Start/End: Pinkham Notch Visitor Center

Peaks: "Boott Spur" (5,492')

Elevation Gain: 5,125 ft

RT Mileage: 15.04 mi

Duration: 12 hours, 21 minutes

Rock Difficulty: Class 2+

Perhaps the view that struck me most during my Presi Traverse, and there were many contenders, was peering into the expanse of the Great Gulf from its upper rim on the northwest shoulder of Washington. For my next hike, I decided to check the Great Gulf Trail off my bucket list and get a more intimate perspective of the Gulf from its floor and particularly from the headwall scramble up to the rim, checking off another Terrifying 25 route in the process. Since the Great Gulf suspension bridge is still closed, I would hike into the Gulf using Old Jackson Road from Pinkham to bypass the closed bridge, and this would allow me to descend back to Pinkham using the Boott Spur Trail, my favorite trail on Mount Washington, instead of having to retrace my steps down the headwall. Read more...

Start: Appalachia Trailhead, Rt. 2

End: Crawford Notch, Rt. 302

Peaks: Madison (5,367'), Adams (5,774'), Jefferson, (5,712'), Washington (6,288'), Monroe (5,384'), Eisenhower (4,780'), Pierce (4,310')

Elevation Gain/Loss: 9,665 ft / 9,220 ft

Point-to-Point Mileage: 24.03 mi

Duration: 21 hours, 0 minutes (+1 day)

Rock Difficulty: Class 1

Backpacking a Presidential Traverse has been on my bucket list for years. Last summer was going to be the summer until my left ACL had other ideas. Heading into the week after the 4th, two multi-day weather windows became visible on the horizon before a wetter pattern looked to take shape by mid-month. One was a perfect weather window beginning Saturday the 11th and lasting through the end of the weekend. The other would begin Wednesday the 8th and last only until Thursday afternoon before being cut short by thunderstorms. Prioritizing solitude over safety, I chose the latter for my attempt on the traverse. Read more...

Start/End: Lowe's Store, Rt. 2

Peaks: N/A

Elevation Gain: 4,305 ft

RT Mileage: 11.66 mi

Duration: 12 hours, 37 minutes

Rock Difficulty: Class 2

Last year, one day shy of the 250th anniversary of Lexington & Concord, I flew the American flag on Adams. 63 weeks later, one day shy of the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, I did the same one mountain over on the only remaining snowfield in the 13 original colonies. Read more...