Wildcat D on the Edge of a Nor'easter

I had no firm plans on hiking today with a Nor'easter bearing down on New England. I would make my decision to hike when I got up to Pinkham Notch and evaluate the current weather conditions. My summit of choice was Wildcat D (4,062'). This solo hike would take me up the Polecat ski trail so I wouldn't need to concern myself with breaking trail.

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.

Hiking to Carter Dome on a Bluebird Day

After spending last weekend sick in bed I wanted to test my stamina. The weather forecast was predicting a beautiful day and I wanted to get above treeline to enjoy some views. I chose a loop hike over Mount Hight and Carter Dome. My route would take me up the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail to the Carter Dome Trail through Zeta Pass and onto the Carter-Moriah Trail up to Mount Hight and over to Carter Dome then back down to the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail for the trip back to the parking lot on Route 16.

A Hike to Mount Cabot

I set the clocks ahead before going to bed. Just before the alarm went off I woke up. I could already tell it was going to be a rough day, I needed the hour that was lost. Dragging myself out of bed I took my time getting ready for today's hike. The plan for today was to add another winter 4,000 footer to my list. Fortunately the hike to Mount Cabot is the closest trailhead from my house, fifteen minutes. This hike would take me up the Bunnell Notch Trail onto the Kilkenny Ridge Trail and up to the summit of Mount Cabot.

March Hike to Mount Field

The first day of March and three more weeks until Spring, twenty more days to get those last Winter hikes in. Friday was a ski day, yesterday I rested the legs and today was a hike to Mount Field (4,340') over Mount Avalon via the Avalon Trail. The weather forecast called for increasing clouds ahead of the next snowstorm, a small storm of maybe a dusting to two inches in the evening.

Snowshoeing to Mount Chocorua

With no firm plans for a hike this weekend I got an invite from fellow hiker Jill to join her and four others for a hike to Mount Chocorua (3,475'). The plan for today was to hike the Champney Falls and Piper Trails up to the the summit. The weather called for cold temps and increasing clouds with an approaching storm due to arrive late afternoon.

Snowshoe Hike To Lonesome Lake

Today I was looking for a short snowshoe hike to a beautiful spot with a great view. Short being the key word for a number of reasons, the first being the sub-zero windchill, then there was the late start with an hour drive, and probably the best reason was that I used up a lot of leg power yesterday skiing in powder at Bretton Woods. Lonesome Lake seemed to be a great destination to try out the winter gear today as well as condition myself to some frigid weather.

Snowshoeing the Imp Trail

I bought a new pair of winter hiking boots and it had been three weeks since my last hike so I was anxious to get out on the trail. Pinkham Notch seemed to get the motherlode of snow from last week's storm. The plan was to drop off my son and his friends at Wildcat and I would go hiking on the Imp Trail. Was not sure if I would do the entire loop not knowing what the trail conditions might be. Weather forecast called for cloudy skies, temps in the low 30's and no precipitation.

Snowshoeing to Mount Pierce

There were high winds in the forecast and I was thinking of maybe doing a sheltered hike today but went ahead with my plans for a hike to Mount Pierce. The morning sky was clear with a third quarter moon, 50% of full, hanging above the summits on the way to the trailhead.

Snowshoeing to Lowes Bald Spot

With gloomy weather being forecast I thought this would be a hikeless weekend. There were cloudy skies but no rain and the doppler radar was clear. I decided to get outside and take a short hike maybe even some snowshoeing. There's plenty of snow in Pinkham Notch so the plan was a hike or snowshoe to Lowes Bald Spot via Old Jackson Road.

Finding (Winter Storm) Nemo

Winter Storm Nemo!? Since when did we start naming Nor'easters...and who comes up with the name? It appears southern New England took the brunt of this storm. Up here in the North Country it was a minimal storm at best. We got maybe 8-10 inches depending on where you placed the measuring stick. Winds were on the mild side. I decided to venture outdoors in my quest of finding (Winter Storm) Nemo...or at least take in the winter scenery from what little snow we got from this storm.

Breaking Trail and Bushwhacking in Kilkenny

With an Arctic cold front moving in the winds started howling at 8:45 this morning. It started with a temperature of 43 degrees and rain squalls that quickly turned to snow squalls. I set out on a snowshoe adventure with my son and his girlfriend joining me. We got a late start and it was 2:00 in the afternoon when we began our hike into the Kilkenny wilderness. Our plan was to summit an unnamed mountain using old logging roads and trails. The best laid plans do not always go well.

Lowes Bald Spot

After our Nor'easter two days ago I thought conditions would be excellent for snowshoeing in Pinkham Notch. The plan for today was a trip across the Old Jackson Road to Lowes Bald Spot. I was getting a late start and this was the perfect trail to give my new snowshoes another test.
(Note: I have seen three different spellings for this scenic view - Lowes, Lowe's and Low's, the first from the trail signs and the latter from the AMC Guide)

Snowshoeing on Christmas Day

It was late afternoon and I felt the need to get outside for some fresh air after a day of eating holiday fare and being lazy. I thought a trip up over Cummings Mountain with my new MSR Denali snowshoes would do the trick. One of my sons decided to join me.

Snowshoeing in Kilkenny

It was a nice cold day with a brisk wind blowing. There was fresh snow and conditions were right for a little snowshoe adventure into the Kilkenny. Up to this point it has been a rather bleak winter with lackluster snowstorms producing very little snow but there was just enough to have fun breaking new trail today.