (4,293'), South Kinsman (4,358')
Trail route: Lonesome Lake Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Snow both packed powder and loose
Weather: Cool with temps in the 30's, high thin clouds and sunshine
Total miles: 10
Total time: 7:08

Mid-Winter Conditions on the Hancocks

Summits: Mount Hancock (4,420'), South Hancock (4,319')
Trail route: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Trail conditions: Snow both packed powder and loose, some loose granular, no significant postholing
Weather: Cold with temps in the 20's, sunshine
Total miles: 10
Total time: 6:20

Autumn Hike to Tuckerman Ravine

Destination: Huntington Ravine
Trail route: Huntington Ravine Trail
Trail conditions: Packed snow up to Hermit Lake and loose snow up into the ravine
Weather: Cold and windy with clouds over the high summits
Total miles: 6
Total time: 4:30

Return to Mount Garfield for November

Summits: Mount Garfield (4,500')
Trail route: Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Bare ground, mud, wet leaves to long sections of flowing water in the trail
Weather: Cold, windy and cloud covered at the summit
Total miles: 10
Total time: 5:40

A Hike to Mount Garfield Before the Rain

Summits: Mount Garfield (4,500')
Trail route: Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Bare ground, mud, wet leaves to a gradual increase of snow up to several inches toward the summit
Weather: Cloud cover, cool and slightly windy at the summit
Total miles: 10
Total time: 5:55

Hike to Hale Before a Nor'easter

Summits: Mount Hale (4,054')
Trail route: Hale Brook Trail
Trail conditions: Dusting of snow to over a foot of snow but broke out and packed down
Weather: Cloud cover, cold and windy
Total miles: 4.6
Total time: 2:50

The First Sign of Winter on Owl's Head

Summits: Owl's Head (4,025')
Trail route: Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, Black Pond Bushwhack, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Slide ascent, Brutus Bushwhack descent
Trail conditions: Very wet trails with lots of mud and water
Weather: Cloud cover with cool temps, rain and snow
Total miles: 18
Total time: 9:30

Mount Carrigain via Desolation Trail

Summits: Mount Carrigain (4,700')
Trail route: Signal Ridge Trail, Carrigain Notch Trail, Desolation Trail
Trail conditions: Dry and damp trails with wet and muddy sections
Weather: Cloud cover with cool and mild temps
Total miles: 13.8
Total time: 8:30

Gridding Out Mount Pierce

Summits: Mount Pierce (4,310')

Trail route: Crawford Path, Webster Cliff Trail

Trail conditions: Very wet trails with slippery roots and slick rocks

Weather: Low cloud cover and mild temps

Total miles: 6.4

Total time: 3:46

Autumn Hike on the Wildcats

Summits: Wildcat A Peak, B Peak, C Peak, Wildcat D Peak
Trail route: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Polecat Ski Trail
Trail conditions: Dry trail with sections of mud and wet ledges
Weather: Cool and dry with a high cloud cover and occasional sunshine
Total miles: 9.1
Total time: 6:00

A Hike to the Osceolas Before the Autumn Equinox

Summits: Mount Osceola (4,340') and East Osceola (4,156')
Trail route: Mount Osceola Trail
Trail conditions: Mostly dry trail with some wet sections of trail
Weather: Cool and dry with clouds and sunshine
Total miles: 8.4 RT
Total time: 5:51

Humid Hike to Hale

Summit: Mount Hale
Trail route: Hale Brook Trail
Trail conditions: Mostly dry trail with some wet sections of trail
Weather: Very humid and warm
Total miles: 4.4 RT
Total time: 2:43

Spectacular Morning on Mount Jackson

Summit: Mount Jackson

Trail route: Webster-Jackson Trail and Jackson Branch

Trail conditions: Mostly dry trail 

Weather: Cool start, bright blue sky and sunshine, warm descent

Total miles: 5.2 RT

Total time: 4:00

Mount Eisenhower for Flags on the 48

Today I joined a team of hikers that hiked to the summit of Mount Eisenhower to raise the American flag in remembrance and tribute to those that perished during the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Sweating and Gridding Out Mount Waumbek

Summits: Mount Starr King and Mount Waumbek
Trail route: Starr King Trail to Starr King and Waumbek
Trail conditions: Mostly dry trail with wet rocks and roots at the higher elevations
Weather: Warm with some humidity, cloudy skies and sunshine
Total miles: 7.2 RT
Total time: 3:50

Shelburne Moriah Mountain to Mount Moriah

Summits: Shelburne Moriah Mountain and Mount Moriah
Trail route: Rattle River Trail to Kenduskeag Trail over to Shelburne Moriah Mountain then back on the Kenduskeag Trail to the Carter-Moriah Trail up to Mount Moriah and down the Carter-Moriah Trail
Trail conditions: Mostly dry trails but with areas of wet trail and mud
Weather: Warm with some humidity, cloudy skies and sunshine
Total miles: 12.8
Total time: 9:10

Mount Jackson on a Beautiful Sunday Morning

Summit: Mount Jackson
Trail route: Webster-Jackson Trail and Jackson Branch up and back out
Trail conditions: Areas of wet trail and mud with some slick rocks and roots but a lot of dry trail, upper ledges were dry
Weather: Warm with some humidity, hazy blue sky and sunshine
Total miles: 5.2 RT
Total time: 4:28

Smoky Haze on Mount Waumbek

The weather forecast had the humidity starting to increase today. I was looking for a short hike and an early start. Mount Waumbek was the perfect choice and it was a short drive for me too. I would be taking the usual route up the Starr King Trail over Mount Starr King then across to Mount Waumbek.

Up and Down to Mount Pierce

My initial hiking plan for today was Mount Pierce and Mount Jackson. My early start was thwarted by a vehicle mechanical problem and I returned later with another vehicle. It was now late morning and I decided to hike only Mount Pierce (4,310'). I'll go back to Jackson on another day.

Whiteface and Passaconaway and Rain

Today I would be joining Jill, Larry and a new hiking friend Suzanne for a hike to Mount Whiteface (4,020') and Mount Passaconaway (4,043'). Our route would take us up the Blueberry Ledge Cutoff to the Blueberry Ledge Trail up the ledges of Whiteface then across the Rollins Trail to Dicey's Mill Trail and up to the summit of Passaconaway then back down Dicey's Mill Trail to the Ferncroft parking area.

Waterfalls Along The Howker Ridge Trail

Last night when I went to bed I still wasn't sure what I would be hiking today. My initial plans were for either hiking Mount Moriah or Mount Tecumseh. I woke very early this morning to the sound of thunder and very heavy rain coming down. After the rain stopped I stepped outside and the humidity was oppressive. That definitely dampened my hiking enthusiasm.  I would not be hiking a 4,000 footer today. I thought maybe with all the rain we have had this past week that a hike to some waterfalls might be interesting. I decided on visiting the waterfalls along the Howker Ridge Trail.

A Hike Up Cannon Mountain Before the Rain

I thought today was going to be a no-go for hiking with reports of heavy rain and oppressive humidity arriving in the morning. I woke up to cool temps and bright sunshine. A check of the weather radar showed the rain far enough away to probably squeeze in a short hike before it arrived. My pack was ready to go and I was out the door heading to Cannon Mountain (4,100'). I would be hiking up the Kinsman Ridge Trail from the tramway side of the mountain.

Hiking Up Into the Clouds on Garfield

The weather forecast seemed to be all over the place. With the temps and humidity increasing on Sunday I decided to get out early today and beat any afternoon showers. I would be hiking Mount Garfield this morning. This is one of my favorite hikes. It's a nice, gradual gain in elevation to spectacular views on the summit.

Out and Back to Zealand Mountain

A check of the weather forecast indicated Wednesday would be a good day for a midweek hike. Today I would be hiking to Zealand Mountain (4,260') and back out via Zealand Trail and Twinway. It's a long hike to a viewless summit but there are views along the way.

A Break From the Heat on Mount Monroe

After a week of hot and humid temperatures a weather frontal system came through bringing with it crisp, cool air creating ideal hiking conditions. My hike today would be Mount Monroe (5,372') via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. A quick check of the current summit conditions on Mount Washington, the next summit north of Monroe, showed a windchill of 17°F. I would be bringing some warm layers.

Humid Hike to Waumbek

The weather forecast was indicating the start of a heat wave. I am not a fan of the heat and humidity so something short and early was the requirements for a hike today. I would be joining Jill and Larry for a hike to Mount Waumbek (4,006') via the Starr King Trail over Mount Starr King. This is a short, easy hike and for me not a long drive. I also needed Waumbek for the month of June. Our plan was to meet at 7:00 AM.

A Cool Summer Hike to Tecumseh

A check of the weather forecast yesterday indicated spectacular weather moving in for today. I took a day off from work and decided to hike Mount Tecumseh, a summit that I needed for the month of June. I would be hiking the Mount Tecumseh Trail from Tripoli Road. I've hiked the trail from this side once before and enjoyed it. This would be a solo hike today.

Moosilauke and Mount Blue via Beaver Brook

It was looking like a weekend of uncertain weather. Showers were in the forecast for Saturday afternoon. When I looked at the weather radar this morning it appeared that showers were approaching from the west and would be in the mountains shortly. I would be hiking with Robin and Jill today on a hike to Mount Moosilauke (4,802'). We would be taking the Beaver Brook Trail, one that I haven't done before. It's known for its long, steep climb alongside a series of cascades. I was hoping the rain would hold off as it would be a hazardous hike on wet ledges.

A Hike Up Hale

A last minute decision had me choosing a short hike instead of a long one today. My initial hiking plan was a long hike to Mount Isolation but some health issues had me doing the short hike to Mount Hale (4,054') up the Hale Brook Trail. The weather forecast was calling for hot temps with some wind. This is an easy 4.4 mile round trip hike.

Kinsmans via Mount Kinsman Trail

After not hiking for the past two weeks I was anxious to get back out on the trail. A persistent case of viral bronchitis had been keeping me down but I was feeling much better and ready for a hike. I had not been to the Kinsmans in awhile and I thought this would be a good hike to get me back on my feet again. My route would take me up the Mount Kinsman Trail to the Kinsman Ridge Trail and over North Kinsman then South Kinsman and back out on the same trails. Fair weather was in the forecast for the weekend.

A Warm Spring Day on the Osceolas

I had the day off and the weather was looking favorable for a hike. I hadn't done the Osceolas in awhile so the plan was to hike in from the Kancamagus. I would have preferred hiking in from Tripoli Road but was not sure if the gate was open. This route would take me in on the Greeley Ponds Trail to the Mount Osceola Trail up to East Osceola (4,156') and over to Mount Osceola (4,340') then back on the same trails to the Kancamagus. With the temperature forecast to be 80°F state wide I wanted to get an early start to try and beat the heat.

Cannon Mountain via Kinsman Ridge Trail

The weekend weather forecast kept changing throughout the past week. While it initially looked like Sunday would be the better day it turned out that Saturday was the pick. Rain was still in the forecast for Saturday afternoon. I decided to do an early morning short hike to Cannon Mountain (4,100') from the tram parking lot up the Kinsman Ridge Trail.

Moosilauke in May

A weekend of nice weather in the mountains and I would take advantage of it today with a hike to Mount Moosilauke (4,802'). There are many routes to the summit. I would be taking a familiar route that I've done before. My hike would take me up the Gorge Brook Trail to the summit then down the Carriage Road and across the Snapper Trail to complete the loop then back down the Gorge Brook Trail to finish.

A Variety of Trail Conditions on a Hike to Ike

There's been some beautiful Spring weather this week. Today's forecast appeared to be perfect for a hike above treeline and onto the high summits. I would be hiking solo to Mount Eisenhower (4,780') via the Crawford Path. Trail conditions were certain to be interesting as they always are this time of year with bare ground, water, mud, ice and soft snow leading to the occasional postholing.

Spring Conditions on a Hike to Mount Moriah

It's that time of year when the hiking gets interesting. There's the usual wet, muddy, soft snow trail conditions. A check of the weekend weather forecast had Saturday looking like the better day for hiking with temps in the 60's, slightly cooler at the summit. I would be joining Jill and Larry for a hike up Mount Moriah (4,049'). There were no trail reports for the Stony Brook approach so we would be going up the Carter-Moriah Trail for a nine mile up and back hike.

Hiking the Willey Range on a Spectacular Day

A final check of the weather forecast early this morning promised a spectacular day of sunshine and warmer temps. I would be joining Jill, Amy, Jim and Robin for a hike of the Willey Range. This hike would include the following 4,000 foot summits - Field, Willey and Tom with one non-4,000 footer, Mount Avalon. Our route would start at Crawford Depot and take us up the Avalon Trail to Mount Avalon continuing up to Mount Field on the Willey Range Trail over to Mount Willey then back to Mount Field and over to Mount Tom back down the A-Z Trail to the Avalon Trail completing a loop and back down to Crawford Depot.

A Well Timed Hike to Waumbek

The weekend weather was looking rather grim and gloomy. The forecast was calling for occasional showers today with snow this afternoon and evening continuing into Sunday. I decided to hike Mount Waumbek (4,006'). This is my "go-to" summit during inclement weather and I also needed it for April. With warm temps and rain the past two days I wasn't sure what the trail conditions would be.

Tough Climb Up Flume Slide

After several inches of new snow yesterday it looked like it would be another day of hiking in fresh loose snow. The plan for today was a hike up the very steep Flume Slide Trail to Franconia Ridge Trail then up to Mount Flume (4,328') over to Mount Liberty (4,459') and down Liberty Spring Trail. I would be joining hiking friends Jill, Mark, Guy, Jim, Amy and Robin for this challenging hike. The forecast called for clear skies and cold temps. I was hoping it would be cold enough to keep the snow from balling up on our traction.

Spring Snow on Wildcat A

One year ago on April 2, 2017 I hiked to Wildcat D the day after a snowstorm brought 18" to the high summits. It was an easy hike up the groomed ski trails. Arriving at the summit I found the Wildcat Ridge Trail to be unbroken so I would not be going any further. After not hiking this past weekend I decided to hike up to Wildcat A (4,422') to complete the Wildcats for April. 

Tom and Field on a Spring Day

Hiking on Saturday had to be postponed as I was not feeling well. I felt better this morning and planned on doing the short hike to Mount Tom (4,051'). I would decide on continuing on to Mount Field (4,340') if I felt well enough and the weather and trail conditions were good. I figured the trails should be well broke out from hiker traffic on Saturday but I would have to see once I got up there.

Hiking Up Into Spring On Mount Jackson

After a weekend of frigid windchills and reading trail reports of deep snow and summit attempts I decided to postpone my hiking. A check of the forecast on Monday indicated beautiful weather for Tuesday with lots of sunshine and tolerable temps. My hike today would take me up the Webster-Jackson Trail to the Mt Jackson Branch and onto the summit of Mount Jackson (4,052'). Trail reports indicated this was well broke out. With today being the vernal equinox I would be hiking up in Winter and descending in Spring. I have already hiked this summit in Winter but needed it for March.

Hike to Tecumseh After the Snowstorm

It was two days after the latest Nor'easter and I was looking for a short hike to a popular summit that had a good chance of being broke out. I decided that would probably be Mount Tecumseh (4,003'). I would take the Tecumseh Trail that starts at Waterville Valley ski area, the usual winter route. This is a short hike but a long drive for me, about two hours. I also needed to leave early enough to beat the ski traffic into Waterville Valley. The weather forecast called for snow showers throughout the day.

Beautiful Winter Day Hike to Mount Isolation

With the official winter hiking season coming to an end this month I wanted to hike another summit that I need for my winter 48 4,000 footers. I would be hiking to the remote summit of Mount Isolation (4,003') with Jill and Larry. Just before leaving the house I checked the weather. The forecast called for clouds and temps in the 30's with possible flurries later in the day. Our route would take us up the Rocky Branch Trail to the Engine Hill bushwhack over to Isolation Trail and onto the Davis Path with a short spur path to the summit of Mount Isolation.

A Warm Winter Hike to Passaconaway

A check of the forecast on Tuesday indicated very nice weather for today. I decided it would be a great day to hike Mount Passaconaway (4,043'). Last Saturday I hiked Mount Whiteface with hiking companions Jill and Amy. These two summits are usually done in the same hike but they already had Passaconaway for the lists they are working on. They were willing to loop around while I went up and tagged the Passaconaway summit but when we saw the postholes on the Rollins Trail we decided to turn around and go back down over the ledges of Whiteface. I decided to go back another day and hike Passaconaway, well today was the day!

Up and Down the Ledges of Mount Whiteface

The initial hike planned for today was Mount Adams and Mount Madison. Winds on the high summits were forecast to be hurricane force sustained with 100+ mph gusts. This prompted a change of plans for a hike that would be protected from the wind. I would join Jill and Amy for a hike to Mount Whiteface (4,020'). This was another summit that I needed for my winter 48 4,000 footers. I also needed Mount Passaconaway but Jill and Amy did not so we would decide whether or not to do the loop depending on the conditions.