White Mountains Backpacking

“Every summer my friend and I do a backpacking trip somewhere in the world. This summer, do to budget, were heading to the White Mountains, new hampshire. Were going for 4 days and 3 nights. And we plan on camping trailside or in the most remote campgrounds possible. What is the best loop/trail/travel guide that i should get to make my trip awesome. Were both in excellent shape and want to do the "ultimate" white mountains hike. Any ideas? Also, any websites to go to for information in this area would be excellent, i checked out the AMC guide but its mostly day hikes and doesnt contain information about the caliber of backpacking that we want to enjoy. Thanks alot, i look forward to responses.”

“The Pemi Loop is a great trip, and is abou tthe right lenght for 3 nights.”

“Websites:

http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/
great forums, trail conditions

http://www.outdoors.org/
AMC website, with forums ("Bulletin Boards") and lots of info, including on trailhead shuttles

http://forums.alpinezone.com/
good forum and info

There are also some great private websites:

http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/whites/

http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/

http://home.comcast.net/~garyt1/”

“The White Mountain Guide Book is here:

http://www.lattaoutdoors.com/shop/hgn028.html

If I was doing only one 4 day backpack, I'd either do something that took me through the Presidential Range or do a Pemi-loop. The Presidential range has the highest and most famous peaks and you can include areas that aren't as over-used as the Presidentials themselves.

The Pemi is probably the best trip. One version of the loop which includes the spectacular and well traveled Franconia Ridge is:

Pemi Loop #1 (Franconia-Garfield Ridges, Twinway, Bonds), Lincoln

Directions: From Lincoln Woods, up Wilderness Tr. 1.5 mi, then East up Osseo Trail to Flume Summit. Proceed N following Franconia Ridge, then Garfield Ridge Trails to Galehead Hut. Follow Twinway to Guyot. The section from Lafayette Peak to Guyot follows the AT. Proceed S on the Bondcliff Trail, passing Bonds (do W. Bond), and traversing Bondcliff. Descend to the Wilderness Trail 5 miles from Lincoln Woods, and enjoy the fine flat running to the car.

Trail Information: 32.5 miles and 9,200 ft of gain. This is a rigorous trip, but extremely scenic, varied, and fun.Good weather really is advisable.”

“ The Libery Springs tent site is on Mt. Lincoln - you'd have to go down hill a bit to get to it - it would make a reasonable first night's stop. Second night could be the Garfield Ridge Campsite (but there are decent trailside sites along the trail once you get off the ridge). Third night might be somewhere after Bondcliff.”

“One of my favorites is the Pemi loop. In at Lincoln Woods, with 4 days and all the side trips you could catch about 13 4000 ft peaks and some of the best views in the Whites, including sunsets at Liberty or Liberty Springs and West Bond and sunrise at Guyot and others.

But...some of this, especially on a weekend, may not be as remote as you are looking for although I have gone all day without seeing anyone during parts of this, the peak at Lafayette is not one of those parts.

Maybe something in the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness? Are you looking for peaks and a view or just hiking?”

“Wow, answer the phone in the middle of a post and..”

“One more thing. Here are the current regulations that apply to where you can and can't camp:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white/recreation/land_above/backcountry_rules.html”

“pepsi! did you get my email?”

“Thanks for askin this question, I'm hoping to do a trip up there this October :) Except a shorter one... Any 2-3 day recommendations??”

“BC you're coming east?!”

“BC - In October, I'd skip the Northern Presidentials - unless you feel comfortable with winter conditions. You can get nasty snow storms in October on Washington.

A pemi-loop might still be worth doing. You could do one like the one I described, but at a faster pace - or you could do a modified version: Lincoln Woods trail to Wilderness trail to Bondcliff trail - over the Bonds and Guyot to the Twinway trail - then a steep descent (I forget the trail name) to Ethan Pond trail and back to the wilderness trail via Thoreau Falls trail. I did this loop as a two nighter and loved it.

An easier return from Mt. Guyot would be via the twin brook trail. People rave about the 13 Falls Campsite which you could stay at on the way back. I've never stayed there, so this is just second ahnd info.

You might want to buy the DeLorme map for the White Mountains... its probably the cheapest trip planning aid (it was 5 bucks for the map with trail descriptions on the back)

If you don't mind paying shipping, you can get one at http://www.travelguidewarehouse.com/rec/TG272868.htm”

“BTW: For anyone heading up I-93 to the White Mountains, at exit 14 there is an LL Bean outlet store and an EMS at strip malls across the street from each other. The LL Bean can have some great deals - undamaged returns, close outs, etc. Both stores carry maps and gear. There are also 2 supermarkets and places to eat (including a Boston Market) - so its not a bad rest stop.

Here's the link for the LL Bean outlet (with directions):

http://www.llbean.com/shop/factoryStores/map_concord.html#map”

“Lumberzac, yep, I'm comin east... My sister and brother-in-law are moving to Boston next month and of course my best friend is there so I figured this fall would be as good as time as any to see the New England colors I've been dying to see :)”

“I really want to see NH again this October. That Pemi loop sounds great and doesn't duplicate much of what I did in 2000 when I was up there.”

“How many miles/elevation gain on that modified Pemi Loop Pedxing? My best friend is a beginner BP'er...”

“The route I mentioned is 30.9 miles. The trail I forgot the name of was Zeacliff trail. About 16 miles of the trail are really flat. Total elevation gain is probably in the 4,500 - 5,000 ft. range.

The other route I mentioned would be about 25 miles with a similar (close to 5K foot gain, but less) elevation gain.”

“Thanks for the info, Pedxing :)”

“pedxing in the ll bean and ems at the outlet mall? i was up there last year and we took an exit off i-93 into a town wit a large outlet mall area. ll bean stores can have some really good deals.i'll be up ther 9/5 to 9/18.
any suggestions on rivers to canoe?”

“93 will never be same without the Old Man. :o(

Gotta love that Pemi loop you pointed out, Ped. Dang, I want to do that.”

“Pennsy - so what are your plans for October???”

“Will NH change thier Quarter since the Old Man of the Mountain is gone?”

“Fritz - 2 Adirondack trips, and possibly 1 at Mt Mitchell (NC) but I can't seem to find that trip itinerary.

That's a chance Artex might plan a White's trip in Sept though.”

“Cyndeee - I think you are thinking of the outlets up in Tilton, which is North of Concord and the LLBean outlet. I used to shop at the Tilton outlets frequently, back when I lived in NH.
The nice thing about the LL Bean outlet is that its about one minute from the I-93 exit.

BTW: I was there yesterday. They had the DeLorme maps, and they had lots of great deals on Gregory backpacks and some cold weather Mountain Hardear bags (the banshee, and a couple others).”

“Planning on crossing through NH from St. Johnsbury VT to Bethel, ME. We are looking for a short one night loop or maybe a two nighter. Any suggestions?”

“How soon?
What is your apetite for exposed ridges?
Will you be taking snow shoes? Crampons?
Want safety? Solitude?
Do you want shelters? Huts? Tent sites?”

“We would be coming through mid-June. Not too big on exposed ridges, have a small fear of heights. Don't think we need snow gear in June? Looking for something intermediate, set off in the afternoon, tent site at night, head back or loop the next morning. Something scenic.”

“In mid-June you would almost certainly not need snow or ice gear for an intermediate backpack. Some snow and ice can linger into July in a few shaded and Northerly spots at high elevations. Do be wary of the black flies!

A few options: Hike up Liberty Springs Trail (off I-93) to stay at Liberty Springs (ten platforms with a great spring nearby) and then hike the Franconia Ridge to Mt. Lafayette and back the next day. You can stay the second night at the Springs, or you can come all the way back that night. You have the option of a side trip to Liberty and Flume peaks.

Another is a Trypyramid loop. Here is a trip report (with names of trails) that I did for a trip in late May: http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/14536,-1.php

Here's a trip report from an easier/lower elevation trip (there are a lot of options on this trip):

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/14526,-1.php
You can also expand the trip by heading out to Black Mountain Pond.

Be sure to get a guide or some maps. The AMC White Mountain guide is great. The Delorme Trail Map and Guide tot he White Mountain National Forest is a cheaper substitute for trip planning.

For some trips (like the Sandwich Mtns, you'll need to pay a WMNF parking fee - 3 bucks a day, I think - or 25 for a year long permit).”

“Also, consider the Hancocks - you could camp off of cedar brook trail.

You can almost always find an up to date report of trail conditions on the trail you are planning on at http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/trail/index.html”

“I think we are going to do the Sandwich Range. Do you have good directions from Groton Park, VT? Thanks so much for the help, I will be sure to get a guide and a map!”