Zealand Falls Dayhike

11.6 miles from 302 to the Hut and Falls
Zealand rd was closed so parked at the lot directly on 302
Used Yaktrax but shouldve worn Snowshoes and a Snorkel

Zealand road was closed. That adds a 3.5 mile roadwalk on top of the normal 3ish out to the hut, so were the cards I quite randomly dealt myself that morning. The plan was to conquer Moriah with friends, when no friends could answer the call I was left to carry the torch alone. Zealand road is familiar ground at this point, ended up here on more then one adventure. I underestimated the spring melt.

Left the snowshoes in the car. Originally planning to stay overnight, I had enough weight on my pack already and figured they'd never leave the top of my rook. The north woods still has plenty of snow however, even the usually easy hike out to the falls was a struggle every inch. The amount of snow and the structure of the trails force you to walk on top of an unstable layer of ice & powder. My boot sank every few steps into an ice river hidden below the trail. Eventually I fell hard and pulled what the wife calls my "hip flexer". Hard to lift my left leg, I remember straining it like this the last time I was hard snowshoeing.

After a leisurly snack at the falls and hut, empty save a nice couple that came and left, I headed sloshing back myself. Not a nice day for water crossings might I add. Bringing crocs next time, water is moving fast and there aren't alot of good footholds to begin with. Once I realized all my backup socks had been sacrificed, my time had run short. Hobbled back to the car as darkness fell, a spooky and empty Zealand road at my back after another fine adventure.

Pulpit Rock Conservation Area

Zelda and I explored for 4 hours, covered about as many miles.

Local woods only a 1/2 hour west of Manchester. I had planned on maybe hitting Squam Lake or Mt Major, but I aborted mission just before the tolls when I realized my wallet was empty. That puts me west of Manchester with an eager puppy in the seat next to me, so Pulpit Rock it is.

Frozen Ice trail of Peril is what the sign shouldve said. Couldve brought skates. Zelda has been in the house all week and loved every minute, ready to throw her weight into a full run at the drop of a leaf.
We had a great time just the two of us, poor Zelda is feeling replaced by the new baby a little I think.

Strange goings on in the woods out there, found an awesome shelter on our way back, can't believe I had missed it on the way in. Didnt let young Zelda explore too much, but the place looked cozy if something ever happened to my hammock. Awesome Sunday despite no Patriots redemption superbowl, hoping for a quick melt so I can hike before the flies! Untill next time.....

 

4th Iron Winter Misson

Just a camping trip, and technically car camping. I'm not a big fan of anything close to the road, but the North Country had plenty of fresh snow last weekend and 4th Iron seemed like a safe bet.

Tripled up my sleeping bag with 8 other folks, had a great tie and made sure to keep the place cleaner when we left it. Last time we were out here someone had burnt a picnic table for firewood and didnt pack out trash. Winter wonderland this time, great fun and a reality shock as we prepare for the trail.

Worth noting the packs of sleddogs at the Sawyer rd parking lot, plenty of puppys to welcome us when we arrived. The parking lot for 4th Iron is not plowed, watch out for the snowmobiles on the train bridge when you're lugging gear that xtra 1/4 mile each way, in 2 feet of snow, pulling a sled full of local bought firewood......

Mt Willey & Field Snowhike

Ripley Falls trl to Zealand rd maybe 9 miles total
Mt Willey 4285' & Mt Field 4340'
Snowed the entire time probably 5 inches

These mountains prove time and time again that they are to be respected. Unpredictable weather conditions and rough terrain do not bode well for the unprepared. Lucky for me I roll with a veteran crew ready for anything.

Didn't expect to see snow in November, Mt Willey and Field had constant precipitation from Saturday morning into the morning hours Sunday. Even into the afternoon Sunday the wind kicked snow off the trees enough where it felt like a constant dusting. We camped near the A-Z trail and hiked out near a car spot on Zealand rd., glad we hadn't planned a long journey.

Had to skip Mt Tom because of sunlight, or lack thereof anyways. The col between Field & Tom was decimated from Hurricane Sandy, ton of downed trees just added to an already slow slog through rough terrain.

Great hike with good friends to end my season, 7 peaks this year brings me to 23 total! Slow going with the new baby, once she's old enough I can show her these mountains all over again someday....

LaborDay Mountain Quest

Day1-Falling Waters to Garfield Pond
Day2-Mt Garfield to 13 Falls and camp near Owls Head
Day3-Bushwhack to Franconia Falls/Lincoln Woods
2 Automobiles - 6 Heroes - 20 miles on foot

Another adventure in the Pemigwasett Wilderness, another notch on the list this past labor day weekend. We didn't use any official campsites this time, went our own way but lugged out trash and were careful folk. Filtered water at Garfield Pond and Lincoln Brook and we did not die - ok water by me nice and cold. Getting good at these multi-day overnights isn't easy, but a few veterans and I have things down to a science.

Great weekend for weather, complete fogged out Garfield on day2 was our only real sign of clouds, kind of socked us in with no time to sit annd wait it out. :[ The Northern end of Lafayette past the Bridle Path was worth the trip alone, awesome area I'm glad to have seen. The waterfalls are the same as last time (Krypteia), cold water and spectacular views all around. Great cliff diving spot at Franconia Falls We missed Owls Head for a second time, camped at the base of the mountain and we were too drained to make an ascent. Worth a return trip, can't sweat the small stuff.

My wife and I have our newborn daughter as of !August 4th, 2 months early, so my house has been busy place lately. A 3 day adventure was exactly what I needed to unwind and map everything out, Quest at hand and the long road ahead! Dad's got a nice ring to it

 

Krypteia 2 - Mission Complete

Bondcliff 4265' | Mt Bond 4698' | S Twin 4902' | 
13 Falls | Franconia Falls
camped at Guyot and then off trail near Owl's Head

Something like 26/27 miles total, remote tour of the Pemigwasset Wilderness
Diverted from the plan heading S from Galehead Hut
Great weather with good friends, best hiking I've ever done. Ever.

Full on 3day backpack so I broke it down by the day

Thursday

Meetup in Salem early (me late by 15), breakfast at the Tiltn Diner, car at LincolnWoods by 8am.

 Old railroad bed overgrown with moss and gravel in places, the Wilderness trail had us wishing for mountain bikes the first 4 miles in. Once on the Bondcliff trl we found our elevation, slow slog with heavy packs. 4.4 miles up rough country after 4.4 flat walking is still almost 9 miles, worth every step once we arrived at the epic Bondcliff.

Breathtaking Bond Cliff. Spectacular once in a lifetime Quest BONDCLIFF! Only sign of human existence from that cliff is some of the ski slopes on Loon. Handfull of folks came & went, let us rest at the cliffs -undisturbed- probably 2hours. Steeper then it looks up that ridge then awesome views of a weather system from Mt Bond. Clouds kept moving through for 2/3 minute stretches, views and sun would come and go but all were excellent.

Camped out on the large platform at Guyot (Gee-oh) campsite after an epic day1. Killed a small bottle of Jager between the four of us, helped with the aches and pains.

Friday

After an MRE breakfast and a water refill we hiked up and out of the campsite, turned right N towards the Twinway. The trail opened up near Mt Guyot, big sky and exposed walking. Day2 would get close to 90 degrees in July, exposed walking on a clear day became a blessing for photos but a drain on our energy/water supply. Then I started being Mr Smartguy and pointed out all the peaks we had originally planned for day3. A few of us had heavier then normal packs, one of us had cut their foot the day prior, so there were thoughts of an alternative route for our journey.....

South Twin was the catalyst of change on this quest, a great decider if you will. Took us longer then expected climbing up from the south, realized we'd need an extra day at our current pace. The view from S Twin was jaw dropping, Franconia ridge on one side and Mt Washington/Presidentials on the other, put into perspective how far I've come hiking these mountains. Skipped 4 peaks total on this trip, I enjoy the journey more then the destination I think, gives me a reason to return and share the experience again. Friends were hurting on a hot day, so after lunch and some discussion at Galehead Hut, we decided to exit out Lincoln Brook after a quick swim at breathtaking 13 Falls campsite. 

Thirteen Falls is a remote waterfall park onto itself, several secluded spots for private swimming/diving. My companions needed the swim after an all afternoon descent into the valley, for we still had a hard trial ahead. 3.5 miles from the falls to our backcountry destination, the base of the remote peak Owls Head. Remote and mostly unused, this stretch was rough and unmaintained, lost our way more then once. But it was getting dark, fast. As cloud cover and canopy were killing daytime, we moved with a purpose trying to cover ground.

8:38pm, almost flashlight time, we met someone on trail that had heard us yelling, we had reached our stealth campsite at the base of Owl's Head. Nice folks who were hiking in from Lincoln Woods, showed us a great spot and we were out, all of us asleep within a few moments.

Saturday

Our adventure concluded with a march out on the Lincoln Brook trail after breakfast. We were all beat up but motivated, decided with no planned elevation for the day we could try to accomplish some of-trail hiking, or "bushwacking". Followed the left side of the river South about 1.5, ended up right at Franconia Falls. Easy. Barley a trail for a while there but following the river we were able to track footprints from folks we jhad passed hiking in, made for a fun experience, it was a little a little stressful there trying to find your way with 3 friends behind you.

Franconia Falls made that all better. Hot Day? Pfst.Try some icy mountain water. Epic waterpark just off trail made 13 Falls look like a kids party. Spent the remainder of the trip jumping off rocks and soaking feet in cold mountain water. After a quick railroad walk we were back at the car with a mission complete.

Awesome variety on this hike; exposed ridgeline, epic mountain views, cliffs, Galehead Hut, the waterfalls, the bushwhack, all of it awesome. And I feel great, no injurys and minor aches. Three days in the mountains culminating in an all-time great hike, it'll be tough to out do this one....

Krypteia 2 - The Pemi Loop

Spartan men, after finishing their brutal adolescent training period known as "The Agogi" could then prove themselv's worty of military service by participating in the Krypteia. Armed with a knife and their wits, they were allowed to descend on the outlying villages of Sparta and terrorize the slave or "helot" population that lived there. The ultimate test of survival, killing and pillaging for food reward, the elite were singled out for leadership roles later in life.

The Pemi Loop is kind of like that for me. When I started hiking these mountains I always said the goal was to have it all wrapped up before I turned 30. That was obvioulsy a younger, less experienced hiker boasting hubris, as these peaks have turned out to be no small endeavor indeed. I can however, meet that goal 1/2 way @ 24 peaks, if I can pull it off the hike of a lifetime that is.

This thursday a few friends and I will attempt a 33 mile 3 day adventure in the Pemigwasset Wilderness within the White Mountain National Forest. An epic journey across 10 mountains above 4000 feet, breathtaking 360 views from large sections of exposed ridgline.

Mt Liberty, Franconia Ridge, Mt Garfield, Galehead Hut, Guyot & the Bonds w/legendary Bondcliff. Lincoln Woods trailhead - there and back again. Staying at Liberty Spring or Garfield Ridge depending on how early we start, try to get a spot @ Guyot for Night 2. Its a dream if a hike and I can't believe we are actually doing it. I have my hammock and some MREs, full trip report to follow....