I grew up in New Hampshire and the White Mountains are such a good playground for stuff like this. Big network of trails, all kinds of terrain. Four very different seasons, lots of weather.
Basically anything you want to find in mountains, you can find in the Whites. Ice climbing, mountaineering, multi-pitch trad climbing, bushwhacking, easy trails, empty trails, whatever. I was very lucky to be able to hike there.
I love big stupid stuff like this. I didn't realize Ski the Whites has rebranded into White Mountain Ski co. Everyone shits on little 'ol new england, but the presidential range will chew you up as anyone who has thru hikes the AT will tell you. Suffering gives life meaning; go do hard stuff.
I had friends up (Greens) in midish July and we were talking about taking the trip over to the Shire to do Mt. Washington the following day or two... until we checked the summit forecast: temps in the 30s and wind chills around 15F. Instead, we drank some beers did some chores and did the much easier Camel's Hump!
For those of us not into imperial units: that last day is 96km distance and 6km altitude gain. The previous days are a little easier but not by much. Wild!
Went up and down Washington as a group of 20 somethings. Boy were we suffering on the way down. At one point below the treeline as we are crawling down, these two guys catch up to us; they looked like they were in their 60s. Grey hair, thin as twigs. They whooshed past us literally hopping rock-to-rock. That one little moment had a lifelong impact on me ever after as I though how nice it would be to be able to do the same at that kind of age.
I grew up in New Hampshire and the White Mountains are such a good playground for stuff like this. Big network of trails, all kinds of terrain. Four very different seasons, lots of weather.
Basically anything you want to find in mountains, you can find in the Whites. Ice climbing, mountaineering, multi-pitch trad climbing, bushwhacking, easy trails, empty trails, whatever. I was very lucky to be able to hike there.
Theres a really good interview with this guy on Singletrack, too: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Fjq9n2tNcXibfK6tWF5XO
Monster effort.
I love big stupid stuff like this. I didn't realize Ski the Whites has rebranded into White Mountain Ski co. Everyone shits on little 'ol new england, but the presidential range will chew you up as anyone who has thru hikes the AT will tell you. Suffering gives life meaning; go do hard stuff.
Worst weather in the world!
I had friends up (Greens) in midish July and we were talking about taking the trip over to the Shire to do Mt. Washington the following day or two... until we checked the summit forecast: temps in the 30s and wind chills around 15F. Instead, we drank some beers did some chores and did the much easier Camel's Hump!
That sounds more pleasant. I think I remember seeing frost or maybe some light snow up there around then.
For those of us not into imperial units: that last day is 96km distance and 6km altitude gain. The previous days are a little easier but not by much. Wild!
I walked all of that but not in one trip! Boy my knees hurt on the descents.
Went up and down Washington as a group of 20 somethings. Boy were we suffering on the way down. At one point below the treeline as we are crawling down, these two guys catch up to us; they looked like they were in their 60s. Grey hair, thin as twigs. They whooshed past us literally hopping rock-to-rock. That one little moment had a lifelong impact on me ever after as I though how nice it would be to be able to do the same at that kind of age.
viewer discretion advised, that foot image should be banned