[squeakytrees]

I can't wait to hike! Starting to think about what weekend to plan our yearly Monadnock hike for next month. Probably will be Patriot's day weekend. Hope the weather's good! Going to bust the maps and books out soon & start planning some trips for this season, I want to knock off at least 5 or 6 more 4kers this year. Where are y'all planning on hiking this year?

[Majer:Danjer]

I'm in the process of planning a 3 day'er to 13 falls which would include a hoof up and over Lafayette. The planning part is deciding where to do some stealth camping instead of staying at the huts.

In a week or two I am doing my first over nighter of the season (somewhere local), just to get back in practice.

[squeakytrees]

Nice! I did the Falling Waters/Franconia Ridge/Old Bridle Path loop as a dayhike a couple years ago and I loooooved it. That whole area is awesome. Would like to take the rest of my group up sometime - I did that hike with one close friend, and "the guys" (fiance, brother, other friend) missed out on it.

We are definitely going to do Moosilauke this year - we tried it 2 years ago, but someone (... me ) was sick & wasn't breathing well, so we turned around about halfway up. I do want to explore some more of the Pemi wilderness besides just Franconia ridge.

[Andrew]

I've done that loop (franconia ridge) a number of times. In my opinion, it's most scenic day hike you can do.

[Majer:Danjer]

Andrew, on 25 Mar 2011 - 08:58 AM, said:

I've done that loop (franconia ridge) a number of times. In my opinion, it's most scenic day hike you can do.

Me and the guys are planning on leaving from the trailhead on the Kanc (Franconia Br. Trail), by what I can calculate it's about 30 miles all the way around. So we figure 10 miles a day then set camp somewhere off the trail. I haven't dug into the AMC book yet but I hope it is possible to do some stealth camping in that area, i.e. not stay at the huts.

[squeakytrees]

I know there are AMC maintained tent sites with platforms sprinkled around there, they're $8 a night or whatever but that's way cheaper than the huts. I'm sure you could find some other spots too though.

[iClimb]

my knowledge could be off, but I believe you can sleep out in most areas as long as you are 100 feet off the trail and do so in an area that won't be destroyed by your tent - aka don't set up in a delicate alpine forest area.


most of my trips are in the winter, so I don't know if rules change in warmer months when forest plant life can be effected more when they aren't covered with snow and ice.


Squeaky - don't forget that this time of year in the whites is still winter more or less. The only difference is that this time of year can be even more dangerous, because people falsely believe it will be warmer than it is, and they get stuck in wet, cold, windy conditions that they aren't prepared for. With the temps hovering around freezing, there is more of a chance of getting hypothermia via getting wet, because any precipitation (snow or rain) is usually wet rather than frozen. Because of this your clothes can become easily soaked through.

make sure your stuff is WPB, and bring a change of clothes in case you run into trouble. A good shelter doesn't hurt either - no cheapie tents this time of year.

[Majer:Danjer]

iClimb, on 29 Mar 2011 - 08:34 PM, said:

my knowledge could be off, but I believe you can sleep out in most areas as long as you are 100 feet off the trail and do so in an area that won't be destroyed by your tent - aka don't set up in a delicate alpine forest area.

You are correct, I haven't thumbed through my AMC book yet, I think I remember reading of some restricted areas in the Pemi Wilderness. I'll get it sorted out before I hit the trail though.

One last thing to check off the list of things to get this year and that's a water purifier, then I'll be good.

[squeakytrees]

Oh yeah, we aren't hitting the Whites until at least May - our April hike is always Monadnock. It's muddy sometimes, but there hasn't been snow on any of our April Monadnock trips before, so crossing my fingers it's all gone by Easter weekend!

[bubbalou]

squeakytrees, on 24 Mar 2011 - 06:58 PM, said:

I can't wait to hike! Starting to think about what weekend to plan our yearly Monadnock hike for next month. Probably will be Patriot's day weekend. Hope the weather's good! Going to bust the maps and books out soon & start planning some trips for this season, I want to knock off at least 5 or 6 more 4kers this year. Where are y'all planning on hiking this year?

You can camp 200 ft from trail. No camping above treeline.
Which 4K's are you doing this season? I am associated with the EICSL ski clubs and want to use them for meetup, cheap stay over, food and clean up. Mt Washington Valley Area. My name is Dave.

[squeakytrees]

I'd like to do Moosilauke, the Hancocks, Kinsman maybe, I'd have to look at my maps again - there are a lot I have in my sights, lol! Not saying I'll get everything done this year that I want to, I probably won't. Getting married in July, so my hiking this year may be cut down a little from what it usually is!

[Majer:Danjer]

squeakytrees, on 05 Apr 2011 - 02:09 PM, said:

Getting married in July, so my hiking this year may be cut down a little from what it usually is!

Yeah, but what a perfect way to unwind after all that stressful planning, right?

[squeakytrees]

Absolutely!

[RichNH]

So squeakytrees, did you get up to Monandnock this past weekend?

[squeakytrees]

Our targeted date was this coming Saturday actually, and weather-pending, we're still going. Forecast looks rainy right now we're going to play it by ear but hopefully the forecast will improve! I'm really excited about going! If we can't make it this weekend, we may try next weekend too.