trips - White Mountains in Summer 2010

“that's not that far. 26mi+/-
last edited: 6/10/09 5:31:01 PM”

“If you start from I-93 (just below Liberty Springs) and go to Pinkham Notch that will take you across the Presidentials and across Franconia Ridge which is pretty nice, too. The distance is 53 miles. If you are running a bit behind schedule you can come straight down from Washington and skip almost ten miles, there are other options past Washington to shave a few miles on the return trip.”

““If you start from I-93 (just below Liberty Springs) and go to Pinkham Notch that will take you across the Presidentials and across Franconia Ridge which is pretty nice, too. The distance is 53 miles. If you are running a bit behind schedule you can come straight down from Washington and skip almost ten miles, there are other options past Washington to shave a few miles on the return trip.”
pedxing
7:10:58 PM
6/10/09

I like the idea of this section, but would this be a butt kicker, hiking this section in 5-6 days?
I would probably take the short-cut down off of Mt Washington, as I would have a 15 hr drive home, back to Michigan.

OK Crash, see if you can swing meeting me at Liberty Springs on a Sunday or Monday (morning) I would then need to hit Mt Washington, by Friday evening,or early Saturday afternoon. Basically, I'd want to be on the road for home, sometime on Saturday(early evening)
last edited: 6/10/09 7:10:20 PM”

“yeah, but you'd miss the No. prezzies.. hmm

LC - PN is what i am thinking too.”

“yeah, but you'd miss the No. prezzies.. hmm

LC - PN is what i am thinking too.�
offtrack
9:24:59 PM
6/10/09


=?

I have no clue to what I'd be missing in the No. prezzies?

I would like high, exposed, long term ridge walking though?

Maybe we could do a car shuttle together?
last edited: 6/11/09 5:43:26 AM”

“I have no clue to what I'd be missing in the No. prezzies?
ncthiker
8:46:23 AM
6/11/09
ignore this user

It looks something like this.

”

“I-93 to Pinkham Notch sounds very enticing.”

“ok, i havent read the last several posts, so maybe this is useless to say now, but franconia notch to mt washington is exactly 40 miles. you could either end your hike there (there is a road and a train to the summit) or go on to the next road crossing at pinkham notch 13 miles away.

ok, now im going to read the rest of the comments”

“OK Crash, see if you can swing meeting me at Liberty Springs on a Sunday or Monday (morning) I would then need to hit Mt Washington, by Friday evening,or early Saturday afternoon.

liberty springs is one of my planned stops, so it would be simple to meet you there. be ready for one BICH of a climb up. 1000'/mile elevation gains are common in the whites, and this is one of the tough ones.

if we were to meet on sunday night, we will be making it to washington by thursday morning, and pinkham notch by friday morning/afternoon.

i really dont want to go any slower, because that would require taking more food. unfortuneatly, this stretch is where i have the least flexibility.

for most of the AT, i tell people you really only need to be in decent shape. but for this section, you need to be in good shape.”

“Hmmm, I need to dig out my guide books”

“if you want to do liberty spring to washington (or pinkham notch), day 1 is a long day (14 miles), but outside of a short steep climb at the start and end of the day, is a lot of rewarding ridgeline walking above treeline. there are options to shorten day 1 if necessary, especially since day 2 is so much easier.

day 2 is a shorter day (12 miles), mostly downhill. think of it as a recovery day.

day 3 is even shorter (10 and a half miles), with a big up at the start, then lots of excellent ridgewalking

day 4 starts with a big up to washington, then some nice ridge-walking, finishing with a knee-crushing descent to camp total day is 10 miles, but it is a tough 10

day 5 is 4 miles downhill to pinkham notch

basically, if you can survive the 1st day, youre golden”

“Weather concerns me more than the terrain.


Pedxing, how many of the NH 48 are accessible from this route?
last edited: 6/11/09 8:23:43 AM”

“liberty springs is one of my planned stops, so it would be simple to meet you there. be ready for one BICH of a climb up. 1000'/mile elevation gains are common in the whites, and this is one of the tough ones.

if we were to meet on sunday night, we will be making it to washington by thursday morning, and pinkham notch by friday morning/afternoon.

i really dont want to go any slower, because that would require taking more food. unfortuneatly, this stretch is where i have the least flexibility.

for most of the AT, i tell people you really only need to be in decent shape. but for this section, you need to be in good shape.�
crash bang
9:08:51 AM
6/11/09

I like this plan, as of right now we can go with it, unless you think there might be a better 5 day section, before Liberty Springs?
I will make sure I'm in good shape as well.
Getting a guide book, maps, etc. will help me decide better, and might make me change my mind again too?”

“BTW you can preview the National Geographic maps here:
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/gateway/681/246.html”

“unless you think there might be a better 5 day section, before Liberty Springs?

the trail before liberty springs is easier, but not as scenic.”

“I meant to ask? Do I need to obtain permits for BC camp-site's for this section, or is dispersed campimg allowed?
last edited: 6/11/09 8:48:58 AM”

“i'll be hitching a ride to re-supply at the start of day 3. you can go with me, or just go on ahead and we'll meet later”

“no permits are needed, but there are fees at some of the sites (liberty spring is $8, guyot is probably about the same)

dispersed camping is allowed except where noted. there are a bunch of picky-ass rules, but i'd say as long as youre out of sight and earshot of huts, established campsites, roads, etc, youre fine”

“=?

I have no clue to what I'd be missing in the No. prezzies?

I would like high, exposed, long term ridge walking though?

Maybe we could do a car shuttle together?
last edited: 6/11/09 6:43:26 AM”
ncthiker
6:46:23 AM
6/11/09

http://rohland.homedns.org/at/at_NHsection3/ATPictures.aspx”

“Zac: How many depends on how accessible. When I did that section. I count 14 4K peaks with only very minor detours. Detours of a mile or less would get you a couple more. When I did the NH AT I hit half the peaks on the list with detours well under than a mile round trip - there was at least one more in pretty easy reach.

NCT: I think you can do it in 5 - 6 days. When I did the New Hampshire AT, I covered a bit more than that section in 5 days (Carter Notch Hut to Liberty Springs) and anyone who has hiked with me can tell you I'm not particularly fast. I was 46 when I did it. Some thru-hikers do it much faster - but they are pretty trail hardened by the time they hit the Whites.

If you do the whole AT section I described, you will get the Northern Presidentials - its just that you have the option of being able to cut off almost a day of hiking if you are running short on time. You will lose some or all of the Northern Presidentials if you blue blaze it to Pinkham notch.”

“i'll be hitching a ride to re-supply at the start of day 3. you can go with me, or just go on ahead and we'll meet later�
crash bang
9:58:29 AM
6/11/09

? So Liberty Springs is only 3 days east/north from where your starting out from? Resupply after only 3 days out?”

“I'm glad I'm not the only one who can take 'simple' trips and plan them to death..

Yesterday I'm at Fridays and all of a sudden I get the 'hummm, what if i hike it north to south'.. and of course I can't just let that thought sit there, so I go out to my car, grab my computer, go back into the bar and sit there replanning a trip that I thought that I was done planning 3 weeks ago...

I'm drawing roads, and trail heads, and mileages on napkins, trying to figure out shuttle options etc etc...

Is any one else lke this, or can I attribute this to my OCD, ADHD conditions...

'32oz
last edited: 6/11/09 11:22:11 AM”

“lol.. i was going to ask CB if he was considering hiking it N-S.


to me, it's also way too early to make super solid plans.. who knows what the year will bring.
last edited: 6/11/09 11:49:24 AM”

“Hey, isn't this what TT is all about, even if it is a year early.”

“So Liberty Springs is only 3 days east/north from where your starting out from? Resupply after only 3 days out?�

im re-supplying at glencliff, which is day 4 for me, then again at crawford notch, 5 days and a wake-up later. when i see you at liberty springs, thatll be day 7 for me
last edited: 6/11/09 12:52:37 PM”

“Crash, I must have missed it. Where are you starting and ending?”

“hanover to stratton”

“if i start on july 5th, that would put me at liberty springs sunday, july 11th. shall we set that as a tentative time to meet up?”

“btw, this is without a doubt the most scenic 50-ish-mile stretch of trail. good choice”

“when do you think you'll be crossing us302?”

“I've been wanting to get back to the Whites since my Pressi attempt in '05.”

“also, i recommend bringing a free-standing tent if you can. the ground is very rocky in many places, and some of the tentsites at the established sites are raised platforms that you cant put a stake in”

“the morning of day 10
last edited: 6/11/09 1:25:59 PM”

““when do you think you'll be crossing us302?”
offtrack
4:28:34 PM
6/11/09

Based on Crash's start day and itinerary, I'd say end of July 13 beginning of July 14.
last edited: 6/11/09 1:26:49 PM”

“yea, the morn of the 14th. the plan is to camp within a half-mile of the road the night of the 13th, somewhere near arethusa falls
last edited: 6/11/09 1:41:47 PM”

““if i start on july 5th, that would put me at liberty springs sunday, july 11th. shall we set that as a tentative time to meet up?”
crash bang
2:16:16 PM
6/11/09

Ok, tentative at Liberty Springs on Sunday July 11th. I'll leave my car at Pinkham Notch and take a shuttle or do a car spot, with any others that might want to to the same section too.


also, i recommend bringing a free-standing tent if you can. the ground is very rocky in many places, and some of the tentsites at the established sites are raised platforms that you cant put a stake in”
crash bang
2:29:03 PM
6/11/09

Good to know, I probably would have brought a tarp. Looks like I'll be packing a little heavier than usual then. Although, you can easily secure a tarp, "if" you have enough rocks of the appropriate size?
last edited: 6/11/09 2:03:18 PM”

“i think i saw earlier on the thread my friend stomper from ky is thinking about doing that section, too”

“i went thru the whites with my henry shires, and only 1 night was i not able to put up my tent. it was a beautiful, clear night, so i just cowboy-camped. however, we wont be staying at the same sites as last time”

“nah, you can do just fine with a tarp.. it just would be hard with a non-free standing tent. having gutter nails as stakes can be very helpful too.”

“nct.. we can talk about shuttling as the time comes.. i may want to catch a ride out to NH with you possibly.. or you with me.. depends who else comes with me.. right now, i am thinking i may have 4 peeps + my dog in the car but like i said, things may change in a year..

i just pitched this to my b-packing buddy and have not heard back from him..”

“nct.. we can talk about shuttling as the time comes.. i may want to catch a ride out to NH with you possibly.. or you with me.. depends who else comes with me.. right now, i am thinking i may have 4 peeps + my dog in the car but like i said, things may change in a year..

i just pitched this to my b-packing buddy and have not heard back from him..”
offtrack
3:49:44 PM
6/11/09


Ride sharing would be good, especially on a long drive. I may have one other person, possibly riding with me as well?”

“I'm glad I'm not the only one who can take 'simple' trips and plan them to death....

Is any one else lke this, or can I attribute this to my OCD, ADHD conditions...

32ozgatorade
2:26:23 PM
6/11/09

For me its not OCD (though I admit to being a little obsessive). For me, trip planning is to backpacking what flirting and foreplay is to sex. It is fun in itself, and even better when it leads to action. My wife calls my trail maps and gear catalogues, "hiker porn."

If I can't get my feet out on the trail right now, I can at least get my mind out there.”

“My feelings exactly! Don't forget GEAR porn too!
last edited: 6/11/09 2:57:07 PM”

“hahahahahaha.. me 3. :D”

“�nah, you can do just fine with a tarp.. it just would be hard with a non-free standing tent.

free-standing is still better. it gives you more options and is easier to set up in a lot of places

i am thinking i may have 4 peeps + my dog

just remember he has to be leashed above treeline


For me its not OCD (though I admit to being a little obsessive). For me, trip planning is to backpacking what flirting and foreplay is to sex. It is fun in itself, and even better when it leads to action

roger that”

“Soooo CB, what tent are you planning to use for this hike?

I might take my TT DR, which is really more space than needed, or my BA SL1, or the MSR Hubba.
I've got a TT Contrail too, but its not free standing.
last edited: 6/12/09 9:28:03 AM”

“yeah, i know.. it actually has to be leashed pretty much everywhere but CO. voice and hand commands are good there.”

“what tent are you planning to use for this hike?

none that i currently have. at some point i am going to start looking for a lightweight free-standing. i used to have a black diamond, but i didnt like it, so i sent it back. im still considering trying the henry shires rainbow, but only after researching other tents”

“The DR is what I'll be bringing considering it's the only lightweight tent I own.”

“i just recently picked up a Kelty Grand mesa2.. it's really a larger solo tent.. or two people that know each other well and no gear. lol... good venting.. not a drop of water from 3 day non stop rain.. it's light.. i like it.

i got it at dicks for under $100.. i think it was the last one at that location.. w86th st. castleton doesn't have it.. call around if you decide on it.”