Pictures from our hike up Mt. Willard

Mt. Willard is located in Crawford Notch. The trail starts at the Crawford Depot near Saco Lake. There you can park but there is a sign that asks for you to be out by dark, No over night parking. Its a great trail to do during the short winter days. The trail is 1.6 miles long and has some great view points when you reach the top. The snow was only a dusting, more ice than snow on the trail. Here are a few of my pictures from our hike.

Stitch on the trail

This is me in the distance, my husband took the picture. I look like an alien or something!

This is me at the end of the trail near the lookout

Webster Cliffs

Crawford Notch valley

Some more great pictures from the view on Mt. Willard. The hike was around 2 1/2 hours, round-trip. Great for a winter hike during the day. Wonderful views. Also great for a beginner hike. The mountain is 2865'. Happy Hiking:)

Trail Report : Mt. Willard and the cascades

Last Thursday and Friday I stayed at the AMC Highland center in Crawford Notch. It was a wonderful stay and I got to go out on some of the trails. Two trails I explored were Mt. Willard Trail and Avalon Trail. If you are looking to hike these trails, they are mostly cleared. There are a few snow patches, and a little ice. The stream to over Mt. Willard Trail is over flowing due to melting so the trail is a little hard to find at the bottom. The view at the top of Mt. Willard is stunning as always. I enjoyed seeing both Beeches and Pearl Cascade, for they are so lovely with the water flowing so rapidly.
Here are some pics I took of these adventures. These places are great also to take children too. The hikes are fun and not difficult. Happy Hiking:)

 This is Beeches Cascade which is on the cascade loop.

The loop is about a mile all the way around.

Great trail for children to explore.

 This is Pearl cascade which is on the cascade loop.

This is the view from top of Mt. Willard. You can see the Valley and mountains on both sides. It was a great day for a hike up that morning. We started around 9:00 am and made it to the top by 11:00 am with a fw small stops along the way for the kids to have a break. The weather was a little chilly on top but all was needed was a windbreaker. Great place to have lunch, which we did and enjoyed the view. The trail is 1.6 miles to the top. Great for children to hike up!

Crawford Notch in Snow

This past week, I went through Crawford Notch to do some holiday shopping, along the way, I had to take some pictures to share with everyone all the snow here in the White Mountains. Plus it was a warm day, and many hikers where out on foot, in their winter gear, hiking up the mountains. I even seem a family, with small children ready to hike up Mt. Willard. It was a joy, I wanted to stop and hike myself, but I had some shopping to get down. Hoping to start my winter hiking next weekend.
Here are a few pictures I took along on journey though the Notch:

 I am looking forward to getting some time to

hike around this part, so beautiful:) 

Mt. Washington

 Elephant Head, Bugle Cliff and Mt. Webster

 Hiking? Great place to stop : AMC Highland Center

Saco Lake

Many trails start around here,

great place to do some hiking this winter!

Happy Hiking:)

My Top Five Hikes I want to do this Winter

I have found a hiking buddy for the Winter!

Very excited about doing some snowshoeing and regular hiking

up a few great White Mountains!

But which ones, I would love to hike them all but Winter

goes by just as fast as Summer.

So, I started to read some of my great books on hiking

and check out my maps.

I asked some other great hikers online and 

these are my top five picks that I would 

like to do this year.

1. Mt Lafayette:

I know this is a large mountain, 

but the hike up is very steady and

would be great for snowshoeing up to the hut.

Hope to do this on a nice winter day, when the

weather is fair and temp is about 32 degrees.

In Franconia Notch

2. Mt. Willard:

It is not a large Mt. so I could take my

stepson as well. Plus we could use snowshoes

to get to the top. I heard the view is so wonderful

with snow in the valley. 

Crawford Notch

3. Tuckerman Ravine:

I have done this one before in the Winter and

it's a great hike up. There are also skiers and

snowboards on the trail as well for the trill

of this place! Fun to watch, when

you get closer to the top.

Pinkham Notch

4. Glen Boulder:

My mom has always wanted to

take me to it, so I think

I will hike it this winter.

Pinkham Notch

5. Mt. Chocorua

Everyone has talked about this mountain

and yet I have not hiked it yet. It's not a 4000footer

but it seems like a great winter hike.

Kancamagus Highway

These were other great winter hikes that were written to me by hikers:

"My one and only snow hike was Crawford path to Mizpah Cutoff to the hut. 

It was gorgeous and for a snow hiking beginner not too difficult. 

Grey Jays eating out of our hands - a highlight! A true winter wonderland!"

 "Pierce is a great 1st Winter 4K - protected in the trees until just before the summit 

and a reward of awesome views. But any of the NH48 can be great on any given day 

depending on the weather and conditions."

 "I think Mt Garfield has one of the best winter views."

  "Mount Liberty is a personal favorite. 

Or come stop by the Harvard Cabin for a warm drink and a snack."

" ...spend a night at Zealand Hut and many 4k's are within reach."

Five White Mountain Pictures and Views

I enjoy hiking and taking pictures along the way. Here are a few of some pictures that I haven't shared yet, that I took this summer along some of my adventures through the White Mountains. Enjoy these wonderful views and pictures that I snapped:)

 I took this beautiful picture when I hiked the Airline at the beginning

of the summer. I just loved the way the valley was behind these rocks/boulders.

This picture was taken at Mt. Madison. I was looking over and saw the valley below.

I thought it was a nice shot!

 This was taken on top of Mt. Willard  of the Willey Range at Crawford Notch.

The lake here is Lonesome lake and I just loved the view from

this side of the lake. 

This is Mt. Washington. I have to say that every time I go by this mountain, no

matter which side of it I am on, I have to take a picture of it!

This side is when traveling through Crawford Notch:)

Happy Hiking!

Mt. Willard in Crawford Notch

This Adventure takes us to Mt. Willard

Where we started the hike was near the Crawford Depot

and AMC Highland Center

This is the sign you will be looking for when you are on Route 302

in Crawford Notch. You will also see Lake Saco!

Here is the AMC Highland Center. I was standing near the Depot, 

where they have tables and a gift shop as well.

The trail is right near the Depot, and you hike the Mt. Willard Trail all the way up

to the views, which are amazing!

On the way up there is Centennial Pool. My dog went down to get a drink

of cool fresh mountain water!

When you reach the top there is a sign! Mt. Willard Ele.2815

Here are the VIEWS!

 You can walk around on the rocks and be careful, many cliffs

My stepson was close, but not to close to a cliff.
The view of the mountains and Route 302 running between them
is just lovely!
The hike itself is 3.2 miles up and down
Great for children and pets

Happy Hiking!:)

For the Day Hiker

I have never slept over in one of the huts in the White Mountains. Though I do hope that one day I get the chance to go so, for I have the equipment for a night over. It would be so wonderful to walk up looking over the valleys and seeing beautiful views. But for now, I am a day hiker! I love hiking from morning until evening.
But sometimes during a travel, there is not enough time to do a long hike so it's fun to get out and stretch the legs on a walk. 
Here are some great day hikes that are very easy to do and wonderful things to see...

1. Glen Ellis Falls
When I was younger, my parents would stop here every summer to check out falls. This is a 64-foot waterfall and it's so beautiful. It's an easy hike for all ages, about .6 mile round trip. It could take you about 30 minutes but it's worth the stop. It's in Pinkham's Notch, near Wild Cat.

2. The Basin and The Basin-Cascades Trail
I love going here every year. My parents sometimes would take my sister and I here when we were younger. Great for kids and pets. It's located in Franconia Notch. It's about 2 and half miles round trip. It starts off easy but on the way up can get rocky. There are some great falls to see and the Basin is so beautiful. It's a great place to stop and check out.

3. Mt. Willard
This is not a large mountain to hike up. The elevation gain is about 900feet from where you start. It's about a moderate hike. Great for pets and children. The trail starts near the AMC Highland Center. The trip can be around 3 to 4 hours long. Great views! To find Mt. Willard travel to Crawford Notch!

4. Boulder Loop
I love boulders and so does my stepson. This trail has a few wonderful boulder spots to climb around. The loop itself is about 3 miles around and can take you about 2 to 3 hours. Though if you enjoy playing on the boulders, it can take even longer!  This wonderful trail can be found on the Kancamagus Highway!

Happy Hiking!:)

THREE Great Haunted Trails to check out!

I have been so some pretty cool trail in the White Mountains, but never knew how many how stories with them. It gets me even more excited to go on these hikes to step where someone once stood that had disappeared or died at with a story to tell. Here are a few great places to hike if you are up for an adventure with a twist!

Number three: The Willey Family Tragedy
I have lived up here in the White Mountains since I as born and have listened to this tragedy many times. Nine people killed from a landslide. Sam Willey and his family plus two hired help all here killed. The crazy part is that they left their house thinking that it was best to run. The house never got touched from the slide and yet all nine people where found dead not far from their home in the slide. There is a Willey Historic House Site that is opened year round in Crawford Notch. Sadly their house doesn't stand anymore, but there is a trail called Sam Willey Loop which is 1.0 miles and takes less then an hour to do, or if you are up for more of an adventure, you can Hike up Webster Cliffs which is 3.3 miles to the summit and have amazing views!

Number two: The Keeper of Stray Ladies
Betty Davis was a very famous actress back in the 30's and 40's. She also loved getting away in New Hampshire. She loved being in Sugar Hill. Betty was very adventurous and would set out on trails. She was hiking up Coppermine Trail and found herself lost. She was found by a man that soon she fell in love with and married. Only to later be blamed for his death, which she then confessed to doing...well, not killing him but hitting him with an iron lamp which later he died from. Strangely on this trail a sign appeared that read " The Keeper of Stray Ladies." They say Betty Davis placed it there. Can check out this plaque by hiking up Coppermine Rd and trail which takes about 2 hours and 2.5 miles long and also see the Bridal Veil Falls.

Number One: Haunted Huts on the Highest Peaks
I have done this hike up Mt. Washington. I have been told that 130 lost souls are still up on these peaks. many go out in weather that turn ugly and ever seen again. This story is about two men that tried to make it to the top of Mt. Washington but sadly never made it. Both died by the storm that was near the summit. One passed away where the Lakes of the Clouds Hut stands and the other was almost on top where he could have found shelter a few yards away. Now, Lakes of the Cloud Hut was built from those that need shelter when heading up this mountain.
Remember to always stay on the trails!!!! It is very easy to get lost. I have known people who saw something is a distance and then got lost by going off the trail, taking an hour or more to find the trail again! Always be safe when heading up this mountain.You don't want to become a lost soul yourself! Live to tell your tale! This hike is about 3.1 miles one way so give yourself a day to hike up and down this mountain. The views are so worth it, so beautiful!

Happy Hiking!!!:)

Crawford Notch

I was lucky enough to have to travel to work through Crawford Notch five days a week for a few months. It is a beautiful place to hike. Here is a view of Crawford Notch during the summer.

The road you see below is the road I traveled and the line up the right side is the train tracks. There is a train you can depart from in North Conway that will take you through Crawford Notch. There are many hiking trails here as well and also have the AMC Highland Center to visit. I have hiked up Mt Jackson. There are also Mt Webster, Mt Willard, Mt Willey and Mt Avalon. I am hoping to hike Mt Webster this summer. There are so many beautiful views and great hikes here in Crawford Notch. If you are ever in the Mt. Washington area, you should check out this side of the Mountain. Plus the Mt.Washington Hotel is very close by!