trips - White Mountains in Summer 2010

“I plan on taking 3-4 weeks to hike all of the AT In New Hampshire and a little over 100 miles in Maine. In my opinion, this is the best large chunk of the entire trail. Typical days will be about 10-13 miles, with a "zero" day in Gorham. The emphasis of the trip will be taking my time and soaking in all the scenic views, so to that end I intend to take lots of sidetrips, especially in the "Prezzies". I'm not staying in any of the AMC Huts. If anyone wants to go with me, contact me so we can work out shuttle details.

Scott
765-461-6500
scottfchr@aol.com
last edited: 6/02/09 10:00:55 AM”

“I was going to say I'd try to join you for some of it - but not sure if I want to hike with anyone crazy enough to put their phone number on the web (especially someone who posts on fuego!).

j/k - I've only done AT sections in New England, but I love almost all the stretch of the trail you plan on doing. I kind of lost interest in doing AT sections once I hit Massachusetts. (I'm not passing judgement on any section of the AT outside of New England, though a lot of people tell me the middle 1/3 isn't a lot of fun). I'm not ready to make any commitments for 2010, but pleae count me as interested in doing some of it.”

“I'll let you know.. I may have to teach summer school next year, and would be done in time...

'32oz”

“I'd love to Crash...oh wait...I have a job!!!”

“I'd be interested in hiking part of it. Definitely can't hike the whole thing with you. I can't get that much time off in one shot.”

“I'd love to Crash...oh wait...I have a job!!!

arent you way past retirement age yet, old man?”

“I wouldn't mind joining you for a 5-7 day section through the Whites? Maybe from the start point, and do 50-60 miles? You could use my car, for a food stash, and only need to carry 5-7 days worth, from the start, then resupply at my vehicle.”

“I've heard the whites are the best part. I'd like to see them. May join you for part of it.”

“That is one section I want to do again, but I have no clue if or when I will ever make it back up there.”

“where would you leave your car, nct?

right now the plan is to re-supply at warren, crawford notch, and gorham for new hampshire, but ill keep your offer in mind”

“I'd be happy to try to resupply you if I come up (or drive you to a resupply) - but I can't make any commitments about 2010 yet.”

““where would you leave your car, nct?

right now the plan is to re-supply at warren, crawford notch, and gorham for new hampshire, but ill keep your offer in mind”
crash bang
10:19:40 AM


Well, I'm not familiar with the area or trail at all. I was assuming that there might be a TH with parking 50-60 miles from the start point?”

“NCT - here is a great resource for locating AT trailheads:

http://rohland.homedns.org/at/at_menu.aspx”

“Well, I'm not familiar with the area or trail at all. I was assuming that there might be a TH with parking 50-60 miles from the start point?

oh. i thought you had some place particular in mind. i dont have my guidebook with me, but im thinking that would be somewhere around franconia notch, which is where the best stuff actually starts”

“Thanks Pedxing,

I guess it might be too difficult to actually meet up with you, when you consider that I would want to do the best 40-60? mile section Thru NH.
I'm guessing that this would be thru the Presidential Range.
It would take another person that would want to do the same hike as myself, with us pre- spotting a car.
Then trying to time meeting you as you arrived at one of your resupplies.
I'm guessing this would possibly be Gorham, or is Gorham after you pass thru the Presidential range?
Yes, I need to do more online research.
last edited: 6/03/09 5:50:21 PM”

“NCT there are other options besides a mutual car spot. There are hostels and other private people that will shuttle you pretty cheaply - sometimes for free if you stay in their shelter. The AMC also runs a shuttle around the presidentials. There are also routes where the hitching is pretty easy and safe.

This is the '09 AMC shuttle info. Its pretty much the same every year.

http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodging-shuttle.cfm

Its also possible that could help you out if I'm up there for a day hike.”

“Hey Crash - you goin NOBO or SOBO?”

“Sounds like the Whites might be somewhat of a crowded destination, which I loath.”

“Hitting the Presis on a weekend when the weather is nice is no fun if you hate crowds. Any 60 miles north of the presidentials would be great an d much less crowded. The Presidentials aren't bad on a weekday, except for the area right around Mount Washington - which is always a zoo when the weather is nice.”

“ped, im planning on nobo, but im not in love with that plan. i can go sobo if it helps somebody out

nct, we've got plenty of time to figure it out. the small hassle of logistics is worth it to have a companion on the trail. like ped said, there are lots of shuttle services all up and down the AT. and if it's remoteness youre looking for, i suggest starting at gorham and going north. youll get the best part of maine. much better than the over-rated 100 mile wilderness”

“I have no problem hiking north from Gorham, but can only swing a 40-50 mile AT section. I'm a flatlander, so I'm guessing 8-10 miles of this trips terrain will be all I can handle?
I'll take your word on the section from Gorham as being a choice section, then all I'll need to do is figure out, where I'll end or come out from, 40-50 miles north from Gorham.
If anyone else here wants to suggest a route through the Whites,( 40-50 mile AT section) please feel free to do so.”

“im planning on spending 2 days in gorham, so it should be easy to hook up

i believe theres a road crossing 50ish miles northbound of gorham. all that needs to be done is find a local shuttler. i suggest leaving your car at the endpoint, and having the shuttle drop you off in gorham. the plan is to leave hanover early july, and, if i stay on schedule, ill be in gorham by day 13, i believe”

“Only problem is.... I'd like to try and use the weekends for my drive, and Hike Sunday-Friday or Monday-Friday or Saturday. If needed, I could possibly take a couple additional days off too, Like Thurs& Fri, or Monday & Tues. (7 weekdays days total)”

“Here's my drive:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Canton&1z=48188&2c=Gorham&2s=NH

Not sure if this is the best drive route, but looks like a straight shot. I could get tied-up at customs though?

This route, might be better?
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Toledo&1s=OH&2c=Gorham&2s=NH
last edited: 6/04/09 5:14:43 PM”

“nct, once you know what days you have to work with, let me know and we'll make it work. i have lots of time and lots of flexibility. if you want to do that maine section out of gorham, youll want to take the 3rd week in july, as it will take me about 2 weeks to get there. we can meet in gorham on sunday, and be done thu or fri”

“�nct, once you know what days you have to work with, let me know and we'll make it work. i have lots of time and lots of flexibility. if you want to do that maine section out of gorham, youll want to take the 3rd week in july, as it will take me about 2 weeks to get there. we can meet in gorham on sunday, and be done thu or fri�
crash bang
6:01:39 AM
6/05/09

Cool, the only thing that now worries me, is the fact that the western Maine section, is considered one of the toughest sections of the AT. OR, did I not read this correctly? I guess, I'd better get in shape.”

“what do you mean by toughest? mahoosic notch is a b.. but i don't think the rest is really all that bad. it's all big rocks in that area however.”

“Mahoosic notch is fun if you don't think of it as a mile of hiking and try to keep up your pace. If you take it as sort of a natural jungle gym and enjoy it without worrying about your pace - it can be a blast

NOBO might work out for me. I put myself as a maybe, so I can be sure to keep this in mind when I'm ready to start planning summer '09. Being per diem and self employed in the summers, one big question will be can I afford the time off. My motivation might also depend on how this summer goes. If I don't get to the Norwich to Maine junction stretch of the AT this summer, it would be great to hike it and meet up with you in Norwich or Hanover or maybe just find you on the trail.”

“just don't over pack for it. ;)”

“I got this info from the ATC website

The western section is an area of extremely steep, 4,000-foot mountains, arguably the toughest part of the entire A.T. It includes the notorious mile-long boulder scramble of Mahoosuc Notch.

Sounds cool though, I like big boulders, as long as I can go around them?
last edited: 6/05/09 7:05:17 PM”

“under, over and around..”

“ped, this is for next year”

“if OT doesnt think the western part of maine is tough, i'd hate to see what he thinks IS tough”

“Crash, I know its next year. T

his year, I'm trying to hike Cohos trail from the Canadian Border to the end in the White Mountains. If I have time, I'll try keep on hiking going through the Pemi and south of the AT, catching the AT around Franconia notch and then following the AT to the LT.

Norwich to Maine junction is the one part of the AT in the northern 3 states I haven't done. If I don't get to it this year, I'd definitely want to get it next year - so I figure if I start at the Long Trail Inn before you start your hike (I did hike the AT from the Inn to get back to the LT once), I could meet up with you in New Hampshire and join you for a stretch.

Just talking, but I do like getting my mind out on the trail when I can't get my feet there.”

“Norwich to Maine junction is nothing special. kinda flat and unspectacular. still nice, but not great. its kinda the lull between the greens and the whites

cohos sounds interesting. whats it supposed to be like?”

“One reason why I've not done it yet, but it kind of stares at me from the map.

Much of the Cohos is supposed to be more remote than any part of the LT. It doesn't come to or close to any town with a population of over 900. It's new, so its still changing a lot year to year and there are not many huts or shelters on the trail.

In the Southern end, it does cross into the Whites, ending near where the AT comes down Webster Cliff.

http://www.cohostrail.org/part2.html”

“sweet!”

“Are there any sites that show mileages btwn. Trail-Heads and or major road crossings, etc?

Still not sure if I want to hike a section through the Pemi, Prezzies, or hike north from Gorham.
last edited: 6/09/09 4:58:14 PM”

“whiteblaze maybe? dunno

btw. i'm considering the prezzies (or part of) here, CB.”

“nct, if you cant find anything, i can just scan the necessary pages of my AT thru-hikers guidebook and email them to you”

“That would be great of you to do so, and thanks CB

mfog1@att.net

I like the idea of using the AMC shuttle service, but I'm not sure if they go into the area of Maine, where I would end, should I start at Gorham and end 40 miles into Maine?

I think it would be sweet to hike across Mt Washington even if it is a zoo.
With this in mind, I could finsh here, or drop down off of Mt Washington at the 1st TH at a spot where my car could be left and be picked up by an AMC shuttle.

So basically, I'd need to work out a shuttle ride with AMC, leaving my car somewhere not too far east or south of MT Washington, then have them drive me up to a TH, 40 "trail miles" west of this point.

Might be hard to hook-up with you in this way though,we would have to have a day and time set in stone for meeting at a certain TH.
last edited: 6/10/09 7:32:58 AM”

“I like the idea of using the AMC shuttle service, but I'm not sure if they go into the area of Maine

they probably do, but if not, it will be easy to find someone to shuttle you anywhere you want to go

the rest of your post is kinda confusing. are you wanting to do washington, then meet me afterwards?”

“i think you need to buy a map of the area (trails illustrated has a great map of the prezzies) and figure out what you want to do. ill send those pages to you sometime soon. if i forget, remind me”

“Crash's guidebook pages would do the trick. In the meantime...

This site has an AT data base that includes most of the road crossings. The towns are listed in black and the mileage is for the road crossing where the trail head would be.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trails/at.php

The parking info link I gave you before also has mileages between access points (not just road crossing but feeder trails).

http://rohland.homedns.org/at/at_menu.aspx



The main road crossing they don't list is about midway between Ethan Pond and Mizpah Spring Hut. There is some parking nearby and the AMC Highland center.

These maps also might help, even if they don't have mileage:

http://www.appalachiantrailservices.com/pics/map_me_full.gif

http://www.appalachiantrailservices.com/pics/map_vt_nh_full.gif
last edited: 6/10/09 8:07:06 AM”

“the mileages on the database are misleading. for example, it shows 15.4 miles from gorham to the next shelter north, which is gentian pond. that is technically true, but not as useful as actual trail mileage, since it is common practice to hitchhike or pay a shuttle to take you from town back to the AT. trail mileage from gorham to gentian pond is actually 11.8, plus 3.6 road-miles, to add up to 15.4
last edited: 6/10/09 8:16:03 AM”

“You have to sign up on white blaze, but if you click on this link, and then the AT Database link it will get you a pretty detail spreadsheet.. It hasn't been updated in a while, but most of the info is good..


http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=340867

'32oz”

“the rest of your post is kinda confusing. are you wanting to do washington, then meet me afterwards?�

Nope, I meant meeting you 30-40 trail miles before MT Washington, not sure yet how far north or where I would end past Mt Washington.
I know, I said, I wanted to avoid crowds, but to hike New England and not see MT Washington, just doesn't seem right?
BTW, this is my first time in New England, and as far east, as I've ever travled. Pittsburg PA, is as far east as I've travled to date.”

“

http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodging-shuttle.cfm”

“Yeah,

I'm thinking Webster Cliff to Pinkham Notch, Ive got 5-6 days to play with, and I'm not sure yet what the mileage is between these two points.”