hi everyone! debating whether I want to try potash mountain next, but I heard the slabs are steep (I haven’t done a ton of hikes that have many slabs). So far I’ve done Willard, Middle Sugarloaf, Black Mountain Benton (via black mountain trail), Stinson, Bald Peak, and Mt. Pemigewasset (plus other hikes to ponds and other trails). I have the guidebooks but sometimes it‘s hard to tell exactly how steep something is (I thought the steep section on iron mountain was steep but not the steep part leading to the hut at Zealand falls). Thank you!

Hi! I'm planning to do a 2 night backpacking trip this weekend with the long weekend. With Pemi Loop (and Semi Pemi) closed, I'm wondering what other hikes would be good. We're thinking Easy day 1 and day 3 with day 2 being a big push. Thinking around 20 miles would be good (5, 10, 5). We'd like to stay at shelters/tentsites (we have a tent just not a bear cannister). Any recommendations?

I took my boy, Tucker, for his longest hike to date. He did fantastic! He was energetic, enthusiastic, and listened perfectly to all of the commands we have been learning. I couldn’t be more impressed with how his day went. He was on leash when necessary and let off where possible. He’s done many hikes with me before, but this was his first that was this rocky. His paws did get roughed up a bit, but after a day of rest he was back to normal. Lesson learned and a tail of caution to fellow hikers with dogs- buy boots for your furry friends as they cannot advocate for themselves. Paw pads and nails will take a bit of a beating even if they have built up calluses to protect them. Safe and happy trails all!

Minus a massive life change that has been extremely difficult, going into the mountains has really helped and this month I put on over 61 miles and 24,000' of elevation gain. Completed 5 hikes for 8 summits to cross off the NH48 as well as a few that made it into the second round.

Hikes I completed:

North Kinsman - 8/02/2026

South Kinsman - 8/02/2026

Mt. Passaconaway - 8/11/2026

Mt. Madison - 8/15/2026

Mt. Adams - 8/15/2026

Mt. Eisenhower - 8/22/2026 - Tagged Monroe, Pierce and Jackson for my second time

Wildcat Peak A - 8/29/2026

Wildcat Peak D - 8/29/2026

Is there a specific group that manages maintenance for those boards at the start of trailheads? There is a large swastika spray-painted on the board at the start of Crawford Path (the one right by the road, not the connector), and I'm not sure how to get it removed.

Hi everyone, has anyone been to the garfield ridge shelter recently that could comment on the state of the bear box at the garfield ridge shelter and campsite. Should I bring a back up in case it's unsuable?

My body hurt and it took nearly 12 hours but we DID do it and we DID get back before dark.

Those were the only two goals

8/29

Looking for best trails to hike from Conway to outside of Lincoln for this coming weekend. I’ve done the basic ones like Flume Gorge, Basin etc. Willard is too far out of the way for our schedule so now I’m looking for something without crazy rock scrambling, extremely steep elevations

Went up early Saturday morning and grabbed the Kinsman’s. Beautiful day for hiking, finally checked out Lonesome Lake which was beautiful. Was planning to finish my Franconia notch and grab flume/liberty Sunday but due to a sore knee decided to grab East Osceola since earlier this year I had to bail at the main Osceola due to snow/raining starting. Overall very happy with the hikes!

Have an inReach Mini 2 which isn't that old.

Generally speaking it works fine for my purposes (sending tracking updates to family, haven't had to use SOS) but it definitely struggles to get messages out under tree cover which seems to go on and on for some hikes.

The inReach Mini 3 is out and, at least on paper, it seems like it could have some benefits. My question is if anyone has some actual miles out there on an inReach Mini 3 and can share experience with it - even better if you had a 2 before!

Thank you!

Doing a Presidential Traverse in a few weeks. It's going to be 2 days, question is if it should be 3. Here are the details:

Got a space at the Madison Springs Hut so going there first day and probably leave pack at the hut and go and grad Madison. Steep but doable. 3.3 miles, +3526' is what Caltopo is showing (via airline).

My question is should I go from Madison Springs Hut back to Highland on day 2, which works out to about 14 miles or so +4303', -7190' or should I grab a bunk at Lake of the Clouds, stay the night and then finish on day 3.

I understand that some people do the entire traverse in a day - that's not me, at least not yet. I can do 15+ mile days in the Whites but that total descent (not ascent) has me concerned on Day 2. That's a lot of down. Welcoming any practical thoughts for those that have done this before if this is more a concern on paper or a real life consideration.

Thank you for your help.

Typo in the title, should be 8/30. It was a great day out there. Weather was good overall (a little cloudy and light rain a bit later) and had a good view at the summit, as promised (which is 100% stunning 360*)

* The road walk is not unpleasant but definitely is annoying at the end of the hike. The blow out in the road is in one place but it's tough to envision that a repair is coming anytime soon.

* As advertised, the first bit of the actual hike is pretty benign then there's some decent climbing. The exposed ridge is really neat and the fire tower looks REALLY far away but it's not really that bad.

Until the next one...

We just did Camel’s Hump in VT and loved it (great variety of trail, beautiful summit, not a grueling all-day hike). What would people recommend for a similar vibe in the Whites?

The view from North Twin was incredible. That outlook is one of my favorites so far! Started the hike at 6:30am and barely made it down the Twinway before the rain started.

23/48

My dog loves the whites, and he has done most of the 48s. But he is now hecka old. I'd like to still take him up there to see some of his friends and hike a bit, but with Lincoln Woods closed, a hike out to Lonesome Lake is really the only other thing I can think of.

What are some good old doggo hikes on the Western/Fraconia side?

finished the franconia ridge today for the first time :) ended up being 8.77 miles, about 4,100ft in elevation gain, 4 hr 47 min activity time (5hr 37 elapsed)!! unfortunately it was a bit rainy, but i’d do it again on a clearer day for the views (and maybe to beat my time!)

got to trailhead around 9am and the parking lot still had a few spots open. it was full by the time i got back.

Looking for recommendations for a 9-12 mile hike in Franconia notch state park. Open to something difficult. Really want pretty views and hopefully a waterfall. Never been there before and would appreciate some help from someone who has. Going to be an early September trip.

Is echo lake near Franconia loop generally good for swimming?

Completed my 48 today on Mount Carrigain and it was just so beautiful to see so many other folks completing theirs. In the hour I was on the fire tower I think 4 other folks were there completing their 48, and it was great to celebrate with everyone, and a great way to spend my birthday. Love this community! Congratulations to everyone!

I’m planning a 3 night loop around Baldface/Carter-Moriah next week, and wondering whether it’s OK to stay at the closed Wild River Campground. I’ve heard it’s OK, but also that it’s strictly forbidden with a $5000 fine, which seems ridiculous. Any insight or ideas about decent stealth camping along the old road or Highwater Trail?

Firstly, let me say I had stunning weather for this trip. The projection said rain for Friday, but instead it was sunny and dry, albeit a little foggy in the morning. Without further ado, the trail report:

Friday
I arrived at Ferncroft around 7:30 am and was off like a shot. I was going to take the Blueberry Ledge cutoff, but I remember about a mile in that I had left some important things (e.g., rescue inhaler) in the car, so I had to turn around. The second time around, I started up the normal Blueberry Ledge trail, thinking it would be easier. Well, that was wrong. I found it steeper and more taxing than the trail from Carter Hut to Wildcat. By the time I reached the intersection with Tom Wiley's trail, my legs already felt like lead. I was starting to think I was in over my head. After all, it had been a few years since I hiked with a full overnight pack. But, good scout that I am, I pressed on.

Then came the "terrifying 25" part of Blueberry Ledge. I rounded the corner and saw a familiar sight (I had looked up pictures of the trail before doing it). An older man with a day pack was standing at the bottom of the ledge, looking none too pleased. Together we managed to scale the rock face, which is much steeper than it looks in photos. Somehow, we made it to the top without dying.

From there we booked it for Whiteface (I forgot that my legs hurt, since I was now on a "hiker's high") only to find the most disappointing peak in the WMNF. But oh well. At least I had Passaconaway to look forward to.

My new friend and I ventured past the Dicey's Mill intersection until we came across a tiny stream burbling across the path. To the left rose the trail to Passaconaway and a spur trail leading to Camp Rich. We ascended Passaconaway (another steep rise) then proceeded down the much-too-long trail to the view. Let me say, the view was stunning. I could see The Prezis, Franconia, and the Wildcats all stretched before me. This was 100x better than the view from Franconia. I munched on some tortillas and granola bars for lunch, then bid by new friend adieu (he was doing a day hike), and started for Camp Rich.

I pitched my tent, filtered some water at the tiny stream, and made myself dinner (stovetop stuffing and salami--dinner of champions). By this point, it was only 3pm. So I decided to adventure some. I decided to check out Square Ledge. I was less than a mile down that trail before I realized that I was descending far more than I'd like to. My legs were already beat, and now I had to climb several hundred feed back to camp. Around 4pm I stumbled back into camp, put my food in a BV450 (which I brought to practice for my planned Pemi Loop next Summer) and stashed it in the woods, watched some guy show up and fail to pitch a tent before vanishing, and climbed into my tent for an early bedtime.

Saturday

I slept poorly, but I slept. The wind howled pretty badly for a while there, and I found myself listening for animals sounds (you can tell I'm out of the backpacking mentality). I woke around 2am and realized, "hey I've been sleeping for nine hours. Am I going to sleep for four more?" No, I decided, I would not. So I put on my headlamp, broke down my sleeping arrangements, and went to retrieve my BV 450. It was not where I left it.

Let me tell you, if at 2am, you've ever tried to find a medium-sized blue box that some bear has played whack-a-mole with across the woods, you know what I felt then. It took a few minutes, but I found it wedged under a fallen tree about ten feet from where I left it. It was sealed and everything inside intact. So it worked, I guess!

At 2:30 I started for Dicey's Mill. The hike out was easy. I sang some songs to myself and to any bears that wanted to listen (though they probably won't want to hear Latin Eucharistic hymns for a while--hey, I was alone in the woods; I can sing what I want).

I flew down the trail. I was back at Ferncroft Parking by 3:50am, ready to drive to the nearest Dunkin.

Overall, it was an amazing trip. I got some nice night hiking in, and I checked off two four-thousand footers from my list. Next up is the Crawford region in September.