/r/wmnf
The White Mountain National Forest and things therein
Post anything about the region (eg, summer/winter sports, tourism, news, HIKING)
Good Stuff
/r/wmnf
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Trail running?
Training for an ultra marathon and looking for some low land trails that are in the 20mile range with elevation gain of 2k feet or so. Any input is appreciated.
17:55 UTC
Experience on the Dry River trail? Limited trail reviews to be found
I’m looking into the Dry River trail for an alternative method of looping Eisenhower, Monroe, and then Isolation.
Coming and going via the Dry River Wildnerness area allows for somewhat of a loop with only limited backtracking.
Trail reviews online certainly suggest this is a less-traveled route, and I see it has suffered some extensive trail damage in years past. The trail can be hard to follow at times.
Strava Heatmap shows that it has indeed been traveled, and I created a GPX route for my watch to help me navigate.
Looking at this in early April if y’all are optimistic, will save for summer if not.
I have snowshoes and microspikes, trail gaters, winter hiking experience, maps, etc. Mostly wondering if anyone here has actually been on Dry River trail or any of its ascending trails.
Endow me with wisdom, oh wise redditors.
17:16 UTC
Lafayette, Lincoln 3/25
On monday I hiked the franconia ridge loop. It was clear with low wind. There was a good amount of snow from the storm but it had been broken out well. I snowshoed the whole hike since it was soft.
14:38 UTC
Cabot trail conditions? - no NETC report since 3/17
Hi all - I was wondering if anyone has been to Mt. Cabot since the heavy snowfall last week? The last trail report on New England Trail Conditions as of writing this post was from 3/17/24, before the big snowfall. Hoping to get an idea of how it's looking before commiting to the 7hr round trip drive. Thanks in advance!
02:44 UTC
Staying in shape during the spring season
It is now spring and will not be hiking until the snow has melted in the whites. In the meantime I want to stay in shape/improve my strength so I can hit the ground running when it is time to hike again. I have a membership at planet fitness and on my leg days want to focus on balance-based exercises. I’ve compiled a list of exercises that I believe will benefit my balance, core and overall leg strength:
-Single Leg Squats -Split Squats -Kettlebell Squats -Single Leg Deadlifts -Step Ups -Step Downs -Lunges -Lateral Leg Raises -Calf Raises?
I don’t have the regular squat or deadlift on the list because planet fitness only has smith machines which I’d rather not use. Also keep in mind I will be using the stair master on my non-leg days in order to work on my cardio.
Anyway with the list above, does anyone have any suggestions on how they would split those exercises up and create a weekly routine? Also open to adding/subtracting exercises from the list.
21:35 UTC
Hiking the White Mountains in 1919
Has anybody read Vacation Tramps in New England Highlands by Allen Chamberlain? The book was published in 1919. It's essentially a guide to hiking the higher peaks in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine at the time. (The book is currently available for free on Google Books: Vacation Tramps in New England Highlands.)
I think the entire book is excellent, but followers of this sub might be interested in Chapter III, where the author describes a two week circuit of the White Mountains. It's amazing how much and how little has changed since 1919.
A map from Chapter III, A Summer Sauntering
For example, the first half of the circuit (Moosilauke to Madison Spring) is roughly the same route used by AT through hikers today. On the other hand, the Galehead and Zealand huts weren't built yet and the section between the Twins and Crawford Notch was "a pathless scramble". The author actually recommends taking a train from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch.
18:23 UTC
Question about Lafayette campground/greenleaf hut
Good evening. I’m considering a stay at the greenleaf hut. We have a camper van and I was wondering - if I booked 2 nights at the campground then slept in the van Friday night and left it on our campground for the Saturday night while we’re on the trail would that work logistically?
Has anyone left their vehicle just at their paid for campsite at Lafayette campground for the night while they went and hiked/slept in the hut? Is it allowed?
Also, can one safely walk from Lafayette campground over to old bridle path trailhead?
Thanks all!
02:08 UTC
Mount Moosilauke loop recommendation
Hello! I'm looking for advice on the best way to tackle the Mount Moosilauke loop starting from Benton. I plan to follow the trail outlined on Alltrails (AllTrails link). I'm undecided about whether to follow the trail clockwise or counterclockwise. Additionally, if you have any other recommendations for great hikes near Mount Moosilauke, preferably of similar duration, I'd greatly appreciate hearing them! Thanks.
19:29 UTC
Backpacking in April
I have a trip coming up for either one or two nights out in the Pemi area, either doing a full loop or just Guyot/Bonds. I have plenty of hiking experience but haven't done anything in the whites at this time of year,
In addition to what I would normally bring, I will have microspikes and gaiters.
Some questions:
Will a trekking pole tent be ok or should I consider using a free standing? (Ideally we will be in a shelter or hut if possible, but could very well need to use platform at one of the sites)
Do I need more layers?
For layering, I'll have merino base layers with alpha direct 90 hoodie, Micropuff hoodie, Beta Lightweight shell.
Bottoms will be merino leggings, shorts, and I'll be bringing Goretex Paclite Pants.
Still a couple weeks out, so I won't have a good estimate on temps until a few days beforehand, but any advice would help.
18:07 UTC
Two Presidential Traverse, which AMC hut should we book in June?
Trying to take advantage of the $99 per person deal today.
16:38 UTC
3,560 rolls of toilet paper
Facebook is lame and/or toxic but occasionally it hosts a winner, such as this item from the White Mountain National Forest's FB page:
In 2023, the Pemigewasset (Pemi) Ranger District replaced 3,560 rolls of toilet paper (TP) at Pemi trailheads, 🚻 which equals 137.5 miles of TP rolled from I-93 Exit 20, along I-93 north, until it merges with I-91 - all the way to the Canadian border!!! 🧻🧻🧻 • AND - 35,000 gallons of solid waste was pumped from just the Pemi District vault toilets! 💩💩💩
14:29 UTC
Presidential Traverse in Late April
Hi!
I was hoping to do the presidential traverse in late April, for a two day hike on the weekend of either the 20th of the 27th. I understand the winter conditions can sometimes hold on until late April/Early May.
I'm from Australia and can't find many good single sources of information online. If anyone has any advice/links about hiking this trail in April I'd love to hear. Also saw that there was a way to do a hut to hut situation for a two day, so would love to hear more about that.
Thank you all so much!
00:55 UTC
Katahdin trip plans?
I've heard Katahdin is a great hike, however unless you're actually doing the AT it seems very far off the beaten trail. I live 4-5 hours from the Whites, so it's long but doable to go up just for a day of hiking. We've been to and love Acadia but that's 6+ hours away; Katahdin is almost 12 hours away from us.
My question is how do most non-locals do Katahdin? Is it part of a trip somewhere else around there (i.e. extra couple days tacked on to an Acadia trip)? Or is it really only done by semi-locals and/or people doing the AT?
Is it worth a 24 hour round trip? I could get to some pretty cool day hikes in the same time or less all over the country lol
00:49 UTC
An Overnight Stay at Gray Knob (and Mt. Adams summit)
17:03 UTC
Neart term Avalanche Danger on Washington's Southeast snowfields?
02:23 UTC
Is Lonesome Lake Trailhead Plowed in Winter?
I was planning on climbing Cannon via Lonsome Lake tomorrow after all this snow we have gotten. I haven't yet attempted Cannon before so I was wondering if the parking lot for the Lonesome Lake trailhead would likely be plowed by noon tomorrow? Sadly driving a Civic with all seasons. Thank you!
19:07 UTC
Status of Tuckerman Ravine after the 20-Mar-2024 avalanche?
Anybody know the status of hiking/skinning to Tuckerman Ravine given the avalanche this past week?
Here is some news on it:
Hoping to make it to the ravine next weekend.
18:04 UTC
Avalanche warning pierce
I saw there is an avalanche warning for the presi’s would I have to worry about that for pierce tomorrow(Sunday)? The warning was only till 7 am tomorrow.
17:57 UTC
Maybe a silly question
MWOBS issued an avalanche warning for tomorrow, I understand that Mount Monadnock is west, and not in the whites. But could this still apply to that peak? It doesn’t look like they’re getting as much snow. I don’t know anything about avalanches territory tbh
15:46 UTC
Kancamangus Highway Tmr Morning??
Not sure if this is the right sub.
I’m staying in a buddys cabin in north conway. Planning to travel to Lincoln in the early AM (~6am). Snows expected to stop around 1am tonight. I am well versed with driving in the snow, and have all season tires. (not as good as snow tires, i know) I’m just wondering how quickly they generally plow, and if you guys think it’ll be fine to drive the kanc tmr morning or if I should just set aside the extra time to drive up through crawford.
Thanks in advance
15:24 UTC
Has anyone been to baldface within the last week?
Wondering how it’s looking snow coverage wise on the lower half
00:48 UTC
Winter hiking is back!
12:40 UTC
Recommendations for a weekend hike
Located in Vermont, coming over for a weekend (Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon) the end of April. Looking for recommendations for a good hike, maybe a loop, or a out and back. Looking for a harder hike as well.
I've done a half pemi loop, and a few other hikes in the Whites myself, stomping grounds is the Green Mountains. I've looked a bunch for optimal hikes for this, but wanted to get others opinions.
23:08 UTC
Winter Glove/Mitten recs?
What do you use/recommend for hand insulation while winter hiking/backpacking? My hands are always the first part to get cold and I know my gloves/mitten situation could be upgraded.
Thanks!
18:37 UTC
Current and future conditions Mt Washington
Hi everyone, i’m wondering about the current conditions on Mt Washington? Has anyone been there recently? What is the current snow coverage from base to top? Id mud season really started? Also do you think snow will last until Easter weekend? Thank you!
//Edit: ok that was a pretty bad post from me. Should have looked more into it before posting. Thanks to everyone who responded, I still learned a few things!
19:00 UTC
Time/difficulty of Hi-cannon lonesome lake loop
I'll be in New Hampshire for a work trip in a few weeks. I've done several hikes that are objectively harder and longer than this one, but this would be the hardest that I've done alone. Is it crazy to get started at ~4am and be back by ~8am? (Obviously with headlamp to start and then hopefully catch the sunrise from the top).
I also am recovering from an ankle injury so I have done minimal exercise like this over the past couple months, but I should be recovered by this trip. 5 miles doesn't sound terribly difficult so i think I may be slightly slower than normal but I don't think fitness would be a major concern.
Any tips or advice appreciated!
13:26 UTC
Green laser beam as an emergency signaling
What about using green laser for emergency signals in remote, windy conditions where whistles fail, and there's no phone signal? Green lasers are super visible at night and use little power, making them potentially great for long-term use in emergencies. Worth the added weight? Is it essentials worthy?
20:30 UTC
Pemi Loop - how early ?
Hi,
Planning to do Pemi-loop this spring / early summer. With the current snow conditions we have how early do you guys think the loop could be done without winter gear (snowshoe,spikes) ?
My mid may target seams to be very early compared to previous years.
Thanks
19:34 UTC