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Peak bagging in NH

2567 Views 27 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  MendonCycleSmith
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I've not contributed to this forum much in a while, so here's an attempt. In the White Mountains of NH we've had been a long spell with no new snow (until today), which means the popular hiking trails were pounded out solid. A couple friends mentioned it would be a perfect time to grab a couple. The prime view out my window is Kearsarge North, an ideal candidate:



The first half mile or so was rideable on the way up, then it was a lot of pushing. Eventually I popped out of the trees and onto the summit, where a warm fire tower awaits:



Unusual to see wooden fire towers, this one was so weathered it looked like driftwood.



My friends John & Michael came up shortly after. Franconia Ridge in the far distance:



Gorgeous views all around. The view to the southwest shows Whitehorse and Cathedral Ledges, the Moat Range behind them, and Mt. Chocorua in the distance at left:



Mt. Washington and Presidential Range through the windows of the tower:



The boys ready to roll:



We stopped for only a few shots. The snowpack was so deep that all of the steep sketchy spots were fully rideable. STIL







Yesterday we decided Mt. Chocorua would be the target and after a little debate decided on the Champney Falls trail. The first 1.3 miles or so was easily rideable on the way up, then back to pushing the beasts. We got to within .3 miles or so of the summit but decided to drop the bikes as much of the remainder was not rideable. Hike-a-bike is one thing, but hiking down with bike is another. The boys approach the top:



View of the summit ridge, Presidential range in view:



Great flow in places







John rolls an ice bulge:



We took the loop trail to Pitcher Falls on the way down





And finally a view back to the NE, Kearsarge at top left:

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Awesome.

I recall seeing pitchers of that area in summer. Looks a bit more exciting with snow-pack.
Nice stuff!

Ugh. You have less snow there (or so it appears in the pics) then we did down here.
My grandfathers house was right near those. One of the white mtns was in his backyard, you could see it quite well from his living room. He since moved to Wolfeboro to a retirement home. I believe he climbed that mountain at the age of 66 or something...brought his dog along.
Were you guys climbing in spd's? Those are pretty strenuous climbs without bikes and bike shoes. I'm guessing any hikers you saw were a bit surprised. Good job and nice pics.
Great pics! I've actually hiked both of those; never on MTb though. Several years ago I went to a bachelor party on Kearsarge. We had about eight guys and two kegs of beer packed into that fire tower for the night!:thumbsup:
Cool stuff, Rob! Brings back memories of all the great riding we did with you folks back in September. Sure is a different landscape with all the snow and ice, though. I guess NH missed out on some of the storms that have plowed through the more southern parts of the New England states this winter. I hope the local ski areas are getting by.

Best regards to you, Michael and John from me and Tracy. Hope to make it back out to your neck of the woods in the not-too-distant future.
Thanks everybody. We caught it just right, yesterday it dumped all day and today was a fine powder day. Life is good

screampint said:
Thanks! This is a great shot!
Thanks Sarah, being a climber I thought you would like that one!

Scott O said:
Were you guys climbing in spd's? Those are pretty strenuous climbs without bikes and bike shoes. I'm guessing any hikers you saw were a bit surprised. Good job and nice pics.
Michael & I had oversize hightop clipless shoes, John wore boots & flats. I wore micro-spikes for Kearsarge and the top of Chocorua, the other guys had various forms of creepers also.

Ol' Grey Pug said:
Great pics! I've actually hiked both of those; never on MTb though. Several years ago I went to a bachelor party on Kearsarge. We had about eight guys and two kegs of beer packed into that fire tower for the night!:thumbsup:
It is a perfect little party cabin. People leave it quite clean for the most part.
JimN said:
Cool stuff, Rob! Brings back memories of all the great riding we did with you folks back in September. Sure is a different landscape with all the snow and ice, though. I guess NH missed out on some of the storms that have plowed through the more southern parts of the New England states this winter. I hope the local ski areas are getting by.

Best regards to you, Michael and John from me and Tracy. Hope to make it back out to your neck of the woods in the not-too-distant future.
Hey Jim, nice to hear from you! It was great to ride with you guys, I wish I could have joined you for VT. My house is done for the most part so I have more time to play these days. Best wishes to Tracy too
crazy wow! - the frozen falls pic belongs on the wall

how much elevation gain was involved and how long did all this take.... and how do bikes handle in the snow??? And how do you know where the trail is when you ride down on fresh powder? So many questions but we dont have snow here in CA:)
screampint said:
Thanks! This is a great shot!

That is the money shot for sure.

Moody, ominous, cold = not your average MTB photo.
10 years in Florida and now in Minot ND, I MISS NH!
Hopefully life reunites us again. Nice pics guys, super jealous.
Super cool adventure trip! Coupla questions (I'm from the West, forgive my naivete): is the Kearsarge in question the same as Kearsarge Pass in the Sierra Nevada? (Guessing so, but who knows?) Also, I'm surprised there aren't ice climbers at Pitcher- looks like prime top-rope territory- any thoughts?

Props for getting out in those conditions- badass!

Regards,

jb
Mt. Kearsarge; thanks for.............

...........the memories. I am a native NH son, growing up in Milford and being around when hang gliding was just taking off (pardon the pun) and we had a designer/manufacturer in the next town - Sky Sports, headed up by a backyard genius named Terry McSweeney. This was back in the day when hang-gliding was more affordable ($600 to $1000 got you into the sport) and foot launching was more forgiving in terms of having more of a directional parachute than a real airfoil, we used to fly off Kearsarge all the time. Fun times, but the landing was barely a postage stamp and many landings ended up in trees. Still, thanks for the reminder of happier, more carefree days - 1976.
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