Garfield 4500' - September 8, 2026

Although the weather wasn’t perfect, we didn’t get rained on and we had another large group of 11 hikers! More importantly, we celebrated Jonathan and Becky completing their first round of the NH 48 4,000 footers! Congratulations!!

The group hiked Mt. Garfield using the Garfield Trail and a little bit of the Garfield Ridge Trail. Chris ascended using the Skookumchuck and Garfield Ridge Trails.

We had a wonderful celebration at the bottom of the trail with champagne, brownies and wonderful homemade cake! And Larry joined us to celebrate, too!

Below are Becky, Jonathan, Pam, Deb, Jane, Chas, Doug, Chris, Andy and Dick. No views but lots of smiling faces (even Dick!)!

Congratulations Jonathan and Becky!

The party begins!

Andy and Deb celebrated completing their second round, too!

 As is our long-standing tradition for the day after Labor Day, on Sept. 8 the Turtles hiked at the Flume Gorge, and then treated ourselves to lunch at Polly's Pancake Parlor.

Ann, Chris, Ricky, John, Mary Lou, Ted

 

On Sept. 4, the Friday Walkers hiked the Dot Banks trail to Lost Lake.

John, Jane, Kathie, Robyn, Neng, Ricky, Li   photographer:  Ann

 On Aug. 25, the Turtles hiked the appropriately-named Boulder Loop.

Monty, Irena, Denise, Karen, Tracy, Jeff, Lorraine

 It might have been raining in other parts of NH on Sept. 1, but it was a lovely day in Bartlett where the Turtles hiked Black Cap.

Karen, Lorraine, Jane, Nancy, Irena, John   Photographer:  Ricky

Mt Madison and Adams - August 31, 2026

There was a lot of interest in this hike. Twelve of us (!) hiked up Valley Way on a perfect late summer day, with clear skies and cool, dry air. High up on the trail, Steve M cut over to the Airline trail, then on up to bag Adams (5799'), while the rest of us continued to Madison Hut. After a brief stop at the hut to snack, we did the half mile scramble up over boulders to the top of Mt Madison (5367'). On the way up, we encountered two more of us, Larry and Andy, who had decided separately to do the hike also but left earlier. They connected atop Madison and were on their way down. "Small world," amid a much larger one! The view up there is 360 degrees, from looking across the Great Gulf at Mt Washington, part of the Auto Road, across the notch at the Wildcat ski area, sweeping around past the Carter Range, northward to the Kilkenny Range. It seems odd that we couldn't see Mt Adams itself, just a mile and a half to our west, but that was hidden behind Mt Quincy Adams, looming above the hut. Back down at the hut, we took our time having lunch and snacking on the hut's "front porch." Below are Ginger (front), David, Marie, Barbara, Michele, Mary, Jane, Katherine, Dick, Charlie, and Leanne.

 

Our photographer, Lynn:

 

Another group hiked Adams and Madison from a different direction. Pam, Chris, Doug and Steve started from Rt 16 at the Great Gulf Wilderness Trailhead and ascended to Adams on the Great Gulf, Madison Gulf and Star Lake trails. Great Gulf and Madison Gulf are on the NH Terrifying 25 list. At the top of Adams, they met up with Andy and Larry. Upon leaving Adams, the group of 4 headed to Madison Hut and the summit of Madison before descending to Appalachia. Andy and Larry descended partly on Airline and then took the cutoff to Valley Way.

The views and the weather were absolutely tremendous.

Below are Pam, Steve and Doug on the trail. Pic by Chris.

Below are Larry, Pam, Andy, Steve and Doug on the Adams summit. Pic by Chris.

Below are Steve, Doug, Pam and Chris on the Madison summit with Mt Washington to the right.

 On Aug. 28, the Friday Walkers hiked around Knights Pond in Wolfeboro (though perhaps it is in Alton...).  A lovely trail which allows one to see the pond from many different vantage points.

Jane, John, Ricky, Lisa, Kathie, David   Photographer:  Ann