Suggestions for Long Weekends in the Whites

[mtnhiker]

I'm a newbie to the Whites.

Looking for suggestions of fun routes for a few 3-day camping weekends this spring/summer/fall.

What are some of the more scenic routes? The "don't miss" peaks and views? Favorite places to camp?

Less busy routes would be a plus, as would above treeline travel.

Thanks in advance.

[TFR]

Wow, you're asking for a lot!

First of all, if you know anyone on VFTT ( http://viewsfromthetop.com ), ask them to sponsor you. VFTT is all about the Whites.

There are several huts in the Whites run by the AMC. I suggest you check out that option.

Some of my favorite hikes in the Whites:

Adams

Bonds

Lincoln / Lafayette

Liberty / Flume

Carrigain

Shorter hikes:

Jackson
Pierce
Hale
Tecumseh
Cannon
Tom

[dailey7779]

Hiking in the Pemi Wilderness: Hiking the Bonds (Bondcliff, Bond, and West Bond) and South Twin . You could hike in from the Lincoln Woods Trail and up the Bondcliff Trail and stay at Guyot campsite and catch the sunset from West Bond's summit. Then day two you could hike over to South Twin and drop down to Thirteen Falls tentsite via the Twinway and Twin Brook Trail. Day three you could hike back to your car via the Franconia Brook and Lincoln Woods Trails. Day 3 would be mostly flat in the woods but day one and two is a great hike with great great views once up to Bondcliff.

If you want more views and a little more of a challenge then do a 3 day pemi loop. Stay at Guyot campsite night one, then Garfield Ridge campsite on night two and hike back to your car on day 3. This way you get to hike on the Franconia Ridge which has some of the best views in all of the whites.

Hiking in the Prseidential Range: Hiking Monroe through Madison - Hike the Dry River Trail, there is a lean-to about 6.3 miles in from the road Route 302, you can stay there or set up your tent near by at a primitive campsite. This is all in the woods but never many people on the trail. Day two you could hike up to Mount Monroe and over Washinton and Clay to the Sphinx Trail and drop down the Sphinx Trail and camp off trail near the bottom when it flatens out. The Sphinx Trail is wild steep and rough but beautiful and lightly used! Day three you could hike back up the Sphinx trail and hike over Jefferson, Adams, and Madison and end your hike at Appalachia Trailhead off Route 2. You'd need a car spot for this hike. Day 2 and 3 is 75% above treeline!

If you're just doing day trips then sherbi is right hike up the King Ravine Trail, it's awesome! But would be a huge pain with bigger packs if you do the side loop trails on the "subway" and "ice caves" which are a must and are so much fun!!!

If you do these hikes try to do them on good weather days with good visibility so you can take advantage of the awesome views!

Hope this helps

-Chris

[Neil]

Hitting the high spots: Pemi Loop and Presi Traverse.

There are many interesting routes up onto the Presi's.

Owl's Head is very worthwhile for the views back towards Lafayette from the slide.

[Jay H]

And define camping, are you looking to camp out at campsites, car camping, backpacks? There are huts as TFR mentions as well as "backcountry campsites" and the usual wilderness camping regulations and stuff.

Jay

[JoeCedar]

Are you touristing or peakbagging? I can give you efficient hike itineraries for the latter, along with all the numbers.

A nice intro loop in the Presidentials is Pinkham Notch, Washington, Clay,Jefferson, Adams, Madison, and return to Pinkham by the Osgood trial/AT. 18.7 miles, 8100 ft ascent. Meals and lodging at Joe Dodge Lodge. You could do almost the same loop staying at the Dolly Copp campground.

For the Franconia loop, do the Flume, Liberty, Lincoln, Lafayette loop (either direction) 15.6 miles, 5300 ft ascent. Can camp right there at the Lafayette campground or other places on I-93.

Both these will get busy after July 1 when the hut business really gears up. You will not find the Whites difficult compared to your other experiences. But they are nice.

For a trip away from the busiest areas, try S Twin, N Twin, Galehead and Garfield. 19.5 miles, 6500 ft ascent.

Do these 12 and you are 25% of the way to a patch and you have most of the hard hikes out of the way.......

HERE is a site (http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/) with a lot of good information and data.

[SendHelp]

Along with the many fine suggestions from above.

If I may be so bold to suggest the following to aid in your quest.

Obtain a copy of the following book, "The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains" by

Steven Smith and Mike Dickerman.

Also, the White Mountain waterproof trail map by Map Adventures.

One peak with a great view not mentioned is Chocorua. Although note that it can be crowded. Another is Moosilauke (sp).

If you want to avoid the crowds, try Isolation, Davis, Stair, Resolution, Crawford. There are views along the way. (View a map for determining start and end points)

There are many spots to camp along the Kancamagus (Route 112) highway.

I think you need a parking pass for some places. (Not sure how it works. I just get one out of habit.)

Pay attention to areas on the map that indicate no bridge or bridge out.

Both websites mentioned in the other posts are excellent sources of info.

Have fun.

[mtnhiker]

There is a train that goes up Mt. Washington. There is also a road. And a foot race. When are ya going?

Looking at the calendar now, wanna make some plans?

[mtnhiker]

And define camping, are you looking to camp out at campsites, car camping, backpacks? There are huts as TFR mentions as well as "backcountry campsites" and the usual wilderness camping regulations and stuff.

Jay

Hi Jay, I'd say my preference would be for tent camping in a non-campground setting. Car camping would be lowest on the list. Thanks!

[mtnhiker]

Are you touristing or peakbagging?

Hmmm, well I don't think you need spreadsheets for the first one, and I do like my spreadsheets. :D

Do these 12 and you are 25% of the way to a patch and you have most of the hard hikes out of the way.......


A patch, well now we're talking. :)

Thanks Joe for all the info, much appreciated.

[procook131]

I will throw in a third vote for three day Pemi; day two do an out and back to North Twin just so you do not have to approach at a later date from the North. Same could be said about Zealand on day two depending on how far you want to make it over towards Garfield. Presi's would be a really relaxed three day, so two day would be an option with one day of peakbagging something close like a Wildcat-Moriah traverse......or maybe just Tom/Field/Willey :D

When I got into the Whites I was thinking about backpacking it too, but Mr. Cedar and I worked up some nice plans to do it other ways. He might have my number in the Adirondacks, but I have his in the Whites (15 vs. 16 Joe?:razz:). OK, maybe not...;)

[Cumulus]

I'm a newbie to the Whites.

Looking for suggestions of fun routes for a few 3-day camping weekends this spring/summer/fall.

What are some of the more scenic routes? The "don't miss" peaks and views? Favorite places to camp?

Less busy routes would be a plus, as would above treeline travel.
If you're able to do a car spot or take the AMC shuttle to do a traverse there's really too many choices to mention. If you're looking to do a loop then the Pemi loop, which others have mentioned, is probably your best bet, although it's hard to break it up into three roughly equal sections without staying at one of the huts. A loop involving the Montalban Range and the Middle/Southern Presidentials could work as well. I've done a four day backpack from Lincoln Woods along the Pemi Loop over to Ethan Pond and back to Lincoln Woods, and also a four day along the Wildcat/Carter Range swinging down into the Wild River Wilderness and back to the Carters.

My main advice to you, however, is to get the AMC White Mountain Guide, or at least its maps, and figure out what you'd like to do from that based on your ability and desire.

For camping there are a number of shelters/tentsites strung along the Appalachian Trail: Kinsman Pond, Liberty Springs, Garfield, Guyot, Ethan Pond, Nauman, Osgood, Imp. I've stayed at half of these at one time or another. Depending on the time of year they're either a small fee (< $10) or free.

For places to be, the Presidentials and Franconia Ridge are the obvious choices, but not "less traveled". The Bonds is possibly my favorite part of the Whites, and, although they're also many other people's favorites, they're not so crowded because they're not as accessible.

--

Cumulus

NE111: 80/115 (67/67, 12/46, 1/2); Cat35: 7/39; WNH4K: 16/48; NEFF: 23/50
LT NB 2009

"I don't much care where --" said Alice, "-- so long as I get [i]somewhere," ...
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."
- Lewis Carroll

[Flatland]

Last summer a group of us did a 2 day Pemi Loop in a counterclockwise direction. This way the first 5 miles were almost completely level (old railroad bed) and then began the long climb to Bondcliff, considered by some to be one of the best summit views in the Whites. We finished up day 1 on the early side and crashed at the Guyot shelter. There are both a lean-to and tent sites there. Day 2 was a big mileage day, eventually looping around to the cars (9 4k summits later :eek:). Overall, that was one of the best hiking experiences I've had. I would highly recommend it.

[hikerdude007]

The nash stream forest area just north of the whites and the area around the wild river east of the Carters is very well liked by many long time whites fans.Both areas have many remote camping areas....