White Mountain Superlatives

I have not seen everything there is to see in the mountains so this list certainly will change someday.  These are my favorite things to this point. I have hiked 30 of the forty eight 4000 footers. The two I am most looking forward to that I have not done are Carrigan and Adams. When I am with DJ we usually hike mountains. When I’m with Laurie we hike to a lot of waterfalls. When I am alone I hike to mountain lakes. Feel free to leave comments on your favorite things in New Hampshire

Favorite Campground- Russell Pond It has been quiet when I’ve been there. Showers, trout lake, paved road, boat ramp and beach.

Favorite Roadside Falls- Although not technically roadside Diana’s bath and Crystal Falls are both within ten minute walks from the car. Diana’s bath is very popular and is a series of pools and small falls. Crystal Cascade is in Pinkham Notch. It is on the trail many people use to hike Washington (Tuckerman Ravine).

  My favorite true roadside fall is Upper Falls of the Ammonoosuc on Base Rd. (the road to Cog Railroad)

Favorite Waterfall hikes- Waterville Cascades and Thoreau Falls- Waterville Cascades have a series of waterfalls each with a big beautiful pool at the bottom. Thoreau Falls has a beautiful view of Mt Bond. Also the hike to Thoreau Falls by the Ethan Pond trail is amazing.

Waterfalls I most want to see that I have never been to- Franconia Falls, 13 Falls, and Welton Falls

Favorite Roadside Pond- Profile Lake – Canon Cliffs looming above, a boat ramp and big trout

Runners up Upper Hall Pond, Kiah Pond and Russell Pond

Prettiest Roadside Lake- Profile Lake wins again, 2000 feet of cliffs do make a nice backdrop

Favorite back country lake- Black Mountain Pond

Runner up- Black Pond

Mountain ponds I most want to see- Flat Mountain Pond, Lonesome Lake

Easiest 4000 footer Mt Hale- we made it up and back in 2 hours 59 minutes- No view at all

Easy 4000 footers with great views- Mt Pierce, Mt Jackson, Mt Garfield (Garfield is ten miles round trip, but does not feel that long and except for the end it is relatively level for climbing a mountain

Fun hike on 4000 footer-Mt Jefferson-  Jefferson’s starts at 3200 feet so it’s the easiest Presidential by far. It’s also a cool hike. We hiked up the Caps Ridge, the caps are large rock formations that require climbing with both hands and feet. After we summited, we hiked down the Castleated Ridge, which had more rock formations. We cut back to the Caps Ridge Trail via the Link trail making for a really cool 6.2 miles. The Link was not in good condition when we hiked it.

Favorite big hike- Bonds and Twins- The Bonds and South Twin are in the heart of the Pemi Wilderness. They are by far my favorite mountains. Mt Bond and Bondcliff are eight miles into the woods. From there summits, there is no sign of civilization Bondcliff is the best place in the mountains to get your picture taken. Standing at the top of the cliff, the cliff drops straight down below. In the background is the slide scarred West Bond

Mountains most looking forward to I have never done- Carrigan and Mt Adams

Best view- Summit of Mt Twin

Hardest Mountain- Mt Washington- but in fairness, DJ was six years old so we rested a lot. It’s still over eight miles round trip and 4100 feet of elevation gain. It took us twelve hours.

From the top of South Twin

Best mountain loop hike- Franconia Ridge, The loop of the Old Bridal Path, Greenleaf trail, the Franconia Ridge and Falling Waters Trail is a classic hike with a lot of time above the trees

Favorite flat trail- Ethan Pond Trail from Zealand to junction with Thoreau Falls trail- The trail goes through a huge valley. You have to hike around giant boulders that have fallen during slides. It’s just awesome.

Least favorite hike- Frankenstein Cliff- Although not terribly long it was extremely sandy. For every three steps up you slide back two. Not to mention it getting into low boots or sneakers. It sucks.

Most over rated thing in New Hampshire- North Conway- There is always traffic. The entire Kancamangus highway will have one car on a Wednesday, but as soon as you get near Conway and North Conway, its bumpers to bumper traffic.

Second Most over rated thing- AMC Hut system (90 dollars a night to sleep in bunkrooms with smelly exhausted snoring hikers, I’ll pass

Best pizza place- GH Pizza and Greek Restaurant Lincoln, NH right on Route 112 Kancamangus Highway

Best Road to see a moose- For me the place I have seen the most moose were on Route 3 between Franconia and Twin Mountain and Route 302 in the wet areas between Twin Mountain and Bretton Woods

Other roads I have seen moose

Route 49 in Waterville Valley, Kancamangus Highway, Jefferson Notch Road, Gale River Road,

Arethusa Falls- the tallest waterfall in NH

Best time to pick blueberries- Around the third week of August

These are my favorite things in New Hampshire.