Autumn is by far my favorite time of year. The cool mornings, warm afternoons, crisp air, and all the amazing colors of the leaves changing. The changing foliage makes every hike, bike ride, or drive a whole new experience each day. Peak color arrives at slightly different times each year but typically within a two week period. We’re just about hiking peak right now in the Monadnock Region. However you like to enjoy the outdoors, get out there and experience it anew this weekend. Revisit your favorite hike. Find a rail trail to walk or bike on. Bike some quiet country roads. Go apple picking. Take a driving tour of all the covered bridges in the area. All the experiences are even more pleasant at this time of year.
Tag: hiking
Adventure of the Week – Hike a 4000 footer
New Hampshire has 48 mountains with elevations over 4000 feet with Mt. Washington coming in at 6,288 feet. Hiking up to 4000 feet is nothing compared to hiking at over 8,000 feet or higher in the Rockies, it’s no stroll in the park either. Some of the hikes are very grueling and require serious preparations. It’s quite an accomplishment to climb all 48. You get to join the Appalachian Mountain Club Four Thousand Footer Club as a high school classmate did recently.
As much time as my wife and I have spent hiking in New Hampshire, we had not climbed any of the 4000 footers until this past September. And that was almost by accident. We hadn’t woken up planning to hike a 4000 footer that day. We were in the White Mountains for a week of hiking and biking. Over breakfast our first morning, we were looking at trail guides. We found some fairly easy hikes near Twin Mountain but I wanted a bit more of a challenge. We saw Mt. Hale (4054′) on the map in that area. After reading up on it, we determined it was within our capabilities and the weather would be appropriate.
Mt. Hale is the 37th highest peak in New Hampshire and one of the easier hikes among the 4000 footers. We started at the upper parking lot on Zealand Road off Rt. 302. The trail progressed steadily uphill with few distant views even at the summit. The best views are a couple hundred yards below the summit.
When we arrived at the top around 11:30 AM, a hiker and his friends were celebrating his 48th 4000 footer. It didn’t take us long to feel the comradery. Everyone we met at the top or passed along the way asked what number you were up to and were very encouraging when we said it was our first.
If you are not used to long strenuous hikes and the potential for changing weather conditions, hiking New Hampshire’s 4000 footers is not for you. But if you like a big adventure, get out there this weekend and start collecting 4000 footers.
Learn more about the AMC 4000 footer club at http://www.amc4000footer.org/.
Adventure of the Week – Hike Mount Monadnock
Mount Monadnock literally defines southwestern New Hampshire (aka the Monadnock Region). It is said to be one of the most climbed mountains in the world. I have climbed it at least a dozen times ranging from early spring through autumn on a variety of its many trails including the morning of my wedding which was held in view of the mountain. The White Arrow Trail is the easiest route up the mountain going past the site of the former Halfway House hotel. Even that trail gets a little tough near the top. The longest trail is said to be the Pumpelly Trail at over 4 miles one way. My favorite route is one I found on a local activities brochure at Eastern Mountain Sports (whose headquarters is 15 miles north) when I first moved to the area 20 years ago. Start at the Old Toll Road parking area. Half way to the Halfway House site, turn right onto Parker Trail to Cliff Walk which brings you to Bald Rock, a lower peak. From here, you’ll have a good view of the summit and the surrounding valley. Take the Smith Connecting Link to the White Cross Trail and follow that to the summit. Take some time to rest and take in the spectacular 360 degree views of mountains, lakes, farms, villages, and, on a clear day, the skyscrapers of Boston. Return to the parking lot by way of the White Arrow Trail. Plan for 5 to 6 hours taking this route. While you can reach the summit and return to your car in under two hours by a more direct route, this route is more peaceful giving you a better sense of what Henry David Thoreau might have experienced when he climbed the mountain in the mid-1800s.
Adventure of the Week – Hike the Stowe Pinnacle Trail
The Stowe, Vermont, area is another place we try to get to a couple times a year. There are adventures to be had in every season. In the summer and fall, the Stowe Pinnacle Trail offers some great views of the Green Mountains including Camel’s Hump, Mt. Mansfield, and the village. This is a short but tough trail taking a couple hours to get up and back down the 2.8 mile trail. When you are huffing and puffing just know you have some incredible views waiting for you at the top. If you like covered bridges, be sure to check out the Gold Brook Covered Bridge just off Stowe Hollow Road on (what else) Covered Bridge Road after your hike.