White Mountains

172 posts

Trip Report: Seek the Peak 2018

A peak was sought. And so much more was found. Mt Washington; 6288 feet. Sargent’s Purchase, NH 80 dF at trailhead, 75 dF at summit. Sunny/hazy skies and 50 miles visibility. Very light intermittent breezes at summits — approximately 2-4 MPH. Via the Tuckerman Ravine trail, and Lion Head trail. Trailhead: 1230. Summit: 1530. Left summit: 1600. Car: 1830. Approximately 9 miles. I’m a sucker for a good cause. Given […]

Trip Report: North and South Kinsman, Cannon Mountain

And then, there were none!  North and South Kinsman Mountain (4,293 and 4,658 feet, respectively), Cannon Mountain (4,100 feet). Franconia, NH. With a crossing over the Cannonballs. 60 dF at trailhead, approx 70 dF at summits. Cloudy to start, giving way to mostly sunny skies and 20-30 miles visibility. Very windy at Cannon summit — approximately 25-30 MPH. Via Lonesome Lake, Fishin’ Jimmy, Kinsman Ridge, and Hi-Cannon trails. Trailhead: 0745. […]

Trip report: Mt Moosilauke

Short, hard, but sweet! (Yet hazy!) Mt Moosilauke. Approx 9 miles. 4,802 feet. 60 dF at trailhead, approx 60 dF at summits, 30 MPH winds above tree line. Sunny throughout, with a hazy overcast sky. Visibility approx 10 miles, max. Very windy at the summit — approximately 25-30 MPH. Trailhead: 0900. Summit: 1115. Car: 1330. This couldn’t have been more straightforward. Hike Glencliff trail up and down. It’s not “hard” […]

Trip Report: Jefferson, Adams, Madison

It was a long, hard day. Mt Jefferson, Mt Adams, Mt Madison. 2018-06-16 (Saturday.) Via the Sylvan Way, Amphibrach, Randolph Path, Jefferson Loop, Gulfslide Trail, and Valley Way. Approx 14 miles. Jefferson 5,716 ft, Adams 5,799 ft, Madison 5,366 ft. 60 dF at trailhead, approx 60 dF at summits, 30 MPH winds above tree line. Sunny throughout, with a bit of hazy overcast sky. Trailhead: 0930. Jefferson summit: 1415. Adams […]

Trip Report: North and South Twin Mountain, Mt Guyot, and West Bond Mountain

A trio with twins? North and South Twin Mountain, Guyot, and West Bond Mountain. 2018-06-14 (Thursday.) Via the North Twin trail, North Twin spur, Twinway, Bondcliff trail, and West Bond spur. Approx 18 miles. North Twin, 4761 ft; South Twin, 4902 ft; Guyot, 4580 ft; West Bond, 4540 ft. 60 dF at trailhead, approx 50 dF at summits, 30-35 MPH winds, mediated by consistent tree cover on the trails. Mt […]

Trip Report: Mt Hancock, North and South

Simple, Sublime, Satisfying. Short and sweet. Mt Hancock and South Hancock. 2018-06-07 (Thursday.) Via the Hancock Notch trail, Cedar Brook trail, Hancock Loop trail.. Approx 10 miles. North Hancock, 4420; South Hancock, 4319 feet. 65 dF at trailhead, cooler at the summit. Cloudy, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Trailhead: 1200. North Hancock Summit: 1450. South Hancock Summit: 1540. Car: 1730. It was an inauspicious start. I’d slept through my […]

Trip Report: Mt Washington and Mt Monroe

First of the month, unexpected weather! Mt Washington and Mt Monroe. 2018-06-02 (Saturday.) Via the Ammonoosuc Ravine trail, Crawford Path, Mt Monroe Loop trail.. Approx 10 miles. Washington: 6288 feet, Monroe: 5372 feet. 65 dF at trailhead, 48 at MW Observatory (approx 14:30). Winds in the 20-25 MPH range, gusting to approx 40 MPH. Cloudy, becoming sunny in the afternoon with 80 mile visibility. Trailhead: 1220. Lakes of the Clouds hut: […]

Trip Report: Mt Hale, Mt Zealand, Mt Guyot, Mt Bond

Last of the month, an unexpected trifecta! Mt Hale, Mt Zealand, Mt Guyot, Mt Bond. 2018-05-31 (Thursday.) Via the Hale Brook Trail, Lend-A-Hand Trail, Twinway, Bondcliff Trail, Zealand Trail. Approx 22 miles. Hale: 4054, Zealand: 4260, Guyot: 4580, Bond: 4698 feet. 72-84 dF throughout the day. Winds in the 20-25 MPH range on Guyot and Bond, moderated on the other summits by tree cover. Sunny throughout the day, turning to […]

Trip Report: Owl’s Head Mountain

Long. Slow. Oddly, interesting!  Owl’s Head Mountain, Lincoln, NH. 2018-17-05. (Thursday) Via Lincoln Brook Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Owl’s Head Path, bushwhacks. Approx 18 miles.  50 dF +/- at the trailhead, 60 dF at summit, 70 dF +/- back at the car, with negligible winds. Overcast becoming mostly sunny by afternoon.  Trailhead: 0740; Summit; 1420; back at car: 1900. (11.3 hours.) In retrospect, I’m confused as to why this one […]

Trip Report: Mt Eisenhower

I Hiked Ike!  Mt Eisenhower, Bretton Woods, NH. Cinco de Mayo, 2018-05-05. (Saturday) Via Edmands Path, Mt Eisenhower Loop. Approx 6 miles.  50 dF +/- at the trailhead, 45 dF at summit, with 20-25 MPH winds gusting to 35. Partly sunny becoming mostly sunny by afternoon.  Trailhead: 0950; Summit; 1340; back at car: 1550. (6 hours.) It was, in fact, a great day to be outside. The Higher Summits Forecast […]

Trip Report: Mt Webster, Mt Jackson, Mt Pierce

Troika! (And the first of the Presidentials.)  Mt Webster, Mt Jackson, Mt Pierce, Crawford Notch, NH. May Day, 2018-05-01. (Tuesday) Via Webster-Jackson trail, Webster Branch, Webster Ridge trail, Crawford Path. Approx 9.4 miles.  38 dF +/- at the trailhead, 45 dF at Mt Jackson summit, with 10-12 MPH winds. Heavy, wet fog. A brief parting of the clouds at mid afternoon, then mainly cloudy for the rest of the trip.   […]

Trip Report: Mt Tom, Mt Field, Mt Willey

A trifecta of summits Mt Tom, Mt Field, Mt Willey, Crawford Notch, NH. 2018-04-28. (Saturday) Via Mt Willard Trail, Avalon Trail, A-Z Trail, Willey Range Trail, Kedron Flume Trail. Approx 8.4 miles. 50 dF +/- at the trailhead, 58 dF at Mt Field summit, with negligible winds. Mix of clouds and sun.  Trailhead: 1015; Mt Tom Summit: 1240; Mt Field Summit: 1410; Mt Willey Summit; 1530; back at car: 1930. […]