A Hike to Mount Garfield After the Rain

Summit: Mount Garfield (4,500')

Trail route: Gale River Loop Road, Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail

Trail conditions: Thin snow cover to start with a variety of conditions including water, mud, ice and frozen snow

Weather: Cold and cloudy, very cold and windy on the summit

Total miles: 12.4 

Total time:  6:40

Breaking Trail to Mount Isolation

Summits: Mount Isolation (4,003')

Trail route: Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Mt Isolation spur

Trail conditions: Unconsolidated snow and some unbroke trails

Weather: Cold morning temps with sunshine and a deep blue sky

Total miles: 12.5

Total time:  10 hours

Loop Hike Over South and Middle Carters

Summits: South Carter (4,430'), Middle Carter (4,610')

Trail route: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Imp Connector to Dodge Camp, Road walk back to parking lot

Trail conditions: Packed trail to start with unconsolidated snow in higher elevations, snowshoe broke trail with some postholing, snow depth 3" to 2 feet

Weather: Cool to cold temps with some wind on the ridge, overcast sky

Total miles: 10

Total time:  7:49

Winter Conditions on a Hike to Mount Carrigain

Summit: Mount Carrigain (4,700')

Trail route: Sawyer Pond Road, Signal Ridge Trail

Trail conditions: Snow, cold, windy with partial sun

Weather: Cold and windy

Total miles: 13.5

Total time:  9:00

Hiking Into a Nor'easter on Mount Moriah

Summit: Mount Moriah (4,049')

Trail route: Carter-Moriah Trail

Trail conditions: Wet, muddy, ice, snow

Weather: Cool and cloudy, snow at higher elevations turning to rain on descent

Total miles: 9

Total time:  6:12

Weekday on the Osceolas

Summits: Mount Osceola (4,340'), East Osceola (4,156')

Trail route: Mount Osceola Trail from Tripoli Road

Trail conditions: Dry to wet to icy up Mt Osceola then dry over to East Osceola

Weather: Cool and cloudy with light snow flurries

Total miles: 8.4

Total time:  6:00

Icy Hike Across Lincoln and Lafayette

Summits: Mount Lincoln (5,089'), Mount Lafayette (5,260') 

Trail route: Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path   

Trail conditions: Considerable ice on the trails past Shining Rock spur path, across the ridge and down to Greenleaf Hut

Weather: Cool temps, light wind, sunshine with clouds moving across the ridge

Total miles: 8.8

Total time: 6:35

A Taste of Winter on the Carters

Summits: Carter Dome (4,832') South Carter (4,430'), Middle Carter (4,610')

Trail route: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Imp Connector to Dodge Camp, Road walk back to parking lot

Trail conditions: Bare trail to start then an inch of new snow at higher elevations

Weather: Cold temps and wind, overcast sky

Total miles: 12

Total time:  7:46

Moseying Up Mount Monroe

Summit: Mount Monroe (5,372')

Trail route: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Monroe Loop to the summit

Trail conditions: Dry low, frozen trail with ice and flowing water up high

Weather: Cold with temps in the 20's, windy with incoming high clouds

Total miles: 5

Total time:  4:59

Pristine Sky Over Adams and Madison

Summits: Mount Adams (5,774'), Mount Madison (5,367')

Trail route: Air Line, Gulfside Trail, Osgood Trail, Valley Way 

Trail conditions: Mostly dry trail on Air Line, lots of wet trail on Valley Way

Weather: Cool to warm temps, blue sky and sunshine, breezy on Adams, windy on Madison 

Total miles: 10

Total time:  7:48

Sunday Morning on the Twins

Summits: North Twin Mountain (4,761'), South Twin Mountain (4,902')

Trail route: North Twin Trail, North Twin Spur

Trail conditions: Wet with muddy sections

Weather: Blue sky, sunshine and warm temps

Total miles: 11.2

Total time:  6:59

Zealand and The Bonds in November

Summits:  Zealand (4,260'), Guyot (4,580'), West Bond (4,540'), Mount Bond (4,698'), Bondcliff (4,265') 

Trail route:  Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zeacliff Spur, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Lincoln Woods Trail 

Trail conditions: Variety, lots o' slush, snow, wet, mud and dry conditions

Weather: Started cool and cloudy with light precipitation to warm, sunshine and some wind in exposed areas

Total miles: 19.6

Total time:  11:32

Hiking Up Into Winter on Liberty and Flume

Summits: Mount Liberty (4,459'), Mount Flume (4,328')

Trail route: Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Osseo Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail  

Trail conditions: Dry down low, snow and ice at higher elevations

Weather: Cold wind with temps in the 20's and 30's, overcast with summits in  the clouds

Total miles: 10

Total time:  6:50

A Hike to the Namesakes...Weeks Mountains

Summits: North Weeks Mountain (3,901'), Middle Weeks Mountain (3,684'), South Weeks Mountain (3,885')

Trail route: York Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail

Trail conditions: Wet, some ice, slippery

Weather: Temps in the 20's and 30's, cloudy, light snow to drizzle to steady light rain

Total miles: 12.2 

Total time: 7:09

Kinsmans To Grid Out October Adding #399 and #400 To Grid Count

Summits: North Kinsman (4,293'), South Kinsman (4,358')

Trail route: Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail conditions: Wet, ice, slippery

Weather: Temps in the 20's and low 30's, cloudy, clearing sky toward end of hike

Total miles: 10

Total time: 7:10

Wet Hike to Whiteface and Passaconaway

Summits: Mount Whiteface (4,020'), Mount Passaconaway (4,043')

Trail route: Blueberry Ledge Trail, Rollins Trail, Dicey's Mill Trail

Trail conditions: WET!...and Slippery

Weather: Cool, drizzly and wet

Total miles: 11.9

Total time:  7:43

Phenomenal Day On Lafayette and Lincoln

Summits: Mount Lafayette (5,260'), Mount Lincoln (5,089')

Trail route: Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Falling Waters Trail

Trail conditions: Wet, slippery trails but dry across Franconia Ridge

Weather: Cool temps and lots of sunshine

Total miles: 8.8

Total time: 6:11

October Snow on the Wildcats

Summit: Wildcat D (4,062'), Wildcat A (4,422')

Trail route: Polecat Ski Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail

Trail conditions: Snow

Weather: Cool and sunny

Total miles: 9.36

Total time:  6:36

Windy Morning on the Osceolas

Summits: Mount Osceola (4,340'), East Osceola (4,156')

Trail route: Mount Osceola Trail

Trail conditions: Wet

Weather: Cool to warm, windy and sunny

Total miles: 8.4

Total time:  5:14

Mount Moosilauke via Gorge Brook Trail

Summit: Mount Moosilauke (4,802')

Trail route: Ravine Lodge Road, Gorge Brook Trail

Trail conditions: Dry, a few wet areas and some minor avoidable ice

Weather: Cool, partly cloudy to sunny, cool breeze on the summit

Total miles: 8.5

Total time: 4:50

Bushwhack? to PATN

Summit: Peak Above the Nubble (3,813')

Trail route: Bushwhack herd path to the summit

Trail conditions: Mostly dry with some blowdowns near the summit

Weather: Warm with a cool breeze, cloudy to sunny skies

Total miles: 3.6

Total time:  3:26

WTF Threesome

Summits: Mount Tom (4,051'), Mount Field (4,340'), Mount Willey (4,285')

Trail route: Avalon Trail, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail

Trail conditions: A variety of dry, wet, mud with new blowdowns between Field and Willey

Weather: Cool, windy and cloudy

Total miles: 8.5

Total time:  6:04

Percy Peaks Loop Hike

I was joining Amy, Robin and Jill for a hike to Percy Peaks today. This was going to be the final summit of the 52 With a View List for Amy and Robin.

Loop Hike Up Tuckerman Ravine Down Lion Head

A beautiful Fall day was in the forecast and I wanted to get out for another hike this week. I decided to do one of my favorite local non-summit loop hikes. Depending on how I felt with my continued conditioning and strengthening I would hike up to Hermit Lake then on to the floor of Tuckerman Ravine and if feeling well head up the headwall and around and down Lion Head.

Clouds and Colors From Glen Boulder

I wanted to get out and do another short hike today. There was showers in the forecast so I checked the radar and watched as an area of rain moved from south to north through the mountains. I waited until this passed and headed out for a hike to Glen Boulder. This would be another hike to continue strengthening my legs after a period of no hiking.

Foliage Hike to Pine Mountain

No serious hiking for me in over a month. So I needed to get the hiking legs working again. Pine Mountain is close by and it is a short, easy hike. I have done this hike from the other direction but not from Promenade Street so it would be a new route to this summit for me.

Midweek Hike to the Osceolas

Summit: Mount Osceola (4,340'), East Osceola (4,156')
Trail route: Mount Osceola Trail
Trail conditions: Dry
Weather: Cool to warm, partly sunny
Total miles: 8.4
Total time:  5:35

Magnificent Monday Morning on Moosilauke

Summit: Mount Moosilauke (4,802')
Trail route: Beaver Brook Trail
Trail conditions: A variety of dry, wet and muddy, nothing extreme
Weather: Comfortably warm, sunshine
Total miles: 7.6
Total time:  5:35

Busy Trail to Mount Garfield

Summit: Mount Garfield (4,500')
Trail route: Mt Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Dry and low water crossings
Weather: Cool to warm, partly cloudy, mostly sunny
Total miles: 10
Total time:  5:05

Up the Ladders and Down Through the Caves

Today I would be joining Scott, Lisa and Jim for a loop hike up Mount Morgan over to Mount Percival and down. This hike is on the Terrifying 25 list because of the ladders going up the side of some ledges on Mount Morgan and the boulder caves coming down off of Mount Percival. This sounded like a fun hike!

Hike to Wildcat D

Summit: Wildcat D (4,062')
Trail route: Polecat Ski Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Dry
Weather: Cool to warm, partly cloudy, mostly sunny
Total miles: 5.3
Total time:  2:50

Up Pine Bend Brook and Down Sabbaday Brook

Summit: North Tripyramid (4,180'), Middle Tripyramid (4,140')

Trail route: Pine Bend Brook Trail, Sabbaday Brook Trail

Trail conditions: Mostly dry

Weather: Very warm, slightly humid, mostly sunny

Total miles: 10.8

Total time:  7:05

Stinson Mountain Hike

After hiking the Welch/Dickey loop I drove over to Stinson Mountain for my second hike of the day. This would be a 3.6 mile round trip hike and is on the 52 With a View list.

Welch and Dickey Loop Hike

My plan for today was to do two hikes. The first hike would be the Welch/Dickey loop. This is a long drive for me so since I was going to be in the same area of the state I would do a second hike to Stinson Mountain. All three of these mountains are on the 52 with a View list.

Wet Wildcats

Summit: Wildcat D (4,062'), Wildcat A (4,422')
Trail route: Polecat Ski Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: WET!!!
Weather: Cool and clammy, overcast
Total miles: 9.36
Total time:  6:11

Sultry Morning Hike to Mount Moriah

Summit: Mount Moriah (4,049')
Trail route: Carter-Moriah Trail
Trail conditions: Wet, muddy
Weather: Cool and humid to start with some fog, hot and humid to finish with sunshine
Total miles: 9
Total time:  6:10

Gridding Out Tecumseh

Summit: Mount Tecumseh (3,997')

Trail route: Mount Tecumseh Trail from Tripoli Road

Trail conditions: Dry

Weather: Warm and slightly humid with sunshine

Total miles: 6.2

Total time:  3:40

Mount Madison on the Fourth of July

Summit: Mount Madison (5,367')
Trail route: Lowe's Path, King Ravine, Chemin Des Dames, Airline, Airline Cutoff, Osgood Trail, Valley Way
Trail conditions: A variety of dry, wet and muddy
Weather: Warm, humid, sunshine to start, cool and breezy on the summit, warm on the way down
Total miles: 9.5
Total time:  8:20

Mount Carrigain on a Warm June Morning

I wanted to take advantage of the weather before the return of heat and humidity. So it was back to hiking a 4,000 footer today, my last one was almost a month ago. I planned on getting an early start so that I would at least maybe get some cooler temps on the ascent.

Table Mountain

Finally the heat and humidity broke overnight. Today I would be hiking another summit on the 52 With a View list. The trailhead is on the Bear Notch Road that I passed by on my previous hike to Mount Potash and thought this would be a good next hike.

Mount Potash

Another hot, sultry day in the forecast and I was looking for another short hike. A quick review of the 52 With a View list to see what I needed and decided to hike Mount Potash. This is a four mile round trip hike and I would get and early start to try and beat the heat.

Mount Pemigewasset

On this very warm June morning I was looking for a short hike. I have no short hikes to any of my remaining 4,000 foot peaks for for June so I decided to hike a 52 with a View summit. After not hiking for the past couple of weeks this would be the perfect hike to get the hiking legs back on a hot day.

June Morning on Mount Willey

Summit: Mount Willey (4,285')
Trail route: Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Dry, wet, muddy
Weather: Cool temps
Total miles: 5.4
Total time:  4:45

Hot Hike to Mount Tecumseh

Summit: Mount Tecumseh (3,995')
Trail route: Mount Tecumseh Trail
Trail conditions: Dry, wet, muddy, frozen/icy monorail
Weather: Started warm and then got hot
Total miles: 5
Total time:  3:20

Spring Conditions on Mount Cabot

Summits: Mount Cabot (4,170')
Trail route: Road walk, York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Trail conditions: Spring conditions with bare ground, wet, mud, unstable monorail, rotten snow with some postholing
Weather: Warm to hot with fair skies
Total miles: 12 Miles
Total time:  8:00

Hall's Ledge Trail and Hutmen's Trail Loop Hike

Today's hike would take me up the Hall's Ledge Trail to a couple of views both north and south. I would then follow the trail down the other side almost to the Carter Notch Road. Before getting to the road I would cross over to the Hutmen's Trail that is also the Dana Place ski trail and at a certain point bushwhack back over to the Hall's Ledge Trail and back down to Route 16. There was a beautiful day in the weather forecast with warm temps and sunshine.

Loop Hike in the Great Gulf

There was a nice day of weather in the forecast so I decided to take a local hike. This hike would take me into the Great Gulf via the Great Gulf Trail. I would then take a loop up the Osgood Trail across the Osgood Cutoff and back down the Great Gulf Trail and back out for a six mile hike.

Local Hike to Mount Crescent

Keeping it local I drove over to Randolph for a hike to the summit of Mount Crescent. This would be my first time hiking to this summit. It's a short hike with some spectacular views. My first choice for a hike today was Percy Peaks but the gate was closed.

Exploring Pondicherry

I stayed local and very low today. I had never been to Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge so I decided to walk in and check out this area. It was a five mile hike on a beautiful day.

Along the Upper Ammonoosuc River

On Friday the White Mountain National Forest issued temporary shutdown orders closing the trailhead parking areas effectively preventing access to most of the White Mountains trails. So it would be another weekend of local hiking. My son Brandon joined me for a hike on the West Milan Trail that follows alongside the Upper Ammonoosuc River.