Monday, August 28, 2023 - Madison & Adams

 Four of us OTHH had a rather lengthy day in the northern presidentials, hiking up Madison and Adams. With an early start, it was first up Valley Way to the AMC Madison hut, then the half mile steep climb to the summit of Mt Madison. The view is, of course, outstanding, including clouds swirling around the high peaks and at times that dramatic scene across the Great Gulf to Mt Washington. Below are Bernie, Andy, and Deb atop Madison.

Back at the hut, we fueled up again for the climb over and up to Mt Adams, 2nd highest of the 4k. Below are Bernie, Andy, Deb, and Dick, with clouds swirling around us. The clouds would move around and open up great views of everything around us.

 Below is one such view across the Great Gulf at Mt Washington. On the right and closer is the shoulder of Mt Jefferson.

 The Turtles hiked at Castle in the Clouds on Aug. 29.  

One group hiked just to Bald Knob:

Hettie, Carol, Sally, Ann, John, Lea, Nancy  photographer:  Ricky

Another group also did the Brook Walk:

Mary, Nancy, Paul, Tracy, Karen, Peter, Robyn

And we all met at the top:

Aug 23rd, B group hike to Mt. Shaw, Black Snout and Big Ball Mt.

The weather was just perfect, cool, dry and sunny.  We took the trail from across Sodom Rd for a 8+ mile hike to enjoy views of waterfalls and a nice carriage road for a good portion of the hike.  

         photo L to R  John, Katherine and Tom on Shaw.

August 22, 2023 - Carters & Carter Dome

 Three of us OTHH had a rather long day above Pinkham Notch enjoying the outstanding hiking weather on a trek covering Middle Carter, South Carter, Mt Hight, and Carter Dome. This route provides fabulout views across the notch to Mt Washington and northern presidentials and the other way to the Baldfaces and other area peaks. Below are Pat and Pam atop the "majestic summit" of South Carter (ok, so there are no views from right there).

 

But the views from Mt Hight, a shallow rise off the north shoulder of Carter Dome, are well worth the extra 0.2 mile alternate route to Carter Dome. Below is the view across the notch from there.

 The Turtles enjoyed wonderful weather as we hiked Boulder Loop on Aug. 22.  Part of the loop has been extensively rerouted, and it's now more resilient to traffic and heavy rains.

In front of one of the boulders for which the trail is named.

Karen, John, Monty, Nancy, Christina, Lea, Tracy. Photographer:  Ricky

And on top!

Monty, Lea, Nancy, Karen, John, Ricky, Christina.  Photographer:  Tracy

Aug 17, 2023, B Group hikes Middle Sister

 Michele, Lacey, Barbara, John and Leanne tramped up through mud, rain, slippery ledges, and fog to summit Middle Sister. John decided to bag Chocorua as well- even though the entire region was fogged in! We had a great time! Lots of conversation  along with a good workout (and a few minor slips coming down)

Above, Left to Right: Barbara, Leanne and John at Champney Falls.

Below: Leanne, Michelle, John, Barbara and Lacey at Middle Sister summit.  

Mt Carrigain - August 14, 2023

 Pam and Dick did the hike up the Signal Ridge trail to Mt Carrigain, finding better viewing conditions than had been forecast. Below is Pam at the outlook on the ridge where the trail first comes out of the trees.

Below, looking northeast, is Vose Spur, off Carrigain's shoulder, and across Carrigain Notch is the ledgy west flank of Mt Lowell. Off in the distance right above Vose Spur is Webster Cliff up in Crawford Notch, with the long southern slope of Mt Willey near the edge of the photo. Mt Washington is up in the clouds somewhere beyond.

 On Aug. 11, the Friday Walkers hiked Smart's Brook in Campton.

John, Doug, Gerry, Marshall, Pauline, Jane, Tracy, Betsy

Aug 10, 2023, The Osceolas

 6 of us started early to avoid the predicted afternoon showers.  The parking lot off Tripoli Rd was crowded at 7:30am on a weekday.  We made our way to the beautiful overlook at Osceola, grabbed a snack then 4 of us navigated over to East Osceola.  

Above: Susan, Katherine, Tracy, Dick, Jane and Ginger

Below, going "around" the chimney, Tracy, Jane and Dick

At East Osceola the summit is just a rock pile.  Above is Tracy, Dick, Ginger and Jane.

Heading up the "chimney wall".

 The Turtles headed out to Mt. Kearsarge on Aug. 1.  A beautiful day and amazing views!

Deb, Linda, Peter, Tracy, Paul, Nancy, Mary, Karen, Lin

Aug 1, 2023, B group, Mt. Eastman

 It was a beautiful day for a hike- clear views with low humidity and heat. Katherine, Ginger, Cindy, and Leanne summited Mt Eastman after a 2 + hour steady climb. We saw few hikers all day, and returned by about 2pm after a short trip to view Emerald Pool- no cold water swimmers in this crowd!

We had a great day!

Aug 1, 2023 - Liberty and Flume

On an excellent summer hiking day, seven of us OTHH made the tough hike up to the southern pair of Franconia Ridge peaks. Six of us did an out-and back route, up to Liberty, over to Flume, back to Liberty, and down again. Meanwhile, Larry did a separate loop trip, up the Flume Slide Trail to Flume first. We crossed paths on the 1.2 mile trail between peaks. Pictured below are Dick, Jane, Jonathan, Pam, Wharton, and Becky. In the background are (left) Mt Lincoln, (beside Jonathan's head) Garfield, and (either side of Wharton) the long Owls Head ridge.