Three of my favorite trails in the White Mountains

I love hiking. When I get the chance, I'll hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Every year, when I hike, I find that there are some trails I enjoy hiking more than others. I have seen the views and look forward to seeing them again. I few trails in the White Mountains I have to visit all the time, each year, to get what I call "My fix". When I see the views, I almost go into a calming state and can just stare for hours without moving. Some of the views on these trails, make me feel like I am in some sort of Lord of the Rings Movie, I can see beautiful mountains that stretch on for miles. These three trails seem to always give me a feeling of leaving this world and being place in another. If you would like to trail on these trails, here they are:

1. The Air Line Trail: the journey up this trail is always exciting for me. It starts on Route 16, you can see a huge parking lot on one side that is normally full of cars. There are other trails that start at the same spot, but I always go up Air Line. I first hiked the trail back in 2004 and since then has visited it again over the years. I love when I get to the sign for the Alpine Zone. My heart starts beating faster because I know how amazing the views are up there. The trail rings around to the Mt. Madison Spring Hut and I seem to just take my time, I enjoy each step and stop to see all the views. this was the first time I felt like I was in Narnia or the Rings Movie. I was exploring a new world and meeting wonderful people along my way. Start of the Air Line trail to the Air Line Cutoff is 3.5 miles. It's worth the hike!

One of the first views you see when hiking up the trail

The mountain range

2. Another of my favorite trail to hike on is the Crawford Path. It doesn't seem to almost matter where on the Path I am, I just can't stop staring at the views. I really live the Path when I get close to Mt. Washington. You are so high up and you can see views from almost all sides. When I get closer to the top of Mt. Washington, I find myself turning around and taking pictures. My friends who hike with me say that it drives them crazy, for I am always stopping to see the views, but I can't help it! I am always in some sort of trance. So, as you are hiking from the Lake of the Clouds to the top of Mt. Washington, take a good look around, stop and breath in that wonderful mountain air, and enjoy the sights around you. I have to say, that is my most favorite part of the trail, which is 1.4 miles long.

On the Crawford path, looking back and seeing the lakes, mountains and hut.

3. I love hiking in Franconia Notch area. I have hiked just about all the mountains, but I got excited when my friend ask me last year to hike the Franconia Ridge. From Mt .Lafayette to Little Haystack we hiked the Franconia Ridge Trail which is 1.6 miles long. We had to make so many stops along the way for I needed pictures. My camera never seen so much use. Both sides the trail had great views but I loved the side that had no Parkway (highway 93). I loved the side where you could see the mountains stretch on for miles and miles.  If you ever have the chance to hike on this Ridge, it's worth all the views!

The view of the Parkway Valley

A view of the Ridge Trail and the mountains in the background

Now, I have many other wonderful trails that I love to hike and enjoy the views, these just happen to be my favorite so far. My adventures in the White Mountains are endless and every time I hike up, its a new experience. What are some of your favorite trails?

Happy Hiking!

Trip Report: Hiking up to Mt. Pierce and Mizpah Spring Hut

Mt. Pierce is located in the Presidential Range but you can hike it by parking near AMC Highland Center in Crawford Notch. There is parking across the street which will cost $3.00 per day. It's a moderate hike. Took us about five hours to hike the loop which was around 6.2 miles. It was a wonderful day hike.

Crawford Path is the oldest continuously used hiking trail in America

Gibbs Falls

We started on the Connection trail which is .5 miles over to the Crawford Path. We hiked up to Gibbs Falls which was beautiful. Great place to take a small break. Then after we continued up (1.7 miles) to the junction to Mizpah Cut-off. We wanted to see the Mizpah Spring Hut first so we hiked over which was .7 miles. When we got to the hut it was getting foggy. We could tell that rain was about to fall so we went into for a lunch break. Great hut, very clean and well thought out. I loved sitting by the windows while relaxing with a sandwich.

Mizpah Spring Hut

...entering Alpine Zone when approaching Mt. Pierce

 It was getting a little windy but didn't rain. They have a place where you can check for weather and it read 40% chance so we decided to hike up to Mt. Pierce. We started on the Webster Cliff Trail .9 miles up to the mountain. As soon as we were about .5 miles up it started to rain. The rain didn't last and we continued up until we reached Mt. Pierce. I am sure the view would have been amazing if it was a clear day, but it was very foggy when we reached the top. We did get to see a view mountains through the think clouds that rolled by.

View from top of Mt. Pierce on a cloudy day

View of the valley below where you can see Mt. Washington Hotel through the fog

 After we hiked down Crawford Notch path 3.1 miles back to the connection trail. Even though we didn't get much of a view, it was a great hike and I hope to hike it again next year.
Also Mt.Pierce is a 4000 footer, 4312' 

Speechless Wednesday...Crawford Path

Crawford Path

This is the oldest continuously used path by hikers

in America. It was built by Abel Crawford and his son Ethan in 1819.

I have hiked a piece of this path this year when

heading up to Mt. Washington. 

I hope to hike more of this path next year!

Looking back at the Crawford Path when 

heading up to Mt. Washington!

The Crawford Path and Mt. Monroe

As you can see the Lakes of the Cloud Hut

Happy Hiking:)

Hiking Mt Washington...Part 3

Mt Washington...Part 3

After hanging out around the Lakes of the Clouds Hut, we started up the Crawford Path, which is the 

oldest used trail in America that is kept up. We had about one mile until we reaches the summit. The wind had picked up and the clouds were getting closer as we went forward. The temperature went down fast and we were starting to get cold. Here are a few pics of going up the trail...

Here we are starting the trail and you can see the summit of Mt. Washington from the Lakes.

Here is when we were very close  to the top of the summit looking back at the Lakes and the Hut.

When reaching the top of Mt. Washington, it was cold, windy and the clouds were all around us. We couldn't see any views for awhile until there were breaks in the clouds. But, We went into the Tip Top House, and got a picture with the sign that states you are at the Summit of Mt. Washington. 

Here are a few pics...

 Here is the Tip Top House, It was used back in the day for hikers to rest the night when reaching the

summit. Now, visitors can go inside a look around. This was very interesting and a must see for those that

love the history of the White Mountains.

This is the marker at the highest point on the summit of Mt. Washington

Yep, I was trying to smile, but it was so windy and cold. I also wanted

something to eat, which we did after in the cafe. When you travel

up to the summit, you have to get your picture with this sign!

I thought this sign was very interesting...I love history of the White Mountains

Inga- This cat was my idol, she lived on top of Mt. Washington for Years.

Now a new cat Marty lives on top!

There is my hike up Mount. Washington :)

Can't wait to do it again next year!

Happy Hiking!

Speechless Wednesday! Mt. Washington -Part 2

Speechless Wednesday! Mt. Washington -Part 2

The Lakes of the Clouds

 

 There are two beautiful lakes that are near Mt. Washington.

They are on each side of the trail called Crawford Path (which

is also the oldest maintained footpath in America). 

Here they are:

Lake One (Right side on Trail)

Lake 2 (Left side on Trail)

After these wonderful views we headed up to Mt. Washington...

Happy Hiking

Mt. Washington State Park

Mt. Washington State Park

Out of all the places in the White Mountain Regain, this is my favorite to explore. The trails are so wonderful travel on and the people you meet along with way, are so friendly and helpful. I am hoping to hike Mt. Washington before fall really sets in. I plan on taking the same route that I did back in 2008. Hiking up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to the Lakes of the Clouds. Then take Crawford Path to the Summit for the beautiful mountain (Mt. Washington). Last time it was foggy so I never got to see any views, I was lucky enough to find the building itself! I would like to be able to hike a trail back down that I never got to last time, because the weather turned and we couldn't hike down. The trail I want to take is Jewell Trail, it is to lead me back down to the Cog Railway where the trails start. When I hike this mountain this week or the next I plan on posting my pics and my adventure story up here soon after. 

 I am hoping that one day, I can stay up at the Lake of the Clouds AMC Hut and wake up to the sunrise. I bet that is so beautiful to see the Sun rise above the Lakes up there. Plus I have always wanted to hike Mt. Monroe as well...wonder if I could do both Mountains on the same day? I bet I could. It's only .3 miles from the AMC Hut. There are so many places to see beautiful views once you are up in the Presidential Range that it will be very tough to come back down again. I feel like I am in a whole new world when I am up there. Soon, I hope to be able to stay up here for some time and see as much as I can before I have to come back down again! Here's hoping!

Mt. Washington...part 2

I ended with my friend and I starting our hike up Crawford Path. The wind started to pick up, by now it started blowing almost through us. I would say it was about 30 miles per hour. The temp went down to almost 40 degrees and it was raining harder. About halfway up this path everything got worse, plus the fog was so thick that we couldn't see the trail or the top of Mt. Washington. All we could see were the steps ahead of us and the next rock hill to follow. I would have to say that we got to the point were we were about 0.6 miles from the top did I get very nervous. The wind was getting stronger, about 40 miles per hour, the rain was more like hail and the temp was 35 degrees. At one point, my friends poncho went over his head, which made me laugh, but he could get it back down for the wind was so strong. We were very nervous about getting to the top safely, but we were so close! The wind kept pushing us back, the hail started to hurt! My legs were so tired and I was soak through my clothes. The fog was so hard to see through, I just wanted to get to the top! I remember when we got to the top, we didn't know we were near the building until we were right upon it! We touched the wall and then noticed through the fog that it was the building! We were excited, but cold, wet and tired. We go inside and there were lots of people trying to get warm besides us. We eat and bought some warm pullovers. I got one that said I climbed Mt. Washington! But then over the speakers, they said that the weather was so bad that they were closing the auto road, so everyone had to leave and that hikers had to hike to AMC hut and stay there over night, or go down the Cog. We decided to go down the Cog. It was fun but scary because the Fog was so thick you couldn't see anything. What an adventure! One of the scariest but still amazingly fun! I would do it again...hopefully this summer! I can see how this mountain took many lives, it can be very dangerous to hike when the weather turns on you!