Getting close to finishing my October grid, a warm, sunny outing with a sky full of stars at the end.
Water Crossings
If you’ve done them, you know the Hancocks demand their pound of flesh.
It’s been far too long. Whether that is measured by the time spent away from the trail or from writing about it, truth. But here we are.
Sometimes you need to step away from the familiar to realize what you have, and what you don’t. Sometimes you really need the not-having. And that’s OK.
Of the weather, I can only say this: it wasn’t dry. Everything else? Up for grabs.
Sometimes a hike is a challenge, sometimes a slog. Keep it all in mind that in a couple weeks, the worst will melt away and run down the mountain.
The loop over the two peaks is as strenuous as ever. But with a bit of trailside color, every steep section is eased.
Spring hiking is mud season, and you need a certain resilience. But what about the trail that brings us back? Where’s the magic in the mud?
Icy conditions on Mt Moosilauke during the first week of May? Call it “A test of snow and flowers.”
Won’t pretend this was an epic hike. Indeed, it was mostly booking mileage. But there it is. At the same time, I won’t write off a mountain. So go try it yourself!
Mt Garfield (4,500 feet). Franconia/Bethlehem, NH. 2023-01-08 (Sunday.) Via Garfield and Garfield Ridge Trails. 10 miles round-trip, plus 1 1/4 mile (each way) road walk. Mid-20s throughout. Winds were hardly a whisper in the trees, a bitter 10-15 knots at the summit. Unbridled sunshine all day. Car: 1145. Trailhead: 1210. Summit: 1510. Trailhead: 1545. Car: 1735. A safe bet is to budget about half an hour to walk from the […]
What do you do when your plans get wrecked, and your backup plan becomes just a day to book miles?