Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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Presi's from Wildcats

Presidential View from the Wildcats

We are all the way up to the dirty thirty on our climbing list. The updating continues! 

Also wanted to shout out to everyone to follow me and continue the love and support! Or drop me a line- I always love to hear from you guys....

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My Cool Shed Book



My recent camper infatuation expands to sheds and tiny homes...more to come!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Camper of the Week



Hiking Updates

Posing for a Closeup

I've still been working on catching you'all up to us on the list. While I have only posted up to mountains 17 and 18 we are actually all the way up to number 28! The reason I am so behind is because I have been hiking much more than blogging lately- which is always a good thing!

This past weekend we were rooting for a Trans-Presidential Traverse. A Presi Traverse is a long 20 mile plus day that scales all of the peaks in the Presidential range. Depending on your mission and route this includes around seven peaks.

These peaks are all surrounding Mount Washington- the tallest mountain in the northeast- most notoriously known for having the worst weather in the world with some of the strongest wind speeds ever recorded. 

Hiking Hancock Mountains

Needless to say this traverse takes some careful planning, lots of gusto, and physical endurance. We had everything in place for our traverse- but were pushed off the hike due to high wind speed predictions (40-60 sustained and gusts). While we could have summited one or two of the peaks in conditions such as this, making it across an open,above treeline hike for a good 10-20 miles was not likely.

We are not sure if we'll get another chance this fall to attempt it again. We've talked about maybe finishing the list and then doing the traverse. So we will see! Whatever happens I will be sure to share!

Hiking the 4000 Footers: North and Middle Tripyramid 8.20.2012

North and Middle Tripyramid (4180 ft; 4140 ft)
9.6 miles round trip
3300 feet of elevation gain
Pine Bend Brook Trail; Mount Tripyramid Trail


Our hike up the Tripyramids was a very nice moderately hot and humid day. The beginning of the trail involves lots of stream and river crossings- all of them very uneventful due to the low water table this year. 

Hiking Tripyramids

The initial section of the trail was very quiet and we didn't bump into a soul. We started to come across some prints in the trail that I thought at first were a dog and then upon closer inspection realized was moose. This moose apparently loves this trail because we followed these tracks for miles.

Hiking Tripyramids

Tripyramids

The trail begins to get very steep and follows a rock slide area. This section lasts for a while and really gets the blood moving and the heart pounding.

Hiking Tripyramids 

When you reach the top of North Tripyramid be mindful of where you are on the map. There are a few trail intersections and none of them are marked very well. We had to consult with two other people to avoid many extra miles in the wrong directions.

Hiking Tripyramids

North Tri has a wooded top with no views to speak of. The hike over to Middle Tri meanders through several nice forested areas but does not include any views either. The top of middle includes some nice views in one direction. 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Is it Friday Yet?

Ball Chasin'

I'm really looking forward to this weekend. We have another crazy hike set up and plan to do a lot of camping and relaxing afterwards. Updates to come!

Can you believe how fall-like it is feeling already? Up here in New Hampshire we are already having chilly nights, much shorter days, and the beginnings of fall colors. Get ready for some foliage pics!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Camper of the Week


Hiking the 4000 Footers: Mount Whiteface and Mount Passaconaway 8.19.2012

Whiteface and Passaconaway via The Bowl
Blueberry Ridge trail- Rollins Trail- Dicey's Mill Trail

Numbers 15 and 16 on the List!

The beginning of our crazy dash to nab 11 peaks in roughly a week!

Hiking Glam

Trailhead Whiteface

We have a history with Whiteface and Passaconaway in the sense that we have started many more hikes than we have finished on these peaks. Several years ago we lost our dog on a neighboring mountain. We found her that same day, but it involved lots of mayhem in between.

Approaching Mount Whiteface

Another day we tried again but were caught in torrential rain and given the rocky granite strewn summits- finishing our hike was not a great idea.

The day we actually nabbed both mountains was a gorgeous day- a bit hot- but what else is new. We decided to grab both mountains by hiking around part of what is called "the bowl"- essentially a hike along a mountainside looking into a geographically shaped bowl.

Trail Mount Whiteface

Trail Mount Whiteface

Trail on Mount Whiteface

Whiteface has an easy slopping trail for most of the way then proceeds into a short, steep sort of rock climbing summit that requires a bit of gusto and guts. While the trail looks very steep and dangerous- there were plenty of rock holds exactly were you needed them.

Trail Mount Whiteface

Trail Mount Whiteface

Trail Mount Whiteface

The view from Whiteface was excellent and relatively quiet given the weather and time of year. We continued on hiking what is deemed "the bowl." The trail between Whiteface and Passaconaway was even quieter and less crowded- my favorite type. 

View from Mount Whiteface

View from Mount Whiteface

View from Mount Whiteface

View from Mount Whiteface

Passaconaway greeted us with more day tripping families and a very dull summit (just a pile of rocks and sticks).

Hiking Whiteface

Passaconway Summit

Passaconway View

After descending a technically easy downhill the trail dead ends into private property. A small house surrounded by fields greets you as you finish. Finally we could say we've climbed Whiteface and Passaconaway albeit given a view false starts.

Whiteface and Passaconway Start

Owl's Head

Owl's Head from Garfield

It's tricky when you are hiking a mountain to show pictures of the mountain from a distance for obvious reasons. We recently hiked Garfield and had a nice view of Owl's Head from the north. Check out my full hiking report here, where I detail what happens when you hike 18 miles in 90 degree temps, with five major river crossings, and one difficult to find path.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Hiking the 4,000 Footers: Owl's Head 8.10.2012

Owl's Head- 4025 feet
18 miles round trip
Lincoln Woods Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path

Number 14 on my list

Deemed "a death march" by fellow peak baggers, Owl's Head is the only peak on the NH White Mountain 4,000 Footer list without an officially maintained trail. It takes about 8 miles to just get to the mountain with one mile straight up a rocky slide trail, making the entire hike 18 miles. It's very deep in the Pemigewasset Wilderness and feels deliciously isolated. To top it all off there are five major river crossings that can be dangerous with high waters. 

An early start brought us to the parking lot at around 7:30 in the morning. When we parked in the Lincoln Woods parking lot a torrential thunder and lightning storm blew in. The weathermen predicted strong thunderstorms late in the afternoon, so we were not thrilled to start our hike in these dangerous conditions. We debated just getting back in the car and shooting for next Saturday when we decided we drove too far to turn back without any sort of hike.

Gaiters

Together we decided to go to Franconia Falls- about three miles out on the trail- and reassess the weather and our decision to hike. The rain was torrential, but luckily my winter gaiters held up very well and kept my feet dry, which is the most critical element to keep dry.

Start of Owl's Head Hike

Start of Owl's Head Hike

We reached the Falls in just under an hour- meaning we were hiking around 3 miles per hour. The hike to Owl's Head may be long, isolated, remote- but it is flat until you reach the mountain 8 miles in. We figured at this rate we could reach the base of the mountain in roughly three hours total- so we took off.

Start of Owl's Head Hike

Start of Owl's Head hike

The rain died back but the humidity stuck around. Since it was already fairly wet out the humidity just made it like a swimming pool out there. We started knocking off some of the major river crossings. The very first one required us to take our shoes off. We had brought along our Chacos just for this purpose. Later in the hike we decided not to take our boots off, which I think is mainly related to total fatigue talking.



River Crossing in Pemi Wilderness

River Crossing in Pemi Wilderness


Finding the unofficial summit "path" was tricky. After the last of the river crossings, based on our mileage, and the map we began to look to the right for the path. We had read many people overshoot and have to back track- and at 18 miles round trip- I really didn't want to be adding any miles to our hike.

I shouted, "I think I see it." As I tripped over a tiny pile of rocks in the trail. Stopping to look we realized this was a makeshift cairn with stick arrows to indicate the trail. Thankfully someone had left some sort of marking.

Marking for Owl's Head Path

Start of Owl's Head Path

Can you see the path? It's there

Marking for Owl's Head Path

The summit path follows an extremely steep rock slide. There was lots of crawling and climbing involved. As we neared the summit we heard voices. After so many hours of just the two of us- stumbling across other people was different! By the time we ended our hike many hours later these would be the only other hikers we would come across.

Owl's Head slide Trail

Owl's Head slide Trail

Slide Trail

View while hiking up Owl's Head

View while hiking up Owl's Head

View hiking up Owl's Head

View while hiking up Owl's Head

The top of Owl's Head is like another world. The humidity, rain, and height made the summit extremely foggy and other wordly. Long pieces of moss hung from the trees. The top is littered with little side trails going this way and that, which makes finding the true summit difficult. And you'd better be shit sure you find the real summit given given the mileage of this hike.



We finally find the summit which is just a little pile of rocks. It felt amazing to reach this peak. The isolation was extremely exciting. I love feeling like I may be the only person for miles around. We fueled up, but soon discovered it wasn't all downhill from here.

Hiking on top of Owl's Head

Hiking on top of Owl's Head

We started climbing back down the slide, which on a good day would be difficult and on a bad day, well, it sucks. We took double the time to get down the mountain as another thunder and lightening storm pulled in. We reached the base and started hightailing it back. Criss-crossed four more river crossings and at the fifth I tried to make it without taking my boots off. I sat down on top of a rock in the middle of the river and yanked my boots off- unable to make it any further. Because it was raining heavily it was not fun taking off my ten layers of gaiters, boots, and double layered socks.

At around five miles left to our trip the heavens open up and a freakin' monsoon comes in. Well we really don't get monsoons up in New England, but if we did- I imagine it would look a bit like that. It poured and it poured and it poured. The trails soon became small streams with no escape routes. We trekked right through the middle and were rewarded with soaking wet boots, which soon became 10 pound weights.

We reached our car and did a little dance. Called a friend to let out our dog at home and stopped for some soup on our way back. It was the most amazing hike to date. I have never been so miserable yet had so much fun.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Hop in the Saddle Kickstarter



ummmm....yes...great kickstarter! Makes me want to visit Portland!

Rocks in the Water

Stumbled across this in a recent hike to Mount Whiteface...

Rocks in the water

Any thoughts on what it means? It actually is not facing southwest (my first thought)...

Hiking the 4,000 Footers: North and South Kinsman 8.4.2012

North and South Kinsman Out and Back
10 mi round trip, 3550 ft elevation gain
Lonesome Lake Trail, Cascade Brook Trail, Fishin Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail

I have soooo much to catch you'all up on. We are all the way up to number 26 on our list. We did some amazing, amazing peaks and some seriously long hikes. So I plan to be posting away the next week in an effort to get you caught up with us on our list.

Lonesome Lake

Lonesome Lake

We hiked on a super hot and humid day. Basically everyday we have hiked this summer has been upper 90s and humid. It's tough being primarily a weekend warrior. The weather you have on Saturdays and Sundays is basically the weather you have. You just have to deal.

Lonesome Lake

Lonesome Lake

One plus of being a weekend warrior is that is makes your work week fly by. All I think about all week is hiking. I start checking the weather the weekend before and watch it carefully all week. 

Lonesome Lake

Lonesome Lake

The trails were all in good condition. Crowded with weekenders hitting the Lonesome Lake Hut run by the AMC. It is an easy couple of miles to get up and around the Hut so many families make it a destination. The mountains were also pretty busy. Lots of couples filling their stay at the hut with day trips to the summits.

Lonesome Lake Hut

Lonesome Lake Hut

Both mountains are fairly steep with rocky sections. Nothing too serious. The summits are pretty with good views in many directions.

Hiking to the Kinsmans

Hiking to the Kinsmans

Summit of Kinsmans

Summit of Kinsmans

Summit of Kinsmans

Summit of Kinsmans

Our conversation was primarily consumed with our plans to hike Owl's Head soon. Owl's Head is often deemed a "death march" by fellow peak baggers. The mountain itself doesn't have any "officially maintained trails" meaning the little worn path is tough to find. Oh yeah did I mention it's 18 miles round trip and that it takes- around 8 miles just to get to the mountain? It's very isolated deep in the Pemigewasset Wilderness and it sounded fabulous we could not wait to get this climb in....