who can talk abt White Mts in NH

“I'd like to chat with folks who know the region. I am planing a BP next fall, after the kids are back in college. We are reading the AMC guide and I would be looking for reoute critism and to ask about camp sites or huts.

The current plan:
- fly in logan, local aquantence takes us to trailhead, returns to get us.
- between mid september - early october '06
- from Franconia, up the ridge, twinway ... to Crawfords Notch --> Crawford's Path, then up the AT trails to pick up some of the presidents via Gulfside, to Madison hut.

Then down into either the Appalacia parking lot or into the town of Gorham to meet our ride.

Anybody know the area, can talk about weather in Sept / Oct, favorite sites, wordst sites, how about crowds, the town of Gorhap, stuff like that there?

Wannatrecker”

“There are a number of us here who have spent time in the Whites.

A few quick thoughts.
The basic route sounds nice. I'm not sure what trail you want to use to get up to Franconia Ridge. You could just follow the AT. I'm also not sure what pace you plan on following. There are some decent shelters and tent sites along the way.

By October weather on the Presidential Ridge gets pretty unpredictable. You should be braced for cold stormy weather.

On a nice day, especially a weekend day you can count on crowds at Mt. Lafayette and around Mt. Washington.

Gorham is a decent town. It has hostels, motels and places to eat and get supplies. There are hostels that provide shuttle service and there is a shuttle service from some trail heads run by the AMC.
The huts are expensive. Many of the tent and shelter sites provide fees.

You might want to explore websites like
viewsfromthetop.com, amcoutdoors.org and alpinezone.com for more info. The AMC site has information about the huts, the hiker shuttle and the shelters and tents.

Two guys from this site did something close to your trip in the reverse direction (I started out with them):

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/10021,-1.php

I covered a similar stretch as part of my southbound backpacking trip on the New Hampshire AT. The report is here: http://forums.alpinezone.com/viewtopic.php?t=558&highlight=grafton

Feel free to post more details of your planning and maybe your gear list for further feedback.
last edited: 1/14/06 3:45:06 PM”

“i went thru the whites on the AT in august and had absolutely perfect weather, but september/october is going to be pushing it, i imagine.”

“I can't really comment on your planned route as I've only hiked in the Whites twice, but can say that the weather in September and October at higher elevations in the Northeast can be very unpredictable. It could be 70*F and sunny or it could be snow and ice or even both on the same day. The best you can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

“One good site for info is www.amcoutdoors.com - look around and you'll find info on weather conditions and much more.

If you have above tree line experience, I'd say go ahead if you are comfortable but be prepared to change your route if weather conditions look bad (you can ask for info and advice at the huts if open). Be sure you are fully prepared with adequate insulation that will work if wet, emergency shelter, foul weather gear, three layers of protection from the elements, etc.”

“The White Mountains in October can be not only unpredictable, but deadly! Nearly every year, it seems, somebody dies up there who was planning to be gone just a weekend or even a day, so just be sure you can handle some extremes if you are going up high.”

“if you have the money. And don't mind sleeping with ear plugs in . .


A traverse using the AMC hut system is a nice option. It would be along the route you are discussing.

The Greenleaf hut on Lafayette. To Galehead, Zealand, Mizpah, Lakes and Madison.

They are a comfortable days hike apart. through some of the most spectacular terrrain in the Whites.

They are +/- $65/night. If you get an AMC membership there is a discount. With the number of nights you would be staying it may be worth the price of the membership to get the discount.

The benefits are the weight savings in terms of tent or shelter, breakfast and dinner food, sleeping bag.

The disadvantages are that it is not "true" backpacking (whatever that is), and that the sleeping arrangments range from 4-6 person bunkrooms to 25 person bunk rooms. There is ALWAYS a snorer.

One nice spectacular advantage is that on Mt. Washington . .there is no other way to spend the night on the ridge at elevation. There is no tenting, shelters or platforms.

There is the "dungeon" under the hut where they sometimes take in tenters.”