N.H. White Mountain 4000 footers

“All these years I thought I had done all but a handful. It is the result of hiking from age 5 with my parents, and relying on their memories of what we did as a family, what they did individually, what I did as a backpacking counselor, and what I have done since.


Anyhoo . . .I finally got my father to sit down and focus on it with me. Turns out I am not just missing 6 or 7 . .but 16!!! My mother offered that since I have done soe of them a dozen or more times that it should count . . .hmmmmm not quite.


Anyhoo again. Next post.”

“so that means you've done, what...32? you're a real disappointment, Lee.
;-D”

“I am going to head up to NH when the snow clears and solo as many as I can get in three days.

I will stay in Lincoln/North Woodstock and do lightweight dayhikes.

Has anyone done any these? And can you give me an abbriviated trip report/evaluation?

I will be looking to get in and out as a DAYHIKE.

1. The Kinsman Ridge. Specifically Cannon, North Kinsman and SOuth Kinsman


2. Owl's head


3. BondCliff, the bonds and Guyout.

4. Isolation

5. The Carters


The rest are obvious, easy dayhikes: Techemansus (sp??!!), Starr King, Cabot and Waumbek, East Peak Osceleoa.”

“Lee, my wife and I finished our 48 last October and attended the awards ceremony in NH on April 12th. In retrospect, I have to say that it was an extremely enjoyable three-year endeavor and well worth the effort. We didn't do it for the recognition, but simple as a challenge to ourselves. I quit smoking after 30+ years, and it was a way to remain focused on staying smoke free.

Although you could do the mountains that you list as day hikes, the Bonds (Bond, Bondcliff, West Bond)(Guyot is not an official 4,000 footer) are more enjoyable as an overnight trip. Even though we have "officially" finished the list, our hiking of the 48 is not over.

If you ever need a hiking partner, feel free to e-mail me for my wife and I are always looking to hook up with someone. A friend of ours needs the Carters, Bonds, Tripyramid and a few others to complete his list so give us a holler is you want to join us.”

“I will try an answer your original question:

I did Cannon and the Kinsmans as separate hikes, but they can be done as a long day hike. Start from the Tram parking lot and hike Cannon and then head over to the Kinsmans via the Kinsman Ridge Trail. After you summit South Kinsman, just retrace your route.

Although Owl's Head is long on paper (18 miles) it is not a bad hike. It's flat all the way until you reach the slide. Once you reach the top of the slide, head to your left for a hundred yards or so to reach the summit. There is a small sign attached to a tree.

If you want to do the Bonds as a day hike, come in from the Lincoln Woods Trail rather than from the Zealand Hut side since you will have less elevation to cover before hitting the Bonds.

The ideal way to do Isolation is to go in via the Glen Bolder Trail and out via the Rocky Branch Trail. I, however, went in and out the Glen Bolder Trail and it was a nice hike.

My wife and I did the Wildcats and Carters as an overnight trip. If you do the Carters as a day trip, go in via the 19-mile Trail to the Hut. Hike Carter Dome to North Carter (if the weather is nice hike Mt. Hight) and backtrack as hitting North Carter and hike out the North Carter Trail. You can take the southern section of the Imp Trail and bushwhack back to the 19-mile Trail to avoid a car spot. If you look at a map you will see where the Imp Trail dips south before heading northwest. At that dip you can bushwhack to the 19-mile trail without much difficulty.

Tecumseh, Osceola, and East Osceola are all easy day hikes.”

“Madriver --
Thanks. I appreciate your perspective.

Right now I am sifting through the peaks I need to get, the 2 1/2 days I have available . . .my level of fitness (!), a central location to stay etc.

I figure that from CT, after kissing the wife and kids goodbye in the morning, I can be in Lincoln in about 4 hours (depending on morning traffic through Hartford, Worcester and RT 495 (I should be after peak rush hour).

Grab a quick lunch and then bang off Tecumseh.

The next day I was figuring on Owls Head. Mostly because the guy I usually hike with has no interest, and if I was going to be by myself, it would be a good time to do it. He needs to see ridglines and views. Has no interest in an 18 mile roundtrip with a wooded summit!

However . . .If I do the Cannon and Kinsmans on day two then I can get 3 peaks instead of 1.

I figure on day 3 I can get up early and hike East Osceola from the Greeley Pnd side (or just do both from the other side). (I have already done Osceola itself, but we didn't go on to East Peak).


I am not usually in such a "peakbagging" frame of mind. I have wandered up and down and over these mountains all my life. This trip, however, has a different sort of goal. I have been frustrated in not getting out all winter, I realized I have 16 peaks left (not 6), and I need to exorcise some demons.

I figured tiring myself out in the mountains wood be a good diversion.”

“I also live in CT and after a few years of doing the 84-90-290-495-3-93 route I switch to a straight 91 to White River Junction and take 89-4-118-93. I find it to be less of a hassle traffic wise.

When you say you are looking for a central location to stay, do you mean camping or staying in a motel? If you are camping, you are more than welcome to camp on some land we have along route 49 going towards Waterville Valley. It is just bare land with no amenities, but you are more than welcome to use it. AmyG, pedxing, and Sirpete have all camped there and they survived. If you are interested, I will e-mail you the directions.”

“Lee: I answered your post last night - but my internet access porogram crashed and I had to reload it before I could post. I hope it's still helpful:

I've done a bunch of those. East peak Osceola is best accessed from the Kanc (via Greeley pond)... but if you blink you might miss it. I did it in the winter on the way to the main peak (which has beautiful views) and there was nothing much to see (going from the other end is longer, but the Main peak is wonderful).

The Bonds are a pretty big day hike - but it is one of the most wonderful hikes around... (Guyot ain't on the official list, btw)

Owls head is a long haul... you might consider going out the Lincoln Woods trail and dropping gear or setting up camp where the Lincoln Brook trail and Wilderness trail split. Then you could hit Owl Head, come back to camp (or pick up your gear and make some headway up Wilderness towards the Bonds) and have a head start on your day hike of the Bonds. This way you get a bag night and a little backpacking and save yourself from having to repeat the mileage). If the weather is better the first day, do the Bonds first - the views from the Bonds are spectacular. There ain't much view from Owl Head.

Isolation is a nice hike... you get some isolation... (I went via Rocky Branch trail) it's a lot more fun to do in combo with other peaks... but hey, I guess you are out for some efficient peak bagging.

Tecumseh is pretty darn easy.

Cannon and the Kinsman's would make a nice and reasonably hefty day hike.

In case you don't have it, here is a link to Mohamed Elozy's peak bagging guide has a great page devoted to the http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/nh4ks.html" target="_blank"> 4k peaks in NH For your purposes, you might want to use his http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/difficulty.html" target="_blank"> guide to the relative difficulty of peak bagging trips

MadRiver recently got his official acknowledgement for doing all 48 peaks. ”

“Lee, I'm not sure what dates you are looking to do your three-day adventure, but pedxing post gave me a thought. In late June my wife, sister, a friend and I are camping at 13 falls. The following day my wife and sister will hike back to their car and head back to CT. My friend and I are heading over to Guyot for the night and exploring the Bonds (he needs them). The next day we are heading over to Garfield for the night and then hike back to our car the next day via the Franconia Ridge.

If these dates work out you could hit Owl's head on the way into 13 falls and then camp for the night. The next day you could hike with us to Guyot and spent the night. The next day you could hike out over the Bonds and back to your car at the Lincoln Woods trailhead. Or you could hike with us over to the Bonds and hike out the same day. It's a short day from 13 falls to Guyot so you could easily do all the Bonds on the second day. It's just a thought.”

“I'm gonna haf to get my maps out tonight!!!

I will log in from home, with maps in hand and review these posts.


Mad --

I am not sure of my dates at this point.

My wife has agreed to this boondoggle in principal (she knows I am going stir crazy), but would prefer that I do it efficiently, in the middle of the week. That is, while school is still in session, and the kids are in school for the day . . .so that I am still around on the weekend to help tackle them.


The only date criteria I have for now is: After the snow melts and the streams come down.

I was literally going to keep an eye on the three day forecasts and head up when I thought I had a decent piece of mid-week fair weather.

Ped --

I looked at the Owl's Head/?Bond combo when I had my maps out. I envisioned this as a really lightweight fast hike project . . .but . . .the whole WLderness trail into that area is pretty darn flat. And if I was staying out, I wouldn't have to worry about the full 18 miles in one day.

Again . . .I will have to look at my maps.

Thank you both for the good input! Just the kind of stuff I was looking for!!”

“Ped --

Thanks for the site link. I have since his name often on the "Views from the Top" site, and in AMC mag, but had never checked out his site.

A lot of good information.\


I could spend the rest of the afternoon there! I did read the "3 Bonds in a Day" piece, and will read it again!”

“MadRiver --

Forgive me for being so involved in my own planning that I neglected to offer the obvious congratulations on YOUR accomplishment!!!!

I took a look at maps last night.


I think this is how it will shake out.

Day 1: Drive up. Climb Tecumseh. Have beer at Truant Tavern or the equivalent. Probably find a motel with a hot tub at which to crash.

Mad . . .thanks for your very generous offer to tent on your property. I think I will opt for the motel route to 1) get a comfortable nights sleep 2)avoid the hassle of set up, take down etc I very well may change my mind though!!

Day 2: either Kinsman Ridge to include N. Kinsman, S. Kinsman and Cannon OR The 3 Bonds from the Zealand side, (to include Zealand). I have climbed Zealand, back in 1981 on a hut traverse with my parents, but it never hurts to climb something again!)

Day 3: Oseola and East Peak O. . . .if I am up for it. and drive home.

The bonds vs. Kinsman decision maybe a weather related one at the last minute. If its so-so I may do the Kinsmans . . .if it is nice with clear views, I would head for the Bonds.

Now I just need to wait for the snow melt and protect the open 3 day blocks for time on mycalendar!”

“How could you Lee????!!!! The Madman and I both voted against doing the Bonds from the Zealand side. You were out voted, yet you insist on hiking your own hike. Are you letting some notion about enjoying a visit to Zealand influence your decision???? Peak bagging is serious business - how dare you ignore pragmatics and good advice!?

Actually, it sounds like a fun plan - enjoy!”

“Sounds like a plan, even thought you totally ignored our advice (lol). Since it's mud season, you shouldn't have any problems finding a motel that's reasonable. I'm half tempted to join you on the Bonds trip and do it as a traverse. Unfortunately, I would need some prior notice of the date before making a commitment.”

“so much for carefull reading (or your suggestions) . .


Re: Zealand approach to Bonds. I was thinking in terms of book times and distances . . .after reading Mohamememdmmed's evaluation (thanks again for the great link).

The RIGHT thing to do would be YOUR suggestion Ped. Go into Lincoln Woods. Throw my backpack into the bushes, bag Owl's Head and then camp on the approach to the Bonds. Get the Bonds, and then come back out.

Problem is twofold:

1. I am lazy. I am looking for efficiency and it takes so damn long to set up camp, cook etc. I seems like I need a two hour lead time to get on the trail in the morning. A cold breakfast might work . . .but what about my coffee!! And I would still have to breakdown camp and hide it in the woods before assaulting the Bonds.

You, of course, can logically argue that the time spent setting up camp, and breaking it down and fixing breakfast are a good investment because of the time saved in and out from the Kanc.


Hmmmmmmmmm


Oh

reason 2

which I am somewhat ashamed to admit on a backpacking board:


I haven't owed a decent tent in years.

My buddy is gear junky. In the 14 years we have been hiking together he has bought three tents. Because I have only gone out with him . . .there has been no need for me to provide shelter.


Here's and idea Ped.

If it is good weather . . . I could do the Bonds from the Kanc . . .come down, head towards Owls head . . . and have a cold dinner and curl up in my emergency blanket. Have a cold breakfast, eat instant cofee granules, bag Owl's head, and come back out.

hmmmmm. Lightweight. I wouldn't want to carry the stuff I would need to keep warm in this scenario though. . . .

I suppose I could stash a sleeping bag and extra clothes in the woods.

Hmmmm......”

“Lee - I was just teasin'. Your the one thats gonna hike it - you might as well plan it to please yourself.

Of course you could borrow your friends tent and you could check out the "stoveless" thread on the AMC's gear board.

BTW... I charge double for free advice when its ignored (triple when its not ignored, but cast aside anyway).”

“Another vote for the I91-89-4-Tenny Mountain Hwy-93 route. It's a mucn nicer ride and you never get any of those 84-495 stop dead for no apparent reason traffic things.

I did the Cannon, N & S Kinsman as a day hike last fall. It wasn't planned though, I got rained out of Flume Slide/Liberty and started out to do Cannon to fill in the day while I waited out the weather. The Kinsmans just kind of happened when I got to Lonesome lake and realized I had plenty of time.
I did get the Flume slide in the next day but I'd do that again any time someone wants to go.The Tripyramids and Osceolas are also on my list for as soon as I can get up there.”

“Pepsi/Madriver

Thanks both for the route suggestion


I have been using the Route 91 up to Lake Fairlee. Crossing the CT river in to Orford NH and heading over rts 25 to 118 to 112.

Mostly on holiday weekends to avoid what I know would be disasters on the MA pike.

Otherwse I do use 84-290-495-3-93.

I will haul out my maps (road this time) and take a look at 91-89-??? - ??? to 3/93

Thanks!


I think that that road route is pretty close to what I will be using this summer to get to the AMC lodge at Mt. Cardigan. My wife, kids and I are spending 4 nights there in July.


Ped --


Yup. I tell you what . . .as a head shrinker you will appreciate this . . .I am getting a huge amount of entertainment value out of the debate raging in my head over all my options.

A strong (probably the strongest) contender in the debates is the "unreal expectations/fantasy voice".

Its current arguement . . ."you can do the Bonds from the Kanc, cache your sleeping bag and extra food in a logical spot, come back down, get them, and continue on to Owls Head with any remaining daylight, maybe even bag Owls head that night and sleep on top, run out the next morning (heck its only 9 flat miles)and bag another peak that afternoon!!"

The realists voice is more like: "if you make it back to the damn sleeping bag//food cache at all, and can find it inthe damn dark at midnight and/or remember where you stowed it in your exhausted haze, you'll be damn luck if a bear or other varmit hasn't shredded the whole mess and left it exposed to what enevitably will be a downpour. And if the damn bear hasn't shredded it, and you do find it, you won't be able to get it out of the tree where you've stowed it, and will shiver the night away huddled on a rock, get up the next moring, hike out in disgust and drive home."

Other voices are voting for beer and burgers, a motel with a hot tub and maybe a massage service (no, not THAT kind of massage).”

“If you really need a massage, go see Joanne at the Wise Wellness Clinic in Thornton. She is located about a half mile from the Town Hall in Thornton. I highly recommend her.

I inadvertently forgot to include route 25 in my travel route. It is I91-89 (get off exit 17)-4-118-25-93. Although I've never hiked Cardigan, I do believe it is off route 118. There is a speedway at the corner of the road that leads to the mountain. Even though 118 is a rural road, there are plenty of places to pass slower cars. I do that route so often that I don't even think about it any more.

Besides, you get to go by Rudder's Party Ponies. Sorry, I just find that sign amusing.”

“Cool!!!

Mad --


That may be the most critical piece of information your imparted yet!!!”

“I just ran a mapquest on Wise Wellness cnt

Its about ten miles from lincoln .. . ..

A man, a plan, a weekend hiking boondoggle!”

“We are not sheduled to head north until the weekend of May 17th when we are taking a trail maintenance course from the AMC. I might have to lobby wifey for an adjustment in our schedule since I hate being trapped in CT with no hiking plans on the horizon.

You will enjoy Joanne, she is a very sweet lady.”

“I went out for an hour and a half run at lunch today (its just beautiful out)and the various interlocking scenarios for this trip played out in my head as I ran.

Fun way to entertain myself.


off to see clients and then home for the weekend.


Again . . .Thanks to you both for your input.


Tentative dates seem to be gelling in the week before Memorial day. If not then, possibly late the week of meml day. Have to see how schedule and weather shake out.”

“Mad River, where in CT are you trapped? I am right near the town of Essex CT.”

“LOL Lee!

How come you don't have a voice telling you to just go to thedogteam.com and do three days days of Cave Dog's peak bagging route in the Whites.
http://www.thedogteam.com/Whites-Web_Pages/Whites_48/Whites-index-frame.html" target="_blank"> Cave Dog
You'll have to click to get the times and daily log.”

“Right now I'm trapped at work at Quinnipiac University. I live just down the road in Cheshire. It is supposed to rain tomorrow, so it looks like another weekend of no hiking.”

“Here is a trivia question for your. When we attended the awards dinner in April, there we three dogs (no not less than attractive women) who received their certificate for the NH 4,000. Why can't these dogs ever receive the certificate for the New England or Northeast 4,000?

I'm sure Twigeater already knows the answer.”

“I know the answer, but don't want to spoil it for anyone else. ;-)”

“I know, I know!”

“Me too... I know.”

“hint: they don't want to promote "civil (or is it uncivil?) disobedience"”

“Is is because dogs can't set a good belay?”

“does at least part of the answer lie in the area around the Ausable Club private lands in the ADK high Peaks region??


The other reason would be Percival.”

“Alright the thread has been dropping for almost a day... it's cuzz dogs aren't allowed in BSP and you can't complete the list without getting into BSP. If they gave acknowledgment to dogs - they would ve rewarding people for violating park regulations (or lying!).”

“Actually, a seeing eye dog would be eligible.”

“You are correct pedxing.

Interesting point Twigeater. Do they actually let in seeing eye dogs?”

“I guess my point regarding the ADK isn't particularly relevant if all of the high peaks are accessible via non-private dog access trails . .. .I was thinking in terms of the use restrictions on the land owned by the Ausable club etc.”

“Interesting point Twiggy - I remember that a blind man did do the AT.”

“You can bring a dog if it's an assistance dog, but that's a recent change.
Was Orient allowed in the park with Bill Irwin?

I've been in northern Baxter during bird hunting season and people have been flown in with their hunting dogs. That's illegal and BSP (Buzz) knows about it, but doesn't do anything about it (that I know of anyway). I've also seen people hike in from Abol Bridge with their dogs.

Violation of the rules are a violation of the law, punishable by fines and imprisonment.
law
People are fined, usually $50.”

“service dogs must be admitted to any facility that is required to be handicap accessible.”

“Yeah well, there's a long standing "disagreement" between BSP and the ADA about accessibility. The nice big handicap outhouses were only added in the last few years.”

“Some of the accessibility battles over wilderness areas are pretty funny. For example... handicapped access thousands on some of the high remote huts on the AT in the White Mountains. I just can't see someone making it up miles of difficult trail and 1000s of feet of elevation gain and then being thrown off by 1/2 dozen steps.”

“I am planning on being in NH monday afternoon.

Techehemeushsh Monday.

Dinner at Woodstock inn. Sleep ???? wherever I can get a good rate.


Tuesday. up at 4:30/5:00. Diner breakfast on trail by 6:00am.


Ped's basic idea:


3 Bonds in a day.
Cache a sleeping bag at the junction of the Wilderness trail and Franconia Brook. Pick it up late in the afternoon, heade toward Owls head. Cold Camp (no tent no stove)somewhere between Franconia brook and Owl's head summit.

Get Owl's head Wed morning. Hike out.


We'll see!!!!!!!


Will report on Thursday.

Get the”

“Kewl... Have a great time!
I hope the weather outlook stays good. I'm hoping to get in a day in the Whites too (maybe Carrigain, which I've never done) to get ready for Baxter the next w/e.”