On Aug. 8, the Friday Walkers hiked Center Harbor Woods and the Proctor Wildlife Preserve.

 Mary, Carol, Kathie, Jorge, Lisa, Nancy, Charlie

August 5, 2025 - Mt Isolation

 It was an unusually large group of us OTHH that hiked in to aptly named Mt Isolation. This peak, on the NH 48 4K list, is not easy to bag, being on a remote ridge that is part of the Dry River Wilderness. Our route took us up the Rocky Branch trail from route 16 (Pinkham Notch), to one height of land, down and then back up another high point, and finally almost to the Rocky Branch River. At this point, we were about 3.4 miles in from the highway. From here, we took a short herd path/bushwhack (0.2 mile) through a damp, mossy area, emerging on the Isolation Trail, having bypassed two crossings and saving a half mile of trail. Trekking north a couple of miles, and taking another herd path around crossings 3 and 4, we came to an unavoidable crossing. But the dry weather of late made for low water flow and easy rock-hopping. Pressing on northward, we took a very short third bypass through a tent site near the intersection with the Davis Path. Then it was only another mile of easy hiking along Davis to the short spur trail up the rest of the way to the summit of Isolation, with about 6.5 miles of trail behind us.

Meanwhile, Jonathan and Becky had hiked in via the Glen Boulder trail, which oddly takes one first to a point a thousand feet higher than Isolation itself! 

It turned out that Larry had started his hike early, reached the top of Isolation ahead of us, headed down, and missed us at that tent site shortcut. He stayed on the main trail to the trail junction, then started back down the Isolation trail just as the main group was cutting off the corner, just yards away!

But at the top of Isolation, there were eight of us gathered for lunch. Carol completed her first round of the 48 4K on this peak. It was interesting that we had our celebration lunch along with another woman, hiking with a friend, who also completed her first round of the 4K. Below, at the top, are Pat, Becky, Jonathan, Carol, Jane, Deb, Dick, and Andy.

The long lunch over, we began our 6+ mile hike back out. Shortly after leaving the summit, we finally encountered Doug and Pam, who had been delayed patching up a couple of wounds Pam suffered, one on her arm and another, more serious, on her leg, a result of close encounters with broken branches. But the pair continued to the top, then hiked out, passing us on the way out, as usual. Over ten hours from the start, we all gathered at the parking lot for a tailgate celebration of round finishers. It turned out that the previous week's hike, up Adams and Madison, marked the completion of Pat's "over 75" round. Finally we hit the road home, although for Pam there was a detour to the ER to have her leg wound properly addressed.

Patsy finishes her 52 WAV!!!

 Bravo, Patsy!  So happy for you as you celebrate your 52 With a View after climbing to Bald Peak, one of our newest additions to the list.  While that day the weather might not have allowed for the view, I'm so glad the celebration with friends, some yummy desserts and beverages made it all worth while.  Well done, and Congratulations!!!

From L to R: Barb, Deb, Patsy and Michele.

A little post hike bubbly to celebrate the occassion.

Michele, Patsy and Barb.

Patsy, our latest 52 WAV finisher!  

July 28, 2025 - Adams & Madison

Six of us OTHH had a sunny but warm and humid summer day for knocking off one of the more difficult hikes in the White Mountains - Adams (5799') and Madison (5366') in the presidential range. Our route took us from the Appalachia trailhead parking area to the north of the range first up Valley Way, the primary route to the AMC Madison hut. Short of the hut, we took the very short Upper Bruin connector trail up and over to the Airline trail, coming out of the woods mostly above treeline. From here on, we were treated to those unending vistas, first looking across and down (steeply) in King Ravine. We also found ourselves treated to a very nice breeze, almost chilly! Up further, we took Gulfside over to Thunderstorm Junction, then up the rest of the way to the peak of Adams. Below are Andy, Andrea, Deb, Pat, Dick, and Jonathan at the summit, pic courtesy of another hiker.

 Following a much deserved lunch, it was back down to Gulfside, over and down to Madison hut. Most of us made the half mile ascent to bag Madison (may as well while we're up here), then returned to the hut for more snacking to fuel the long trip down Valley Way to the cars. All done, it was a very long day on our feet, covering over ten miles of rough trail, and climbing a total of over 5,000 vertical feet. There was, after all, a steep (pun intended) price to pay for those glorious prolonged views above treeline.

B group hikes Mt. Monadanock, July 23rd

 Tracy, John, Cathy, Ann, Steve J. and Griff enjoyed a hike up the Dublin trail to the summit of Mt. Monadanock.  This route is a bit rugged, but is a good choice in regards to the number of hikers you see.  You may be more likely to hear and see the logging operation taking place, but even that is not a huge deal, as they're doing a nice job keeping the integrity of the trail.  We were so happy with the weather, low humidity, and a nice breeze.  I'd say it was a solid 10.

B group hikes Morgan & Percival, June 26, 2025 (late entry)

A nice hike up Percival and Morgan to enjoy the lake views.  We skipped the caves and ladders, but had a wonderful hike.  Lot's of kids from camp were out, we saw two sets of young folks, one boys camp and a group of girls.  Nice to see so many people enjoying the trails.  Fun to hear all the, are we there yet, questions.  

John, Ginger, Susan, Mary and Tracy 

July 22, 2025 - Whiteface & Passaconaway

 Eight of the A group hikers had a great (cooler, low humidity, sunny) day for a hike up Whiteface, with six of us continuing on to bag Passaconaway also. There actually seemed to be four different hike groups, with different starting times. Deb & Andy started earliest, followed by Pat and Dick, then Hilary and Cynthia, and finally Pam and Doug. Those who have gone up Whiteface using the Blueberry Ledge Trail will remember a series of  challenging rock face climbs high up on the mountain. Below is Pat part way up one of the least difficult of these. A minute later gave us one of the great views from the open ledge areas up high, with Mt Passaconaway standing prominently to the left of center.

 

 

Pam and Doug passed first the Hilary/Cindy pair and later caught up to Pat and Dick as the latter pair had finished snacking at the open ledge view area often mistaken by hikers as the top of Whiteface. This is where the Rollins Trail starts northward, passes over the wooded actual Whiteface summit 0.3 mile from that "view summit," and eventually curves eastward. From the actual Whiteface summit, Rollins finally ends about 2.5 miles later at the Dicey's Mill Trail, where Pat and Dick met up with Deb and Andy, who already had been up the 0.9 mile remainder of Dicey's Mill to the Passaconaway wooded summit (no view there). Deb and Andy continued downward, while Pat & Dick went on and up to bag Passaconaway, passing Pam and Doug again as the latter pair were on the way back down. The descent from Passaconaway to the parking area at Ferncroft is fairly easy hiking, although 4.6 miles at the end of an already long hike makes for an exhausting day on foot.

Hilary and Cindy, having planned to do just Whiteface, went back down to Ferncroft the way they had ascended.