Mt Hale 4055'

4.4 miles total

Hale Brook Trail from Zealand Rd

Just an easy stroll on Memorial Day Weekend, up & back on Mt Hale while we were in the area Sunday.

A group of friends car camps at Dolly Copp near Washington every year, so I had plans to head up north for one of my weekend days off. My brother called midweek wanting to hike something small, and I knew he needed it for his list so Hale picked up two more hikers.

Busy day indeed, counted 7 different groups on the mountain and a trailhead full of cars to prove it. No bugs yet and the watercrossings on Hale brook were easy breezy even with the higher water. Bugs are going to be out late and in force this year I'm not looking forward to it. I sense a disturbance in the force...

Mt Passaconaway 4042'

12.5 Miles. Oliverian Brook up & back Square Ledge

Winter's grip has finally ended. Two adventurers enjoyed a sunny 70 degree weekend hiking in the Sandwich range this past weekend, snow is almost gone.

Oliverian Brook is flat and easy, gradual climb gets more serious closer to Square Ledge. 4 Water crossings total, spring hiking means wet boots and rock jumping. We Used Yaktrax for two rough ice patches near the summit but other then that we were just sloppy barebooting; clean trail below 3000 ft

This was my third time hiking Passaconaway with a heavy pack. A good quest was needed for weary winter souls, another big year for adventures I'm sure.

Mt Tecumseh 4003'

I returned to Tecumseh last weekend, stretched my legs with a friend and found winter hiding in the North.

This mountain is a great season starter. 2.5 up, 2.5 down, a nice outlook and an easy commute. On the trail by noontime Saturday, we had a steady albeit light snowfall the entire hike.

A cloudy, cold day on a closed ski slope would make my wife cringe with horror, but I tend to find unique bits of magic others might ignore. The unused portion of Waterville Valley ski area reminded me of a true Scottish mountain side, with rock and snow separated by soaked brown grass. The clouds were close enough to carry the evaporating mists right off the ground, winter's grip loosening like the packed monorail under our feet. The trails we've been using to snowshoe during the cold months don't have much more integrity left, muddy boots are in my future I fear.

Hoping to venture forth again soon before the bugs do, mud & melt be damned

Moosilauke Winter (attempt)

Glencliff Trl maybe 4 miles

Packed for an overnight at Beaver Brook Shelter, ended up quitting and heading back when we realized we wouldn't make it.  Two friends had bailed earlier that week so that just left my brother and I. The temps were in the single digits so although we were prepared to stealth camp maybe snowcave, when we saw an opening to head back we took it. Our descent rewarded us both with many hilarious falls, reminding us of our shame, ended up back at the car just as the sun had gone down.

We felt the snowshoes had slowed us down most of the way. This piece of the AT was nice and packed for the early portions, could've barebooted most of it. We did need shoes for traction higher up on the trail but straight crampons would've been perfect. Probably too much for my Yaktrax, alot of the trail was smooth ice and hidden under 3 inches of snow.

Good to get out in the woods for a few hours, and were I already have hiked the Moose I looked at it like a winter warmup. I'm certainly out of shape since Haloween so it was good to start the engine and take her for a spin.

 

OwlsHead Haloween Overnight

15 Miles from Lincoln Woods trailhead
Franconia Falls bushwhack

A hallowed mountain lay in the path of six adventurers this past weekend. The peak known as Owls Head loomed heavy on a quest long and ardous, little rewards for a viewless peak in snowy weather.
But we found some rewards just the same.

Flat walking on the old railroad bed, another visit to Franconia Falls, bushwhack along the river, a snow covered rock slide and a winter wonderland summit! costumed monsters! -this hike had it all.

Glad I finally hiked this mountain as this is my third time camping at the base near the stream. I felt like I was cheating a little by not approaching from 13 Falls, perhaps I will travel that route again in another story...

 

Presidential Traverse

 

Crawford Depot to Appalachia
Approx 26 miles over 3 days

Mt Jackson 4052'
Mt Pierce 4312'
Mt Eisenhower 4760'
Mt Monroe 5372'
Mt Washington 6288'
Mt Jefferson 5716'
Mt Adams 5799'
Mt Madison 5366'

We camped (legal) off the Mt Eisenhower trail and stayed a night at the Perch ($10)
Just my twin brother Michael and I, crew needed to be small if we were to stay the course and finish.

The clear pinnacle of my hiking career, I will likely cherish these memories in the years to come. The majestic wilderness above treeline has smitten me with her charms, and although I wont be hiking anything soon I know I will return.

I ever do this crazy bullshit again I'm hiking them North to South and getting the big boys out of the way on the first damn day. I won't spend alot of time eating hotdogs and looking at girls on Mt Washington. I won't wear the 40lb Vietnam rook and hopefully the top of my left boot wont come apart descending Madison.

I will hike them during the week, as we enjoyed an unprecedented level of privacy after the dayhikers went home on Monday. I will bring handwarmers for my sleeping bag (clutch). I will also take Thursday off from work, and find a motel with a jacuzzi up there dont drive right home. Savor it.

Some of the photos are not my own, my phone dided overnight and Mike had shut his off until needed. Worked out perfect this way one of us had a camera going the entire 3 days.

Wildcats Overnight

Maybe 8.5 miles Overnight
Wildcat Ridge Trail & Nineteen Mile brook

These posts keep getting later and later after the hikes. I do a majority of the writing when its fresh in my mind but often dont have time to clean them up and add photos. Young Lily takes up a huge chunk of my life and hiking gets pushed a little.

Glen Ellis Falls was our first and best mistake for this last adventure weekend (Sept 28/29).
From the trailhead you pass through a hobbit tunnel under the road, and on the right-hand side the beautiful stonework path seemingly continues on down the stairs to the falls. If you dont notice the tiny sign beyond this intersection you end up about 100 ft below the trailhead at a granidose waterfall you never even planned on.

This little nature walk would be great if the first part of the Wildcat ridge trail wasn't such a grueling climb after the watercrossing. We could always see the car even though we kept going higher and higher, steeper sections made me glad I hadn't brought a puppy or any rookie hikers.

Once we started gaining distance from the road we started losing a little elevation. Then gaining it back. Up. Down. Up. Down. Then the trail finally levels out and you can hear.....machinery? Crowds of people met us at the ski-tram on Wildcat D, grammy in sandals chatting us up at the picnic tables. Awesome.

Back on the trail and more rugged up/down BS. We reached a cliff near the summit of Wildcat Mtn proper, only to be awestruck by the view of the hut and sweet boulder field. Realizing Carter Notch would kill our chances of getting to our original carspot in Gorham, we found stealthy spots and ended up hiking out 19 mile brook the following morning.

The AMC Shuttle ($10) took us along to the next trailhead at the Joe Dodge Lodge, so to get back to our cars we hiked a small section of the AT near Lost Pond. Coolest little hike, I'll remember this path for a quick snowshoe when winter comes.

Off on a legit quest across the Presidentials this week, stay tuned