Tag: new hampshire

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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/.
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Adventure of the Week – Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

However you like to enjoy the outdoors, the national parks system has something for you. And, this Saturday, September 27, you can get in free for National Public Lands Day. Whether you’d like to bike the carriage roads at Acadia National Park, stroll around the grounds at the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, or enjoy any other activity at any national park, get out there and enjoy!

What’s your favorite national park? It’s probably not a surprise to most of you that mine is Acadia.

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm

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Adventure of the Week – Paddle Pisgah Reservoir

Pisgah State Park is the largest state park in New Hampshire located in the towns of Chesterfield, Hinsdale, and Winchester. The park has a lot to offer throughout the year: hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, wildlife viewing, and a little history. Within the park is the 110 acre Pisgah Reservoir. There is no direct car access to the reservoir so you may have the water to yourself if you are willing to work for it. You can drive in from Route 119 up Reservoir Road to a parking area. From there, carry your canoe or kayak up a couple switchbacks and along the trail to the shore (less than a half mile). Then set out to explore. There are several old foundations along the shore as well as one on a small island in the middle of the reservoir. I paddled here on a weekday morning and had the entire 110 acres to myself shared only with an otter. I didn’t see anyone else until I headed back to shore where a small group of school kids were on a field trip.
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Adventure of the Week – Bike the Sugar River Recreational Rail Trail

The Sugar River Rail Trail runs 9 miles from Newport, NH, to Claremont, NH, and passes through two railroad covered bridges. Start downtown historic Newport in the municipal parking lot. In less than a mile you are out of downtown and riding through rural areas. There are a couple fairly quiet road crossings on the first half of the trail and then you cross under route 11/103. Soon after, you come to the first of two taller than normal covered bridges designed for trains to pass through. The second bridge is less then a mile further down. The trail continues for a couple more miles into Claremont but it may be temporarily closed due to construction near the second bridge. Return the way you came for an 18 mile ride. The trail surface, in some areas, is softer dirt than many other trails making it best for bikes with wider tires. You can find a trial map at http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/bureau-of-trails/sugar-river-recreational-trail.aspx.
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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.