On Oct. 23, the Friday Walkers had a three-part hike on yet another beautiful fall day.  We started at Madison Boulder:

For one of us, it was the first time there; for the rest of us, no matter how many times we have seen it we are struck by how enormous it is.

Next, we hiked Diana's Baths, heading some distance up river to a spot away from the many other people who were there that day.

Linda, John, Nancy, Jane, Kathie   Photographer:  Ricky

We ended by driving to the top of  Cathedral Ledge, where we had lunch on the ledges and enjoyed the view.  

Kathie, Jane, John, Ricky, Nancy Linda

South Paugus - October 20, 2026

Four of us OTHH had yet another great mid-fall hiking day for a trip in to the south peak of Mt Paugus, a 52WAV. The air was clear and dry, with almost no breeze at all. We did the loop route, hiking first up past Mt Mexico and down to Big Rock Cave, always a nice place to stop for photos. Below is a shot of Charlie well back into the major cave.

From the cave, we went down some more, crossed Whitin Brook, and began a long climb, at times quite steep, over boulders and ledges, until finally we arrived at the "summit," which isn't quite the very top (apparently there is a short bushwhack to attain the true summit). While there is some view from that spot, we went a few yards down to the west to another open ledge, with better views, and then another few yards more, to the bigger open ledge with the unhindered views. Below is a photo of that view, looking at the east sides of Mt Whiteface and Mt Passaconaway.

From there, we followed the Lawrence Trail down and westward, up and further westward to the intersection with the Cabin Trail. That trail took us southward a few miles back to the cars.

 On Oct. 20, the Turtles hiked North and Middle Sugarloaf.  These clear and dry October days are the best!

Mary, Laura, Alan, Mary, Lorraine

North Moat - October 15, 2026

Holiday tourist crowds and traffic eliminated one good day and wet weather the next two, but then we had a really great mid-October day for a hike into/up North Moat Mountain, just to the west of North Conway. That hike starts with about two miles of fairly easy walking to the falls at Diana's Bath and beyond, following Lucy Brook. There we began the steep two-mile hike up to North Moat's summit, with views in all directions. To the east was North Conway, with the ski slopes of Cranmore Mountain rising above. Kearsarge North was quite prominent, rising by itself just to the north of Cranmore. Mt Washington was easy to spot looking northward. Westward were the mountains on either side of the Kancamagus Highway winding its way westward (but not actually visible). Southwesterly, Chocorua was easy to pick out among the hills in that direction. In the summit photo below are Dick, Michele, and Donna. Mt Washington is behind and to the right of Donna.

For the descent, we followed the Moat Mountain Trail for about a mile, to where the Red Ridge Trail begins. That took us down and northeastward, across many open ledge areas, and then down steeply, finally crossing Moat Brook. From there, the walking was very easy, but seemingly unending as the trail took us northeasterly through the low forest. Finally we crossed Lucy Brook and found ourselves back on the Moat Mountain Trail we had taken in the morning. A mile later, after about ten miles and over seven hours on the trail, we finally were back at the car and off our legs. 

 On Oct. 6, the Turtles hiked Mt. Pemigewasset.

Karen, Tracy, Irena, Mary

 On Oct. 2, the Friday Walkers hiked Pine Mt. in Alton.

Andrea, Kathie, Linda, Mary Lou, Irena, Ann, Jane

 On Oct. 9, the Friday Walkers hiked the Wilderness Trail in Thompson Wildlife Sanctuary.  We love hiking in October, and were very grateful for the well-blazed trail given all the leaves on the ground.

Stephen, Christine, Karen, Anne, Nancy, Ricky, John, Kathie  Photographer:  Ann