Start/End: Pinkham Notch Visitor Center

Peaks: N/A

Elevation Gain: 2,405 ft

RT Mileage: 6.69 mi

Duration: 5 hours, 8 minutes

Rock Difficulty: Class 1

Snow/Ice Difficulty: Grade I

Last year, on May 23, I hiked to Hermit Lake during a late-season snowstorm and was treated to a winter wonderland. This year, when a nearly identical snowstorm showed up on the models exactly one week later, I had to run it back. This time, I hiked all the way to the base of Tuckerman Ravine, where, somehow, I haven't been in over two years. Read more...

Start/End: Rt. 4

Peaks: Saddleback (4,120'), The Horn (4,023')

Elevation Gain: 4,160 ft

RT Mileage: 15.17 mi

Duration: 9 hours, 39 minutes

Rock Difficulty: Class 1

For my first hike after coming back home for the summer, I decided to bag the next two closest Maine 4,000-footers after Old Speck (which I did last month), the Saddlebacks. I chose to ascend the AT all the way from Route 4 instead of taking the Saddleback ski trails up to the ridge for a longer but gentler and more scenic hike. Read more...