Hiking the NH 48 Wrap Up #3

Hiking up Adams about to turn right for an extended boulder crawl. You can just see the road up Mount Washington straight ahead.

Things have truly been hectic at church.  However, I am enjoying looking back at old hikes as I plan new ones for the future.  Truthfully, the way things are going it may be a while before I head up north again.  Of course, the mountains will be there...and I will bring snowshoes!

As with the previous hikes, some of these hikes have longer posts, which I have linked in the descriptions...

Mount Cabot #26
Longer Post

We combined this hike with a trip along the ridge to The Bulge and The Horn.  The Horn resides on the 52 With-A-View (52WAV) list, but there was no view to be had.  By that time the clouds had rolled in and the rest of the hike veered between misty and rainy.  We did have this one good view heading up.  The longer post tells the tale.

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Looking down the cog rail on Mount Washington

Monroe and Washington  #27 & #28
Longer Post

This trip combined one of my favorite mountains--Monroe--with one of my least favorite...Washington.  This has nothing to do with the relative ease of the climb.  Honestly, while Washington is indeed the tallest.  It isn't much taller than its neighbors.  All the Presidents are big piles of slag. The longer post tells a bit about why I would climb Monroe again...and just look at Washington from there.  This trip helped me refine what I like and don't like about hiking.

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​Carter Dome #29
Longer Post

This hike was tough!  There isn't much more to say that isn't in the longer post.  That said, I would do it again.  I might decide to climb up the Rainbow Trail, however as it became one of my favorites. The longer post has the details.

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​Middle Carter and South Carter #30 & #31
Longer Post

We climbed this one on a day where it was fall at the bottom and winter at the top!  What a great trip.  If you are planning a hike on a three day weekend in the fall in NH, this may be the right one for you.  All the tourists are heading to the Presidential and Franconia ranges. Do both yourself and the folks at Search and Rescue a favor and climb the Carters.  They are plenty.

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Group selfie on the top of Adams. That is Madison behind my head.

​Madison and Adams #32 & #33

This was the hardest hike we did in the Whites.  I have tried to write about it before but just haven't been able to grasp its weight.  Adams is the second tallest mountain on the 48 list and Madison is the fifth tallest.  For comparison, Washington is first, Jefferson is third, and Monroe is fourth.  All of these are pretty much the same height if you are climbing them.  They all hurt, too.

What I do remember is a massive amount of exertion. I had been climbing every day that week--mostly 52WAV mountains--so I was in good shape, but also a bit tired.  That said it was beautiful and I enjoyed the time spent in nature with my brother Dan and my wife Allison.  I would do this again, but only climb one peak per trip.

A few things happened on this hike that are worth mentioning.  First, we were given stern warning at the base of the trail.  This is an unreasonably difficult hike for its level of popularity.  The rangers know this and want to make sure that the people going up know what they are doing.  After that we encountered an entire dog-and-pony show of an influencer, her friends, and some poor guy who actually had to take the pictures.  I think they thought we should know who they were...but we were too old.  They were a bit much, so we got ahead of them as quickly as possible at one of their many stops.

Finally, on the way down the mountain we passed a number of people who should have listened more closely to the rangers.  They were struggling mightily. It was a good reminder that sometimes we think more highly of our abilities than we should.  Humility is a must in the White Mountains.

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Looking toward the cliff of Mount Cannon from Lafayette.

Lincoln and Lafayette #34 & #35

Mount Monadnock--on the 52 WAV list--may be the second most climbed mountain in the world (after Mt. Fuji) but I have to say that these two peaks have to be up there as well.  They bookend a fabulous section of Franconia Ridge that features breathtaking views all around.  As with Mount Washington, though, I found it too crowded for my taste.  This may be why I did not write a longer post for this hike.  I am glad I did it.  However, there are mountains I would rather climb.

The climb up Lincoln was typical New England.  There we very few switchbacks, just a steep incline that got steeper with time.  The hike goes over Little Haystack--"little" is a misnomer--then up to Lincoln.  The views were indeed spectacular and there were certainly plenty of folks to share them with.  Then came the walk across the ridge to Lafayette, hitting a couple smaller peaks on the way.  The way down was less direct than the way up, presenting a number of different views forward and back before finally dipping into the trees.  I think if I could have found a day just as pleasant with fewer people I would have been more into it.  However, I don't think such a day exists.

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On Mount Webster looking back toward Mount Jackson

Jackson #36
Longer Post
So right after putting down what is many people's favorite hike, I want to share my favorite with you.  At least this was my favorite hike on the NH 48 list!  I did run into some horrific weather and almost slid right off the peak.  I would do it again, though. After Jackson I went over to Mount Webster (another 52WAV).  I would love to replicate this whole day sometime.  The longer post here covers it, I think.

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