2019 Ski and Snowshoe schedule

Happy New Year everyone!

 Below is a link to the 2019 Ski and Snowshoe schedule.  These are outings that are designed for all levels.  They are typically easy / flat and shorter in distance.  Following the outing, the host offers soup.  You are invited to bring a sandwich to supplement the soup and have a lunch together.

It is an RSVP event, so please contact the host prior to Thursday to include yourself in the days event.  It is always subject to change due to weather or any other unexpected occurrence.

Looking forward to seeing you all as we enjoy winter in New England, and an opportunity to enjoy a bit of OTHH camaraderie!

OTHH Ski / Snow shoe Schedule

Through life, we love and experience loss

It is with great sadness that I want to share with friends and fellow hikers, the loss of two great men.

On November 20th, 2018, Henry Metzger died at Kendal in Hanover, NH.  You can read about Henry's life and contributions here: https://www.vnews.com/henry-metzger-obit-vn-112218-21709541

In addition, last night I heard of the passing of Richard (Dick) Stuart.  Ruth and Dick planned a visit to the Washington DC area to be with family for Thanksgiving. It is there where Dick would have an unexpected surgery for his heart.  Complications arose, and Dick made his path to God.  He died November 30, 2018.  To read his obituary and more about his life and accomplishments, please go to: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/concordmonitor/obituary.aspx?n=richard-thompson-stuart&pid=190903873&fbclid=IwAR0ImAOFMyGf6hB8mdAa-Au3nSUJXo8MFBsQijg_vsMK0YKj_oGFyIq1ciY

Mt Roberts - October 26, 2018

Doug, Dick, and new to the group Bob Sweeny did a quickly organized trip up Mt Roberts, in the Ossipees. There was snow on top, as well as on the White Mountains in the background.

Celebrating accomplishments and the end of our 2018 hiking season

Today we gathered at the Benz Center, with about 50 people in attendance.  We celebrated 39 years of hiking, friendships and camaraderie.  It started out in Center Sandwich in 1979, and has grown to include surrounding areas, and then some.  

"We celebrated Ellen's completion of her "48 over 70" round (doing all of NH's 48 4K footers after reaching age 70) and also her 8th round overall."  We also celebrated Doug's 1st round completing the 48 4k footers in one hiking season!  

With great enthusiasm, Doug had a wonderful skit where he proudly shed a shirt for each of the 8 huts, the Presidential Traverse, the 48 4000' and ending with how it all got started,  getting involved with the Over the Hill Hikers.

We remembered our beloved friends that have passed on, those that have retired their boots and welcomed new comers to our gathering.  

We had a great season, and expanded our activities to include kayaking this past summer. 

We look forward to plans in 2019 to include a backpacking trip, a hut to hut hike, and generating interest in an overseas hiking adventure.  

Cheers to all!  Look forward to seeing you this winter.  Happy Trails!

October 16th, 2018 Turtles hike

The Turtles hike Little Sugarloaf for great views of Newfound Lake: Fabulous Fall Day with Friends !!

Ski & Snowshoe planning for 2019

As we close out the 39th year of the Over the Hill Hikers Season, and start looking forward to our 40th year in 2019, Milan and Carl McNall would like to invite you to consider hosting a ski and snowshoe day for 2019.

The calendar will be available for hosts/cohosts to signup at the October 25th Potluck at the Benz Center on Thursday (11:30).  

We are ever so grateful to and for these volunteer commitments.  Thank you all in advance.  If you are new to the program and want to understand what this commitment entails, please give me a call.     Milan McNall 284-7400

October 16, Doug celebrates completing his 48 4,000 footers!!!!

The "A" hike for Tuesday was up Garfield. John and Doug hiked the 10 miles in and out on the Garfield Trail. The weather was cold, with temps between 28 and 40 and windy, with a steady 30 mph. The Lafayette summit was in the clouds but the rest of the Pemi Wilderness provided terrific views.

With this hike, Doug completed his first round of the NH 48 4000 footers!!

The picture below is of John and Doug on the summit with the Bonds in the background.  

 The picture below is of John and Doug at the completion of the hike.   

Wildcat Ridge Sunday October 14.

Doug did a solo hike along the Wildcat Ridge on Sunday October 14. He started at the Glen Ellis Falls parking lot on Route 16 and hiked up the Wildcat Ridge Trail. On that trail, the peaks that are summited are Wildcat E, D, C, B and A. All are over 4000 feet but only A and D count toward the 48. There were great views of Washington and some of the other northern Presidentials. Doug visited the Carter Notch Hut before descending on the Nineteenmile Brook Trail.

The picture below is of Doug on the summit of Wildcat D with Washington in the distance. What's that white stuff at the top?   

The picture below is of Doug on the summit of Wildcat A looking down at the Carter Notch Hut and with Carter Dome in the distance. 

Monday Sep 24 up Carrigain.

The "A" hike on Monday September 24 was up Carrigain. John, Pete and Doug went up and down the Signal Ridge Trail. The day started out quite foggy with all of the summits obscured. By noon, though, when they reached the summit, the clouds had lifted to the south, yielding great views. To the north, into the Pemi Wilderness, the clouds stayed low so the summits were not visible. The tower at the top gets you above the trees so there are excellent views.

The picture below is of Pete, Doug and John at the summit.

 The picture below is of the three at the bottom after the 10.6 mile hike.

POTLUCK, Oct 25th, 2018

Hello Friends and Hikers,

The upcoming Potluck will be held on October 25th, 2018 at 11:30, at the Doris Benz Center, located at 18 Heard Rd, Center Sandwich.

Please bring a dish to share.  Lunch will be at noon.

Sign up sheet is available at: OTHH Potluck sign up sheet

In addition, we are taking orders for T-Shirts, Tech Shirts, Fleece and Hats.  Please check out the following link for more information:  OTHH Shirt order

And lastly, Jean Knox has completed the OTHH cookbook!  The Cookbook will be available for sale at the potluck. $10 a copy for 17 recipes.  

Oct 10th, 2018, "A" Group Hikes Owl's Head

Jeanne O'Callaghan, John Buckley and Doug Wright hiked to the summit of Owl's Head. Jeanne is a newcomer to the OTHH and the "A" group. We started hiking at 7:15, taking the Black Pond bushwhack on the way up. There was some degree of difficulty following the bushwhack with all the leaves covering the path but we made our way to the point where the real trail crosses the river. We summited between 12:30 and 1:00. We took the Brutus bushwhack on the way down, but not any other bushwhacks, and were back at the car by 6:30. We didn't need to use headlamps but it was getting quite dark when we arrived at the car.

The picture below is of Owl's Head from the summit of Little Haystack on the  Franconia Ridge. The slide is easily seen just to the right of center.

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The picture above is of Doug, Jeanne and John at the summit of Owl's Head with the summit cairn. You would think that after hiking over 9 miles there would be a bigger cairn.

Franconia Ridge, September 27th, 2018

Doug (one of our A group hikers), did a solo hike on the Franconia Ridge. He took a clockwise route going by the Greenleaf Hut, Lafayette, Lincoln and Little Haystack. The weather was great and the views included Camel's Hump in Vermont and Mt. Washington.

The picture below is of Doug on top of Lafayette with Mt Washington in the distance.

 The picture above is of Doug on top of Lincoln with Lafayette in the background and Garfield to the right.

The picture above is of the Falling Waters below Little Haystack.

The picture above is of Doug on top of Little Haystack with Lincoln in the background. 

2018 Fall Potluck

This year's fall potluck is scheduled for Thursday, Oct 25th at the Benz Center (18 Heard Rd, Center Sandwich, NH) for an 11:30 arrival, with lunch at noon.  

Please bring a dish to share.  There is a sign up sheet available at: OTHH POTLUCK SIGN UP SHEET. (Best accessed through a regular computer, verses a cell phone or iPad.).  If you have trouble with the sign up sheet, no worries, you can email me what you would like to bring, and I can add it for you if you would like.

I will provide beverages, plates / bowls, utensils, and napkins.  

No RSVP is necessary, and the invitation is for all those past and present hikers, including those who wish to become more involved with the OTHH group in the future.  

This will close out the 39th year of the OTHH season, and next year we will welcome the 40th year for the OTHH group.  Quite the accomplishment.  

If you have any questions, please drop me an email, otherwise I look forward to seeing you on the 25th, of October, or before!

Sincerely,

Tracy Ripkey

The Sandwich Fair, 2018

A wonderful turnout to march in the Sandwich Fair Parade.  Of course we kept with tradition, and took first place in our category.  Thank you to everyone who turned out.  

Cannon Mt - September 30, 2018

Ellen's Cannon hike was moved up by later weather concerns and to enable her three sons to join her as she completed both her eighth round and her over-70 round of the 48 4000 footers. In the pics below they pose on "the ladder" high up on the mountain and again atop the summit tower, with Lafayette and Lincoln across the notch. Pics by Dick.

Bald Knob hike, September 27, 2018

September hiking doesn’t get better than this: Beautiful weather for a moderate hike on Bald Knob in the Ossipees. We took the Bald Knob Cut Off going up—a little rough and slippery after heavy rain the night before— and took an easy, slightly longer hike on the Turtleback carriage road heading down. There were nine of us: Elaine Vazanna, Shirley Stanek, Christine Wright, John Robbins, Cheryl Ouelette, Betty Heaney, Kathy Thorndike, Deb Guyer, and hike leader Jean Knox. 

All in all, a terrific day!

Last kayaking trip for 2018

7 braved the cold windy morning to paddle squaw cove then around Hoag Island. It was a successful, and dry last outing for the season.

Still kayaking!

Wow, the OTHH kayaking group is still getting out there and it's the end of September!  Impressive!

Sep 17th, 2018, Turtles hike Mt. Willard

Our OTHH matriarch, Sue Speers,  and her granddaughter, Nellie, were accompanied by Jane Harrington, Judy Ryerson, and Betsy Loughran up Mt. Williard on Sept 17th.  We started in the rain from Sandwich, but by the time we got to the top we had perfect sunshine.  The view down the valley was spectacular and even Mt. Washington was out of the clouds.

Sep 20, 2018 Hike to Mt. Crawford and Mt. Resolution

6 of us hiked the steep climb up the Davis Path trail to Mt. Crawford.  What a doozy of a climb!  The view was very limited due to the low clouds / fog, but the mist felt refreshing.  After a bit of lunch, we made our way over the nice (and gentle) trail to Mt. Resolution.  We were never really sure of the summits for either mountain, as signs and survey markers weren't easily found.  But, once we started to go down hill, we thought we might be on our way to Parker, which was not in the plan for that day.

The hike was great.  A challenging trail, but a rewarding one.  I look forward to going back to get Stairs.  There just wasn't enough time in the day to get all three.

Tracy's BFF Sarah (on left) visiting from PA.

Lacy, Sara, Ginger, Tracy and Nellie

Mt Zealand - September 20, 2018

Ellen, son Derek, John, and Dick hiked in to the AMC Zealand Falls hut, then up the Twinway and over to Mt Zealand. That made it #47 for Ellen for her eighth round of the 48 and also her over-70 round. Below are three of us at the treed summit (pic by Derek). Then you see Derek, Ellen, and John back at Zeacliff, with the nice view of Zealand Notch behind them.

Mt. Eisenhower - September 17, 2018

Taking advantage of weather, Dick did Mt Eisenhower solo, closing out his fourth round of the 48. Weather was great for the hike. Below is the view south from the barren summit.

Owls Head - September 9, 2018

Ellen and Sharon left Lincoln Woods early for the long trek up to the bridge, left up to Franconia Falls, through the "Fisherman's Bushwhack" to skip two crossings and about a mile of trail, and finally up to where the side trail goes up Owls Head itself. At that point, they were about seven miles in from the highway. The "trail" up the side of Owls Head is basically a loose rock slide going up a couple thousand feet in a mile or so. For part of that, there are nice views westward of the "back side" of the Franconia Ridge. The trail disappears into the trees again, tops out on the ridge, and continues another 0.2 mile to the "true summit." Meanwhile, Dick and Susan followed the same route in and caught up to Ellen and Sharon up top. Then it was back out the way we went in. What a long day that was. Below is Susan where the trail first tops out, then Ellen and Sharon back down at the bottom of the junction with the Lincoln Woods Trail.