At Four Thousand Feet

Last year on Presidents Day Weekend I (rather fittingly) hiked to the top of Mount Washington. This year it wasn’t meant to be. Three days of achingly grey and windy weather kept me well below treeline. There were few views to be had, and I have few stories to tell. Heck, I couldn’t even come up with an interesting title for this post.

A few pictures:

Perhaps Not Worth Your Time »

Finally, a short break! I’ll keep this succinct as I have many errands to run during this brief reprise from hiking, but the past eight days have been just marvelous. Although I’ve not been half as aggressive as I was during my Thanksgiving vacation, I still managed to bag 18 peaks (14 for winter 2009/2010):

• 12/19 – North and South Kinsman
• 12/20 – Hale and Waumbek
• 12/21 – Cabot
• 12/22 – Middle Carter, South Carter, Carter Dome, and Wildcat A
• 12/23 – Wildcat D
• 12/24 – Garfield and Lafayette
• 12/25 – Washington, Monroe, Eisenhower, and Pierce
• 12/26 – Whiteface and Passaconaway

Here’s a glimpse of some of my favorite photos from the week (full album here – well worth checking out). Now, onto week two of my vacation!

More Pictures Behind the Cut »

I’ve finally sorted through the pictures from my Thanksgiving vacation. What strikes me the most about this particular set of images is the wonderfully apparent transitioning of the seasons. Since my previous post on the topic shamefully did not admit the mountains that I climbed, here’s a brief synopsis:

• 11/21 – North Twin, South Twin, Galehead, and Garfield
• 11/22 – North and South Hancock
• 11/23 – Lafayette, Lincoln, Liberty, and Flume
• 11/24 – Tom, Field, and Willey
• 11/25 – Zealand, West Bond, Bond, and Bondcliff
• 11/26 – Pierce, Eisenhower, and Jackson
• 11/27 – Waumbek
• 11/28 – Moriah
• 11/29 – East Osceola, Osceola, and Tecumseh

It certainly was a week of milestones for me. Not only did I reach my halfway point – and my 300th peak! – on the grid, but also ended November with a total of 44 4,000 footers climbed.

Below are a handful of my favorite images. The entire gallery may be viewed here…

June was a dreary, awful, rainy month here in New Hampshire – but fortunately I did not let the weather get the better of my hiking plans. Since moving to my own place about six weeks ago, I’ve become increasingly focused on improving my endurance. Much to my delight, the long hours on the treadmill and outside on the trails finally seem to be paying off. As muddy and wet as this summer has been, I’ve actually been able to pull off several loops/traverses that I’ve had on my mind for quite a while now:

Counterclockwise Pemi Loop and West Bond

Date: June 13th, 2009
Distance: 32.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 9,500 feet
Trails Used: Wilderness, Bondcliff, West Bond Spur, Twinway, Garfield Ridge, Franconia Ridge, Osseo

Kilkenny Ridge Traverse

Date: July 3rd, 2009
Distance: ~25 miles
Elevation Gain: Unknown
Trails Used: Starr King, Kilkenny Ridge

Presidential Traverse

Date: July 5th, 2009
Distance: 21.7 miles
Elevation Gain: ~8,800 feet
Trails Used: Valley Way, Osgood, Star Lake, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Eisenhower Loop, Webster Cliff, Webster-Jackson

Wildcats Ridge, Carter Range, Moriah and Shelburne Moriah Traverse

Date: July 12th, 2009
Distance: ~23 miles
Elevation Gain: (Need to calculate)
Trails Used: Wildcat Ridge, Carter-Moriah, Kenduskeag, Rattle River

I hope to attempt another Pemi Loop this weekend (clockwise, and including Galehead this time around). I’m also in the midst of planning a 24 Hour Hut Traverse for late August.

Now, if only the rain would go away…