Region: New England (White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire)
Distance: 23 Miles, 2 days

Physical Difficulty: (Moderate)

• ~3,800 feet elevation gain 
• Unmarked herd path to summit of Owl’s Head
• Up to 15 stream and river crossings 

Logistical Difficulty: (Moderate) 

• No cell phone service
• Plentiful water sources (filtering recommended)
• Only one designated tent site (fee Memorial Day to Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
• Fee to park at trailhead

Season: Fall, Summer
Elevation (average): 2,000-3,000 feet
Total Elevation Gain: ~3,800 feet 

How to get to the Inner-Pemi Loop Trailhead

Nearest City: Lincoln, New Hampshire  (5 miles)

Parking is one of the benefits of the loop. The parking lot at Lincoln Woods Trailhead is five miles from Lincoln, directly off Interstate 93. There is a fee per night to park at the trailhead through a self-serve box at the trailhead. Although the parking lot is large, it can fill up quickly on weekends during peak season. There are bathroom facilities and the Lincoln Woods Visitor Center at the trailhead where you can buy last-minute supplies.

If you fly into Manchester or Boston, there are shuttle services offered through Concord Coach Lines to Lincoln.

Ali’s Rides (603) 348-3914 and Priority Transportation (603) 631-6242 are particularly reliable.

Hiking the Inner-Pemi Loop 

This loop is one of my favorite hikes in the White Mountains. I like it so much I did the loop two times in one summer and both times it was the perfect length and difficulty. The Inner-Pemi Loop has up to 15 water crossings and should not be attempted in high-water years or in late spring when snowmelt could make for treacherous conditions. The majority of this hike is located within the Pemigewasset Wilderness and additional regulations should be followed for camping in a wilderness location. There is a caretaker fee to camp at Thirteen Falls Tentsite during peak season (Memorial Day to Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day) and camping is first come, first serve for parties under six people. Additional information can be found here.

The Inner-Pemi Loop starts and finishes on a heavily trafficked trail known as the Lincoln Woods Trail outside Lincoln, on the Kancamagus Highway. The majority of this loop is located on old railroad beds from the logging operations that took place in the Pemigewasset Wilderness in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The trails pass by the sites of five old logging camps and artifacts from the old logging operations can also be found along the trail. Please do not remove any artifacts from the sites. 

The first 3 miles of trail are heavily trafficked, wide, and flat. Upon crossing the second bridge, the trails are still easy to follow, but less maintained. Don’t be surprised if the trails are muddy and wet, even during fall. Shortly after the second bridge crossing bear left onto the Franconia Brook Trail, and about 1.7 miles later take another left onto the Lincoln Brook Trail. This is where the water crossings begin. There will be several crossings that will require either rock hopping, getting your feet wet, or both. 

As you near the herd path to Owl’s Head, the trail will be unavoidably wet. Prior to the herd path, there is one flat spot where people set up camp. There are also several spots near the trail at the junction with the Owl’s Head herd path where people camp. Make sure to follow wilderness camping regulations if you choose to camp along this stretch of trail.

The junction where the Owl’s Head herd path starts is marked by two cairns, one on the left and one on the right side of the trail. Owl’s Head, once a seldom-visited mountain, has become just as popular as many of the other peaks on the New Hampshire 4,000-footer list. Although the trail is unmaintained and considered a path, it is pretty easy to follow. The trail leads through the woods and then pops out onto a slide, which is where the majority of the elevation gain (1,450 feet in one mile) is achieved. After re-entering the trees, the trail continues at a steep pitch and using tree branches to pull yourself up is required in some spots. Eventually the trail levels out at the top of the ridge that leads to the summit of Owl’s Head. Bear left and follow the path for an additional quarter mile along the ridge, climbing over and going around several blowdowns, until you reach a small cairn marking the wooded summit. Although the summit is wooded, there are a few spots along the herd path where you can see up toward Franconia Ridge. 

Upon completing the climb to and from Owl’s Head, the remainder of this loop is less traveled and less maintained. Passing the cairns marking the herd path, you will begin the 3.5-mile trek deep into the Pemigewasset Wilderness. The trail becomes muddy with some mild climbs as you pass along the side of Owl’s Head and the banks of Lincoln Brook. There are a few spots where views of the Franconia Ridge can be seen through the trees. 

Eventually the trail descends toward Thirteen Falls Tentsite. There is a stream crossing as you reach the final stretch of the Lincoln Brook Trail that requires getting your feet wet as you cross Franconia Brook and rejoin the Franconia Brook Trail. Be aware that this crossing may be impassable during high water. Upon crossing Franconia Brook, bear left toward Thirteen Falls Tentsite. Bearing right, there are several beautiful waterfalls along the first stretch of the Franconia Brook Trail, heading back toward the Lincoln Woods Trail. The trail continues a gradual descent and eventually levels out, following old railroad beds where the railroad ties are still visible at times. The final section of the Franconia Brook Trail, prior to the junction with the Lincoln Brook Trail, flanks wetland that may spill over into the trail, making keeping your feet dry impossible. Once past this wetland the trail continues on a straight and level path until it meets back up with the Lincoln Woods Trail and thus the loop is complete.   

When to Hike the Inner-Pemi Loop

The Inner-Pemi Loop is best hiked after Memorial Day weekend through early-to-mid October. The best time is August to September to avoid the buggy season while still having longer days and warmer nights. I wouldn’t recommend hiking this loop in winter unless you are prepared with winter gear and prepared to break trail for several miles. Additionally, hiking this loop in early spring would mean contending with rotting monorails and higher water, along with damage to the trails by having to navigate around seasonal wet stretches and mud. 

Inner-Pemi Loop Terrain 

The majority of this loop is within a wilderness boundary and is heavily forested. There are several areas where the trails are muddy due to beaver dams or simply because of the overabundance of water in and around the trail corridor. The herd path to the summit of Owl’s Head is an unmaintained trail and has no trail markers. There is a section of this path on a slide, meaning that the trail is covered in scree and loose rock and is at a pitch that may require scrambling rather than hiking. The majority of this loop has minimal changes in elevation, with the majority concentrated in a few steep climbs. There are at least 15 water crossings ranging in difficulty from minimal (rock hoppable) to requiring fording (knee-high water on a 5’5” hiker). 

Logistics: Camping, Permits, Land Management

Camping and Permits: Camping at Thirteen Falls Tentsite requires a caretaker fee from Memorial Day to Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. There are plenty of spots along the loop for stealth camping as long as you follow regulations for camping in a wilderness corridor. Camping at Thirteen Falls is on a first come, first serve basis for parties under six. 

Land Management: Almost the entirety of this loop is situated in a wilderness boundary and wilderness camping rules apply. 

Water: Water is plentiful along the entirety of the loop, but it should be filtered.  

Know Before You Go

This is a loop that shouldn’t be attempted by hikers who are not experienced in navigating in wilderness boundaries where there are fewer trail markers and the trails are less groomed. The herd path leading to the summit of Owl’s Head shouldn’t be attempted by those who are not able to navigate on unmarked herd paths. Additionally, this trail may be more difficult to navigate in wetter conditions, and the river crossings may be difficult during high water. 

Resources

White Mountain Guidebook & Maps
Wilderness Regulations 
4,000-Footers List
Mountain Forecast
Hike Safe Card 
New England Trail Conditions

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Many individuals volunteering for trail work are getting older. As they “retire” from the work, fewer younger people are picking up the slack. In talking about adoption with a fellow hiker, I realized not many people know about the process. This means fewer people are likely to do it. I hope I can remove some of the confusion about adopting a trail or to volunteering on trails, whether National Scenic Trails or local trails in any state.

Where to Start with Adopting a Section of Trail

The many organizations responsible for our public lands and trails can be overwhelming, so here’s a general overview of who does what and where. 

Bureau of Land Management – Manages 1 in every 10 acres of land in the United States, including 6,000 miles of trails spread across 18 National Scenic Trails found in 15 states. Volunteer information can be found here on how to reach a local volunteer coordinator. The most well-known volunteer opportunity offered through the BLM is National Public Lands Day.      

National Park Service – Oversees over 85 million acres of land and 423 areas across the country, including national monuments, parks, military parks, etc. Volunteer opportunities can be found here. 

National Trails System – Overseen by the National Park Service. According to their website, “the National Trails System consists of 30 national scenic and historic trails, as well as more than a thousand recognized regional or local national recreational trails and several side or connecting trails.” Volunteer opportunities can be found here. 

United States Forest Service – Locally, this is the best place to find out about volunteer opportunities for your state. This organization manages over 77 million acres of land across the United States. In terms of volunteering in the national forests, this is the agency that oversees volunteer opportunities. Further information can be found here.

Volunteer.gov – Volunteer.gov serves as a one-stop-shop for government public land volunteer opportunities. If you’re confused by what agency oversees things in your state, go to volunteer.gov and search for volunteer opportunities in your area.

Volunteer Opportunities by National Scenic Trail

There are many local organizations maintaining and managing National Scenic Trails. Although this is not a comprehensive list of all of the historic and recreation trails in the United States, it encompasses the designated National Scenic Trails in the US.   

Appalachian Trail 
Arizona Trail
Continental Divide Trail
Florida Trail
Ice Age Trail
Natchez Trace Parkway
New England Trail
North Country Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Northwest Trail

Volunteer Opportunities by State

On a local level, there are dozens of groups and organizations that manage and maintain trails across the US. For example, in New Hampshire there are 92 organizations that maintain trails, and each organization offers volunteer opportunities. On top of that, there are dozens of local state parks with chances to volunteer.

Trail Organizations by State – This website is a godsend for anyone who wants to know every organization responsible for maintaining trails or public lands.

State Parks – This website links to the state parks that are found in each state. Volunteering at a state park is another way to give back to the public lands, and some state parks have vast networks of trails that need to be maintained. 

Yes, You Should Consider Adopting a Trail!

As someone who spends the majority of my free time hiking on public lands, I feel it’s my responsibility to give back to the trails. The beautiful thing about adopting a trail is that you discover how much work goes into maintaining trail systems across the US. If you have ever had to spend a day cleaning out water bars, brushing out overgrown trails, or clearing blowdowns with hand saws, then you understand the sense of pride and ownership that comes with taking an active role in maintaining our trail systems.

Your perspective will shift and you can notice things like how corridors in wilderness areas are narrower, where recent trail work has been done, or when a trail is not being maintained. Hiking will no longer be just about walking from point A to point B. In picking up a tool and working the land, you will learn to appreciate how much labor and love goes into maintaining our trails.

I hope more hikers will get out there and volunteer on their local trails. Then, hopefully, more people will begin to understand what an incredible gift it is to have thousands of miles of trails to explore and feel a sense of pride and ownership in keeping our trails in good shape for future generations. 

The post Want to Volunteer for Trail Maintenance? Here’s How to Get Started appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

“There’s so much competition and it seems like everybody knows everybody else.”

I’ve always been intrigued by the subculture of New Hampshire’s White Mountain list hikers, along with the spillover into Vermont and Maine. 

As a major data junky with a Type A(+) personality, there is nothing that drives me more than a good list. In 2016, I discovered the Appalachian Mountain Club’s 4000er Hiking List, and all of my wildest hiking dreams came true. Composed of the 48 tallest mountains in New Hampshire, the list was established in 1957 to spread out the traffic on more popular peaks and encourage hikers to explore lesser-known areas of the White Mountains. When the list was established, the founding members couldn’t have foreseen that in less than 60 years the number of aspiring 4000er Club members would be in the tens of thousands, or that yearly inductions into the club would be in the thousands, growing each year. It seems like everyone and their neighbor is working on “The 48” and with Facebook groups with memberships totaling over 70,000, the likelihood of aspiring 48ers will only grow. 

As exciting as it was for me to finish “The 48” in 2018, the best part about this list is that it will take you down a rabbit hole of variations, spinoffs, and extensions. To name a few: the New England 67 requires all of the tallest peaks in New England. The 52 With A View are 52 peaks not on the NH 48 list, but all have views. The Belknap Range Hiking Patch means you’ve hiked all 12 peaks in that range. The two most coveted—and hardest—lists are the GRID, which means hiking each of the 48 4,000-footers in every month of the year, and the White Mountains Trace. The Trace is formerly known as Red Lining, or hiking all of the 1,400+ miles of trails in the Whites. Over the past three years, I’ve plunged into the abyss of hiking lists face first, and the more time I spend in the New England hiking community, the more lists I learn about. There are over 15 hiking lists you can work on in New England, all of which come with varied levels of commitment, and all which come with the classic hiking patch.

The History of New England Hiking Lists

As much as we’d like to take credit for the hiking list phenomenon in New England hiking subculture, we have New York to thank for the initial idea. The popular Adirondack 46ers List—hiking the 46 tallest peaks in the Adirondacks—was established in 1948 and as far as I know, was the first big hiking list in the Northeast. The founders of the NH 48 took the ADK46 hiking list and adapted it for the peaks in the Whites. Farther south in 1962, another popular hiking list was born from this same idea: The Catskill 3500 Club is a list of 33 peaks in the Catskill Mountains.. 

So what is it about New Englanders that makes us so obsessed with hiking lists? A quick search for hiking lists in the United States brings up no shortage of hiking challenges around the US. However, two of the more prominent hiking challenges found in other parts of the country, the South Beyond 6,000 (Carolina Mountain Club) and the Colorado 14ers seem to be the only ones that garnish even a fraction of the attention that the lists of New England receive. So we know that peaks, ranges, challenges, and lists are found all over the US, but something sets this Northeast subculture apart.

What Makes New England Different?

I’ve lived in New Hampshire my entire life, but my husband grew up in New Mexico. He drives the speed limit, is in no hurry to get anywhere, loves to stand around and chat, heck, he makes eye contact with people who he passes on the street! I, on the other hand, have no time for any of that nonsense because there is too much to do and no time to do it. Although some of those differences can be chalked up to our personality types, I can’t help but think that some of my own attitudes and behaviors are directly caused by where I was brought up. Namely, as he so kindly puts it, I am a “typical New Englander.” 

To say these “typical New Englander” personality traits spill over into the hiking community would be an understatement. As a general rule, people working on the NH 48 tend to be heavily motivated both intrinsically and extrinsically, love to feel accomplished, and have a desire to be working toward a goal. The seemingly endless number of hiking lists can work on checks off all of the boxes, not to mention the major draw of connecting with fellow mildly neurotic, high-energy, nature-loving, weekend warriors. Although we might be less apt to stand around and shoot the breeze with someone while hiking (we’ve got peaks to bag), the mountains have a way of melting some of that New England attitude.   

 With a smaller geographic footprint and a large population living within driving distance of some of the most beautiful and rugged mountains in the United States, it doesn’t surprise me that so many people flock to the Whites (or the Adirondacks) and that the number is steadily increasing.

So who’s doing it “right?” New Englanders, who are driven to the mountains every weekend, in all sorts of weather and conditions with the hope of joining the 4000-Footer club, and maybe eventually the Gridders? Or casual hikers who don’t race home to document the peak and count backward to the ones they have remaining on their latest list? I don’t believe that there is a right or a wrong way to “do” hiking as long as you follow LNT and respect other hikers. I love working on hiking lists (I’m unofficially working on 8-10 at all times) because lists give me a sense of direction and purpose. They guide me in my planning, and with so many different hiking lists to work on, the options are endless in terms of what kind of hike I want to do on any given day. 

Having a Healthy Relationship with the Lists

Over the years, my use of the hiking lists has evolved. Now, I use them as a way to plan my hikes. With so many to choose from, there is something out there for everybody and every kind of adventure. Some days I’m in the mood for a long walk in the woods, so I break out my White Mountains Trace guide. Other days I want stunning views, so I head to the classic NH48 list and pick a peak. More recently, I’ve wanted to challenge my navigation skills, so I reached for the New England Hundred Highest list to hike a trail-less peak or two. As much as we get a lot of flak from outsiders for not being able to just go hiking for the sake of hiking, there is nothing wrong with having a goal, or hiking to check off a peak. Whether we understand why we are a subculture of weekend-warrior, high-energy, data-driven list-o-holic hikers or not, I think that it’s safe to say that New England hikers love their lists, and that’s not about to change.      

Additional Reading

Guide to Northeast Hiking Challenges
Great American Hiking Challenges
Hiking Lists in New Hampshire and Beyond

The post Why are New England Hikers List-O-Holics? Exploring the List Mentality of Northeast Hiking Culture appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

Region: New England (Southwestern New Hampshire)
Distance: 21.5 miles, (2 days)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate 

• Moderate elevation gain
• Majority of the trail is in the woods with only one short road walk
• Ascend 10 named peaks

Logistical Difficulty: Easy 

• Parking at either terminus does not require permits or fees; however, there is a $4 fee required for accessing Miller State Park on the trail. 
• Navigation is generally easy (yellow triangles mark the trail)
• Camping is only permitted in one spot, you need to reserve shelter space ahead of time

Season: Spring, Summer, Fall 
Elevation (Average): ~2,000 feet 
Total Elevation Gain: ~4,800 feet

How to Get to the Wapack Trail

• The northern terminus is in Greenfield, New Hampshire, on Mountain Road.
• The southern terminus is in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, on Route 119 in the Mount Watatic Reservation.
• Directions to road crossings along the trail can be found here. 

The termini for both ends of the Wapack Trail are at the base of mountains, and finding a ride to and from the trailheads may be difficult unless you set it up ahead of time. I attempted to arrange a ride back to my car from the southern terminus using Uber, but wasn’t able to set up a ride ahead of time, and wasn’t willing to chance not getting a ride via Uber after finishing the trail, so I just had my husband pick me up. If you wanted to eliminate the need for a ride, doing the trail as a yo-yo and doing two overnights on the trail may be a good idea. 

If you are flying into either of the two nearest cities, (Manchester, New Hampshire, or Concord, New Hampshire) it is recommended that you get in touch with one of the shuttle service companies that can be found here. Thomas Transportation in particular offers shuttles from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to the counties that both of the termini are found in. Logistically, if you are doing a car spot, getting back to your car after completing this hike is probably the most difficult part of the whole trip. 

Hiking the Wapack Trail

I set out from the northern terminus, following the main trail, called the Wapack Trail. The trail sweeps through the forest at mild to moderate grades, crests the summit and then dips back into the woods, headed toward Pack Monadnock Mountain. Make sure you pay the day-hiker fee for entering the park. 

The first 10 miles of trail take you up and down 5 named peaks, and after making the ascent of Temple Mountain you begin a long ridgewalk riding up and down several unnamed peaks in the Cabot Memorial Forest. This stretch of trail had no water sources, which was something I wasn’t expecting during springtime. I highly recommend cameling up on water at the only water source I found on trail, at the very beginning on North Pack Monadnock. 

One of the things I liked most about this trail is that you aren’t doing long road walks. After summiting Burton Peak, you descend onto Temple Road, where you do a 0.4 mile road walk, re-enter the forest, and hit your first water source heading southbound. There is an abundance of water on the remainder of the trail heading south. 

The next 3.5 miles of trail fly by as the elevation gain and loss is minimal until you hit the first of 6 named peaks, the final one being Mount Watatic at the southern terminus. You will walk through an active logging operation, where blazing is sparse. The trail re-routes around Windblown XC Ski Area, and I found myself doing an unintentional loop and added 1.2 additional miles to my hike, backtracking to the junction where the re-route branches off the Wapack Trail away from the ski area. 

The ascent of the first peak following this flat stretch of trail, Barrett Mountain, is steep but once you reach the top there are sites for camping (if you register ahead of time). After passing the campsites, the trail climbs over several named and unnamed peaks. This stretch of trail offers more in the way of views as you break treeline several times before re-entering the forest, only to break treeline again. 

Finally, after completing the last in a series of ascents and descents, you enter Binney Pond Natural Area and remain low in the Binney Hill Preserve before making the final ascent of Mount Watatic. I chose to skip this final ascent and instead took the State Line Trail (part of the Midstate Trail) to the southern terminus. This short stretch of trail was worth it because I was able to see the state line markers placed along this stretch of trail marking the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border. The State Line Trail meets back up with the Wapack for the final stretch to the parking lot at the southern terminus.     

When to Hike the Wapack Trail

The beauty of the Wapack Trail is that it can be hiked during summer, spring, and fall. Snow melts faster in southern New Hampshire, which is why I recommend hiking this trail in spring, while waiting for the trails in the White Mountains to be snow free. I chose to hike this trail in mid-May. Checking to make sure the trail is free of or almost free of snow before heading out is recommended. Making sure to camel up if you’re hiking the trail southbound; before the summit of North Pack Monadnock is highly recommended, regardless of what season you hike the trail. 

Wapack Trail Terrain 

The majority of this trail runs along the ridge of mountains in southern New Hampshire. There is only one small road walk, and one section that has been re-routed due to logging operations; however, the nice thing about this trail is that it is mainly in the woods. Another bonus of this trail is that it doesn’t have any significantly steep climbs.

  Wapack Trail Logistics: Camping, Water, Land Use

Camping and Permits: Because the Wapack Trail is primarily day-use only, there is only one spot where camping is allowed. I recommend checking out the Windblown Camping page found here for more information on how to sign up to stay in the shelter. There is a $4 day-use fee that you need to pay (there’s a fee box on the side of the trail where it passes the trailhead for Miller State Park) for using the trails in Miller State Park, as well.  

Type of Land: This trail follows the Wapack Range and crosses various types of land from private to state forests. Because the trail is primarily day use only, be sure to only camp in designated sites and be respectful of the private landowners where this trail runs near private residences and follow Leave No Trace principles.  

Water: Water is sparse for the first 10 miles of trail going southbound. The southern 10 miles have an abundance of water, but all of it should be filtered. 

Know Before You Go

I highly recommend purchasing the Wapack Trail map. This map has a mini trail guide included and trail mileage as well. I found this trail to be easy to navigate and is well-marked with the exception of the section skirting the cross-country ski operation.

Additional Resources

New Hampshire State Parks

Camping Resources

New England Trail Conditions

Mountain Forecast

The post The Wapack Trail appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

Who Developed the Ten Essentials?

The origins of the ten essentials date all the way back to the 1930s, to a list designed by mountaineers for the essential items climbers should be carrying. In 1974, the list was formalized and published in Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, which is now in its ninth edition. This book is written by volunteers and seeks to answer two essential questions: “Can you prevent emergencies and respond positively should one occur” and “can you safely spend a night (or more) outside.” More information can be found on the Mountaineers’ website, which is found here. 

Why are the Ten Essentials Important?

The ultimate reason for carrying the ten essentials is to keep you safe in the backcountry. Whether you’re on a short day hike, or a multiday backpacking trip, it’s important that you go into the woods prepared for the unexpected. Despite the fact that it may seem silly to carry so much stuff on a short hike, the short hikes are sometimes the ones when we get into the most trouble. There have been a number of times when calls for rescue happen on some of the smallest and most accessible peaks in New Hampshire, because these mountains are where a lot of new hikers are learning about hiking. The statistics speak for themselves, and all you have to do is google rescues on Mt. Major, New Hampshire, to see how many times individuals have had to be rescued off this small peak. Carrying the ten essentials doesn’t necessarily mean the number of rescues will be lower, but carrying these items could mean the difference between life or death, especially in harsh winter conditions.

Beyond keeping yourself safe, carrying the ten essentials could mean helping someone else in the event that you come across a lost or injured hiker. Maybe you’re not the one who is in need of help, but being prepared with the right gear means you will be ready in the event that someone else is hurt or lost. In 2019, a 70-year-old became disoriented on a popular loop in the Whites in New Hampshire. Rescuers spent four days searching for him, but it ended up being a group of day hikers who came across him sitting on a log in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, ending a days-long search. This is the perfect example of how important it is to be prepared in the backcountry, as these individuals were the reason this man was found and very likely saved his life.

What are the Ten Essentials?

As noted, the ten essentials were developed by mountaineers back in the 1930s, and volunteers continue to update and reflect on the list as new editions of Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills come out. The list was designed to be easy to remember and each item was picked to serve a very explicit purpose. The ten essentials, pulled from the Mountaineers site, are as follows:

1. Navigation: map, altimeter, compass, GPS device, satellite communicator, or satellite phone, extra batteries or battery pack.
2. Headlamp: plus extra batteries
3. Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen, umbrella, sun-protective clothes
4. First aid: including foot care and insect repellent (if required)
5. Knife: plus repair kit
6. Fire: matches, lighter and tinder, or stove as appropriate
7. Shelter: carried at all times (can be a lightweight emergency bivy)
8. Extra food: beyond minimum expectation
9. Extra water: beyond minimum expectation, or the means to purify
10. Extra clothes: sufficient to survive an emergency overnight. A lightweight puffy works well.

Perhaps the most controversial item on this list is navigation, seen typically as a map and compass. It’s not enough to carry a map and compass; you must know how to use these items. Taking a wilderness navigation course and then practicing these skills on a regular basis so that they come natural is something that we as a community of hikers may be beginning to lack, as apps like FarOut and Gaia make navigation much easier. Technology fails, phones die or fall into water, and we encourage every person who chooses to go on a day hike or more importantly an extended backpacking trip, to take a wilderness navigation course. 

Despite the fact that this list appears long and some may feel that it is overkill on a 1-mile hike to carry all this gear, think of it as training. The concept of going ultralight, especially on short hikes when one may not even carry a pack, leads to a less-prepared backpacker, both in terms of having proper gear and in physical strength. As much as limiting excess weight is important, especially for saving your joints and making backpacking more enjoyable, there is such a thing as carrying too little, and skimping on the essentials is not a wise decision. For that matter, there are states where you could be fined or charged in the event that you need rescuing and are found to be unprepared. 

We encourage all our readers to learn about Leave No Trace and to carry the ten essentials. It’s our responsibility to set good examples for new backpackers, to take care of our precious natural resources, and to be able to take care of ourselves in the event that an accident happens in the wilderness.

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These are just a few of the phrases that you will hear thrown around by individuals who have more than one or two hikes under their belt (or one would hope), but what does it actually mean to Leave No Trace or be a Wilderness Steward? How important is it to practice the Leave No Trace principles and for that matter what are they? Well, we’re here to answer those questions and point you to some awesome resources that can help you become a better outdoor recreator. 

The History of Leave No Trace

Wilderness ethics and the concept of “leaving no trace” is not new; in fact, one could argue that it is centuries old. The practice of leaving little to no sign that a person was in a wilderness location is something that Native American and Indigenous peoples have practiced for centuries. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s and 1970s that the United States Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and National Park Service (NPS) began to educate and develop programs to encourage the public to practice low impact hiking and camping. 

Over the next three decades, various pamphlets and programs were developed under different names, such as Wilderness Manners, Wilderness Ethics, Minimum Impact Camping, and No-Trace Camping. In 1987, the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and United States Forest Service finally got together and created and distributed a pamphlet titled, “Leave No Trace Land Ethics.” Fast forward to the 1990s, when the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) was brought in to develop training programs and in 1994 the National Outdoor Recreation Summit that encompassed various outdoor agencies got together and formed the official Leave No Trace Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Further reading on the history of the LNT organization can be found here.   

What Do These Programs and Organizations Do?

Now known as the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, the organization serves many purposes, and plays many roles helping preserve outdoor recreation and wilderness areas. Although are best known for their “Seven Principles” (more below), scrolling through their website shows Leave No Trace works in almost a dozen additional facets of the outdoor recreation and preservation industries. From educating children about the importance of minimizing our impact on the environment to how to take precautions and be safe in the outdoors, there is a lot more to this organization than a series of statements. 

What are the Leave No Trace Principles?

When you think of Leave No Trace, the first thing that comes to mind are the Leave No Trace Principles. While being in nature can make you feel like the trappings and rules of society don’t apply, if the outdoor community doesn’t self-govern and educate each other about the importance of outdoor ethics, we run the risk of trails and wilderness areas destroyed by overuse. Along with outlining and educating outdoor recreators about leaving no trace, the principles provide important information about trip planning, camping and traveling outdoors, and being considerate of others. The beauty of these principles is that they are fluid and re-evaluated on a regular basis by the Leave No Trace organization. The organization also provides resources under each of the principles that can help outdoor recreators best practice each individual principle. 

Here are the seven Leave No Trace Principles:

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors

We encourage everyone who engages in outdoor recreation to not only read each of the definitions of the seven principles, but to take 10 minutes and browse the information on each of the pages. It’s not enough to just know that the seven principles exist, or to have a general idea of what they are. It is our responsibility to understand the seven principles and follow them while recreating outdoors.   

Being Familiar with the Seven Principles Isn’t Enough

The more experience we have with outdoor recreation and the more time we spend outside, the greater our responsibility to not only practice the seven principles, but to educate others about them. If you see someone traipsing over alpine vegetation instead of using the trail, talk to them about the fragile plants in the alpine zone.

If you see trash, pick it up. Give the right of way to hikers going uphill and talk about the importance of sharing the trails and minimizing trail erosion with other hikers. Most importantly, do these things in a kind and caring fashion. It’s been said that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, so do your best to educate others about their impact on the environment, but take into consideration that we were all “rookies” at one point, and many people just don’t know that what they’re doing is wrong. 

Resources and Further Readings

Leave No Trace Website
COVID-19 and Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace Training/Courses

The post What is Leave No Trace, and Why is it Important? appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

March 2020: Off the (T)rails

The impact of Covid on the hiking community was widespread. As a frequent user of Instagram, I remember as thru-hiker hopeful after thru-hiker hopeful began to cancel their plans or were forced off trail. The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) asked thru-hikers to leave the trail, and for those who hadn’t started to postpone them. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) followed suit less than a week later. The majority of thru-hikers heeded the call and got off trail or postponed their thru-hikes. A glimmer of hope was found in the possibility of heading southbound later in the summer, or in the chance that trails would open back up for shorter hikes as the country began to reopen. 

Despite far fewer thru-hikers on the trails, it seemed like outdoor recreation was becoming the new thing to do. As restaurants, movie theaters, and other indoor entertainment shut down, droves of underprepared people flocked to the trailheads. It no longer became possible to social distance at a lot of the more popular hiking trails. I remember one instance in particular when the United States Forest Service attempted to shut down some of the most popular trailheads in The White Mountains to discourage hikers from congregating in large numbers, only to have the individuals park all along the roads instead of in the parking lots. It seemed like there was nothing that could be done to stop people from doing what they wanted to do. 

Summer-Fall 2020: Glimmer of Hope

As we progressed into the late summer / early fall 2020, things began to calm down at trailheads. We saw the reopening of some alternative forms of recreation. The phrase “the new normal” seemed to be more than just an empty threat. This was the way of the future and as a community, hikers began to find alternatives to thru-hiking the Triple Crown trails to recreate outdoors. Shorter hiking trails saw more traffic, thru-hiker hopefuls began to set their sights on 2021, and the PCTA said they would be holding a lottery for permits at the start of the new year. However, for the second year in a row, the ATC has made the statement that they are “actively discouraging 2021 AT thru-hikes.” The trail will always be there, but how long until it’s deemed acceptable to do a Triple Crown thru-hike?

As a non-thru-hiker I can’t completely relate to the frustration or sadness that comes with canceling a thru-hike for the second year in a row. I can relate to the feelings of having to postpone plans, and the psychological impact that has on an individual. Many hikers see thru-hiking as the be-all and end-all—the only option—but that’s not necessarily the case.

In the past six years I have struggled to feel like a “real hiker” because the longest backpacking trip I’ve gone on was 55 miles. I wrote for The Trek from 2017-2019, and the whole time I suffered from imposter syndrome, feeling unworthy and embarrassed by my meager backpacking resume. 

Looking back on the canceled thru-hikes in 2020, I realize it’s not the length of the trail you hike that makes you an experienced hiker. You don’t have to hike one of the Triple Crown trails to be a thru-hiker. You don’t even have to do an overnight to gain experience in the backcountry.

If 2020 has taught me nothing else, it has taught me that being a day hiker, weekend warrior, or short-distance backpacker may be the way of the near future. Just because you have to cancel your intended thru-hike for the second year in a row doesn’t mean you can’t go on a shorter thru-hike.

2021: What is the New Normal?

We all jumped for joy as the dumpster fire of 2020 ended, and only days later the chaos continued with the Capitol Building insurrection. We need outdoor recreation now more than ever. Rather than calling it quits on hiking this year because you’re being discouraged from hiking one of the Triple Crown trails, I encourage everyone to use this as an opportunity to see what else is out there.

There are hundreds of long-distance hiking trails in the United States and many of them are less than 200 miles long. Rather than hiking just one long-distance trail, you could end up doing several short-long trails in 2021, and see several different parts of the country as well, traveling between trails. Have a weekend? Hike a 50-mile trail. A month? Something between 300-500.

I understand that the logistics of planning a thru-hike doesn’t make shorter trails mindlessly easy, I also understand that people get their hearts set on a specific trail and don’t necessarily want to do something else. As someone who had their heart set on redlining the White Mountains in 2020, it took me a month of self-pity and living in my sweats before I was willing to give another hiking list a try.

Looking back, I am thankful I didn’t give up on hiking during the months that I spent waiting for the Whites to be a viable option. While I waited, I was able to redline a whole different part of my state and do two traverses that were on my wish list for future hikes. Part of the excitement of a thru-hike (or for me, day hike) is working out the logistics of making it a reality. If you’re forced to cancel your thru-hike for 2021, rather than plopping on the couch for the next few months, use this time to plan a shorter adventure. 

Alternatives to a Triple-Crown Hike

Many of us thought the pandemic would only last a few months, that things would go back to normal by the summer. Before we knew it, it was fall, then winter, and then we were ringing in 2021. Now, we’re two months into 2021 and the ATC has stated for the second year in a row that they are not encouraging individuals to thru-hike one of the most popular long trails in the United States. The hiking community, myself included, can no longer continue under the assumption that things will go back to normal by summer, for the second year in a row. 

Rather than living under the delusion that everything will revert back to pre-Covid by summer of 2021, perhaps we need to accept that shorter thru-hikes might be the best option. Hikers are a community of strong, resilient individuals. We roll with the punches, and know that plans can (and will) change on trail. Let’s take that attitude and apply it to how we handle the coming thru-hiking season.

Regardless of what trail we end up on, whether it’s the Pacific Crest Trail, the Arizona Trail, or the Cohos Trail, the ultimate goal is the same. This is all just part of the adventure, so let’s roll with the punches, and make 2021 the year of the short-long trail.

The post Backpacking and Covid in 2021: Are Shorter Thru-Hikes the Way of the (Near) Future? appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

Region: New England (White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire)
Distance: 23 Miles (2 days)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate 

• Roughly 5,400 feet of elevation gain 
• Water sources sporadic
• Navigation difficult along the Dry River Trail

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate 

• Sparse water sources along Davis Path
• Loop hike so only one car needed (there is a 3-mile road walk)
• No permits required

Season: Fall/Summer/Late Spring

Elevation (average): ~ 2,000 – 3,000 feet 
Total Elevation Gain:~5,400 feet

Hiking the Isolation Loop 

I hiked this loop counterclockwise. I started my hike at the Davis Path trailhead, which happens to be the start/end of the Cohos Trail. The Davis Path is one of the oldest and longest routes to the summit of Mount Washington. What it lacks in sweeping views it makes up for in its historical significance. The majority of this hike lies within a wilderness boundary. Be sure to follow not only LNT principles, but regulations governing camping in a wilderness area. It should be noted that there are very sparse water sources along the Davis Path. It would behoove the hiker to camel up at the very first water source, the Saco River, and keep in mind that there will be little-to-no water along the entirety of the Davis Path unless hiked during a wetter year. 

This trail begins south of Crawford Notch and ascends the first of four mountains at a consistent, classic New England grade. After three miles of climbing, the first spur path to the summit of Mount Crawford appears on the left. It’s worth taking this spur path because you will be awarded in some fantastic views of the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness as well as the mountains you will be climbing along the Davis Path. Past the spur to Mount Crawford, the trail follows along the edge of Mount Resolution before making a short, steep climb to Stairs Mountain. Another spur path leads to a rocky outcropping where more views to the south toward Mount Resolution can be seen. There are some small spots where tenting is permitted as well on the spur path to Stairs Mountain.   

After making the short, steep climb to the height of land before the spur to the summit of Stairs Mountain, the trail continues along the wooded ridge heading toward, but not over, Mount Davis. Shortly after passing the spur for Mount Davis, the trail ascends the final few hundred feet to the spur path that leads to the summit of Mount Isolation. Isolation is one of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot mountains frequented by those working on hiking all of the 48 4000-footers, and is worth the short climb to the summit for spectacular views of the Presidential Range from the heart of the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness. Past the spur for Isolation’s summit, locating a place to camp, if you choose to finish the first day off, will require either stealth camping, while following wilderness regulations, or setting up at one of the designated campsites set up by the Forest Service. These sites are not noted on maps because they are moved frequently to deter overuse.

Isolation Trail (West Branch) marks the beginning of the less-frequently used trails that you will venture down on this loop. Being located in a designated wilderness area means you will be contending with blowdowns and minimal trail maintenance. After making a steady descent you will reach one of the first of many water sources. The trail will continue to become more difficult to follow, at times, due to erosion that occurred during Tropical Storm Irene. At the intersection with Dry River Trail, you may opt to head north toward the Dry River Shelter #3; however, making this trip from the Davis Path trailhead would make for a long first day. The final stretch of trail, leading to the Dry River Campground and Dry River trailhead, follows the Dry River and has a few washed-out sections that occurred during rene. Following the trail is pretty straightforward despite the few washed-out sections and the closer you get to the trailhead, the more groomed the trail becomes. Finishing off this loop will require a three-mile road walk back to your car at the Davis Path trailhead unless you opted to do a car spot.  

How to get to the Isolation Loop Trailhead(s)

Closest City: Lincoln, New Hampshire  (39 miles)

The best way to approach the hike is to complete the loop counterclockwise. There are two termini and a three-mile road walk. Depending on which direction you hike this trail, and if you decide to do a car spot to avoid the road walk, you will be parking at one of two trailheads, Davis Path or Dry River. The beauty of this loop is regardless of where you choose to park/start your hike, you will be parking on the same main road, Route 302, and both trailheads are directly off of the road and well marked. 

If you’re flying into Manchester or Boston, there are shuttle services offered through Concord Coach Lines to Lincoln. The termini are located just south of the AMC Highland Center Lodge, which also offers shuttles to various termini and can pick you up from Lincoln if needed. Ali’s Rides (603) 348-3914 and Priority Transportation (603) 631-6242 were noted as reliable for rides.  

When to Hike the Isolation Loop

The Isolation loop would best be hiked after Memorial Day weekend through early to mid-October. The best time of year to hike this loop would be August through September, to avoid the buggy season while still having the flexibility afforded by longer days and warmer nights. I wouldn’t recommend hiking this loop in winter unless you are prepared with winter weather gear and prepared to break trail for several miles. Additionally, hiking this loop in early spring would mean contending with rotting monorails and higher water, along with imposing unnecessary damage to the trails by having to navigate around seasonal wet stretches and mud. 

Isolation Loop Terrain

The majority of this trail is within a wilderness boundary and is heavily forested. There are some stretches along the Dry River Trail that are eroded and other sections that can be muddier in wetter weather along both the Dry River Trail and Isolation Trail. This trail is also less marked due to its location within wilderness boundaries, meaning that there are fewer blazes marking the trail and blowdowns follow the “over/under” rule: if you can walk under it or over it, it will probably be there for a while.  

Logistics: Camping, Water, Permits

Camping and Permits: No permits are required to camp or park at the trailheads. Camping at any of the shelters along the trail is on a first come, first serve basis. 

Land Designations: Almost the entirety of this loop is in a wilderness corridor and wilderness camping rules apply. 

Water: Water is plentiful with the exception of the stretch of trail running along the Davis Path from the Saco River to the Isolation Trail. This stretch of trail, from Davis Path to Isolation Trail, had very minimal, if any water sources. It is highly recommended that you camel up at the Saco River. All water should be filtered. 

Know Before You Go

In designated Wilderness areas there is often less trail maintenance and fewer trail markers. For this reason, hikers inexperienced in hiking in such areas should use caution and have an overabundance of navigation tools.

Additionally, this trail may be more difficult to navigate in wetter conditions, especially the Isolation Trail, as there are several sections where the trail abuts a branch of the Dry River. 

Isolation Loop Resources

White Mountain Guidebook and Maps
Wilderness Regulations 
4000-Footers List
Mountain Forecast
Hike Safe Card 
New England Trail Conditions

The post Isolation Loop Trail appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

When I began solo hiking in 2015, I had to learn how to overcome a new set of antecedents in the backcountry. Spending time outdoors can be extremely beneficial for alleviating stressors, anxiety, and depression, but there have been many times when being in the wilderness has triggered my panic disorder. Although every person has a unique set of strategies that works for them, there are tools that many people can benefit from to help manage anxiety and stressors while hiking. 

What Causes Anxiety?

Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety are all clinically defined and require a diagnosis from a licensed professional. But just because you don’t have a diagnosis doesn’t mean you aren’t experiencing anxiety or having panic attacks. Before you can manage or learn to identify your anxiety and what triggers it, you first have to understand what anxiety and panic attacks are, how they are different, and what causes them. Anxiety can be caused by any number of things. Most people will experience anxiety many times over the course of their lives. A panic disorder is much more severe and debilitating than general or social anxiety. A person may be diagnosed with generalized anxiety and never experience a panic attack; however, if someone is diagnosed with a panic disorder, they will likely also carry a diagnosis of generalized, social anxiety, or both. 

Recognizing the symptoms of a panic attack may alleviate some of the stress associated with it. Having spent over a decade experiencing panic attacks daily, I learned how to identify my own symptoms. But I never knew what caused panic attacks until I got older and researched what a panic attack actually is. I had spent over a decade having these terrible and debilitating bouts of panic with a whole slew of physical and psychological symptoms, but I didn’t know why they were happening. Eventually I found out that panic attacks are quite simply the body’s fight or flight response being triggered.

This was cathartic to finally know. The physiological and psychological symptoms all made sense once I understood the reason. I was having this intense feeling of being in a life-threatening situation because something had triggered the fight-or-flight center of my brain. 

Understanding what and why we have panic attacks has helped me manage the onslaught of symptoms associated with the actual attack; however, as most people who live with panic attacks know, there is really no way of talking yourself out of having one.

Explaining the difference between a panic attack and anxiety is also extremely difficult. I have attempted to walk someone through my own experiences, however, the only real way to understand the difference between anxiety and a panic attack is to have a panic attack. Despite understanding the cause of my disorder and being medicated to alleviate some of the more severe symptoms, I still experience panic attacks and have had to learn how to manage them not only in my day-to-day life, but when hiking. 

How I Manage Anxiety and Panic Attacks While Hiking

Before we get into it, know this: I am not a licensed psychologist and these are things that work for me; they may not work for everyone. I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking professional help if you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, or concerned about your own mental well-being. 

First and foremost, determining which coping mechanisms alleviate your anxiety is as important as your own personal gear list. For example, being around people when I’m experiencing a panic attack only heightens my symptoms. Conversely, my mother becomes more anxious when she is experiencing a panic attack alone, and seeks out other people to alleviate her symptoms. This is why it is important to work with a professional, read about anxiety and panic attacks, and educate yourself about what does and doesn’t work before going into the backcountry. Think of it as the opposite of a shakedown hike, when instead of going into the woods to test your strategies, you test them before you go hiking in a controlled environment. 

Knowing your triggers in day-to-day life can also apply to your triggers while hiking. Often the cause of my anxiety (which can turn into a panic attack) is getting too much into my own head. I will overthink things, hyper-focus on physical sensations I may be experiencing, and begin to work myself into a panic attack by thinking that I am sick or in danger. My phobia of throwing up is a huge trigger while hiking. That fear develops into a fear of the panic attack itself, which can lead to avoiding places from previous panic attacks, and develop into agoraphobia. I have begun to feel sick while hiking and been triggered into having a panic attack in the middle of the woods. 

I can remember vividly, back in 2015, sitting on the side of the Mount Osceola Trail, talking myself down from a panic attack because I was convinced that I had overexerted myself and was getting heat stroke. On another hike, after over 1,500 solo miles, I had a severe panic attack on the Osseo Trail in the middle of winter. Regardless of how many thousands of miles you have in the backcountry, if you have a panic disorder or anxiety there will always be a possibility of having a panic attack while hiking. Learning to manage and identify the symptoms and to talk yourself down during an attack is key to decreasing the number of instances you experience panic attacks or anxiety while hiking. 

Becoming comfortable in the woods, whether in a group or solo, will decrease the amount of triggers. When I first started hiking, I was terrified of what was “out there” in the woods. I would get nervous hiking in low visibility, fog, or cloudy weather, and would avoid looking anywhere but right in front of me on the trail. If I couldn’t see it, then it couldn’t “get me.” The more miles of hiking I did in these conditions, the more comfortable I became. Now I love to look around when I’m hiking. Experience can be a wonderful way to eliminate a trigger, but going through the process of gaining that experience isn’t always easy. 

Sometimes you have to push through the voice in your head telling you to turn around, or that you’re in danger. Sometimes you don’t have a choice but to push through the sense of impending doom because you’re in the middle of the woods and can’t call it quits. These are the hardest situations that I’ve encountered, and are the times when I reach into my own toolbox and use strategies that help me calm down and get back to my car safely. They are also the experiences that I use to remind myself that I can do hard things and still be OK when I encounter another panic-inducing situation. Over the years, I have collected a substantial number of these experiences when I had no choice but to keep going forward, despite the fear. Reaching for those memories, reminding myself when I’m terrified on trail that I have done this before and was fine, is one of the tools that I use to push through a panic attack. 

My favorite way to manage anxiety on trail and off trail is what I like to think of as mirroring. As a teenager, nighttime—specifically bedtime—was a trigger for me. My anxiety would heighten and I would end up on the couch trying to talk myself down. One thing that helped me become less anxious was watching TV. It was a distraction from the racing thoughts, and it also helped to watch people being calm and “normal.” I would use those actions as examples of how I should be acting and feeling. I would tell myself, “They are OK and doing normal things, you’re OK too.” This is still one of my most effective strategies in bringing down my anxiety. 

On trail, I use a very similar technique. But instead of watching TV, I listen to podcasts, specifically ones about hiking. I intentionally listen to fellow hikers talk about terrifying and dangerous experiences in the backcountry, and then tell myself, “They made it out OK, and what you’re doing isn’t that dangerous, so you will be OK too.” This method works at bringing down my anxiety and distracting me enough to calm down in over 95% of the situations I use it in. In the other 5% of situations, I usually end up crying, having a mini meltdown, and then finally pull it together and get myself out of the situation. This leads me to my final point about managing anxiety in the backcountry.

It’s OK to Have Anxiety

One of the hardest things about anxiety and panic attacks is the feeling that you can’t allow yourself to have one. You may feel stress because you either feel weak or ashamed that you have this disorder and want to hide it, or you are always worried that giving in to the panic or anxiety will lead to more intense panic and anxiety. There have been three instances when I didn’t or couldn’t fight down the panic and had a full-blown attack in the woods. This is what anyone with these diagnoses wants to avoid, which is why we use techniques to talk ourselves down from most of the bad attacks. 

Not everyone will agree with this, but I believe it’s OK to have a panic attack, to not use all your energy to fight it, or be unable to fight it off. More importantly, I’m here to tell you that it will be OK and you will live, despite feeling like you will die.

Those three experiences when I couldn’t fight it off were the most terrifying things that have happened to me in the wilderness, but they were the experiences that taught me the most about my own ability to persevere. Sometimes going through the fire allows you to develop new tools, and shows you that the thing that scares you the most can be nothing at all.         

Everyone’s Toolbox is Different

The best advice I could give someone who has a diagnosed anxiety or panic disorder, or experiences anxiety in the backcountry, is it’s OK to have anxiety and panic attacks in the backcountry. It’s not OK to let the fear stop you from hiking. Try to fight through the desire to “flee.” If you allow your anxiety and panic to dictate where you go and what you do, your world will inevitably become smaller and smaller until you can’t go anywhere or do anything. This is what happened to me in 2006 when I decided I didn’t need to be medicated anymore. I began to experience panic attacks, gave into the fear, and was unable to leave my house. 

The next best advice I could give to someone with anxiety or panic is not to be embarrassed, ashamed, or too proud to seek professional help or get on medication. Unfortunately, mental health disorders are still stigmatized in our society, but you wouldn’t fault a person with type 1 diabetes for needing insulin, so why would you fault someone with a panic disorder for needing anti-anxiety medication? We have a chemical imbalance, we didn’t choose to have it, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. 

Learn what your triggers are and what tools help you manage them. I have lived with a panic disorder for almost 30 years, and every day I am amazed at what I can do. That ability didn’t come easy and I am still learning how to experience panic attacks, sit with them, allow them to progress, and not flee.

Distractions like music or TV, breathing techniques, and self-talk are all things that I use on a regular basis to manage my anxiety both in my day-to-day life and on hikes. Taking the time to learn about anxiety and panic attacks, getting help from professionals, and then actively using the tools and techniques to see what works for you is the only way to manage anxiety in life and in the backcountry. Talking openly about mental health disorders is the only way to remove the stigma associated with them and support the individuals, like me, who will spend their lives managing one. 

The post Managing Anxiety in the Backcountry appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail is a 48-mile end-to-end trail in New England that can be accomplished in three to four days.

Region: New England (New Hampshire)
Distance*: 48 miles (3-4 days)
*mileage doesn’t include approach trails

Physical Difficulty: Moderate

• Moderate elevation gain; PUDs scattered between flat stretches, including road walks
• Both termini start on top of mountains 
• Navigation is generally easy (white blazes mark the trail)

Logistical Difficulty: Easy

• Mount Monadnock requires a permit to park your car. We recommend getting in touch with the Sunapee Mountain Ski Resort prior to your trip to confirm parking
• Water is frequent, but requires filtering
• The trail runs through Washington, New Hampshire, with a general store to resupply if needed

Season: Summer/Fall 
Elevation (average): ~1,500-2,000 feet 
Total Elevation Gain: ~10,000 feet

Hiking the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail

The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway is comparable to a mini New England Appalachian Trail hike. From the termini starting on top of two mountains, with approach trails, to the variety of terrain on this short hike, the MSG is a perfect shakedown hike for a future AT thru-hiker, a wonderful hike to do on a long weekend for the general backpacker, or a single-day push for the ultrarunner. The trail has six shelters placed at varying distances, and five of the six are Adirondack-style shelters. Regardless of which direction the trail is hiked (northbound or southbound) the terrain is consistent, with a mixture of flat sections on forest and gravel roads, and rolling ups and downs over small peaks.  

Beginning from the south, my first day on trail was a solid 20-mile push to the Crider Shelter. Thankfully, after the 2,600-foot climb to the summit of Mount Monadnock, the trail drops back down and levels out a bit more, making it less difficult to push a 20-mile day out of the gate. The trail follows a large number of dirt and forest roads, passes through the Seaver Reservoir, with a scattering of small ponds, and through Nelson Center, your classic small town in New England. The side trail to Crider Shelter is just long enough to make you feel like you’re not directly on the trail, and the shelter itself is the classic Adirondack-style shelter situated in the center of a logged forest where you will have ample views of the night sky. The most notable features of this section of the trail are Mount Monadnock, Eliza Adams Gorge, and Nelson Village.

Day two I did another 20-mile day push over a mixture of forest roads, and small climbs over a handful of hills and small mountains, most notably Pitcher Mountain. The trail begins on forest roads and takes you past the Nye Meadow Sanctuary. After warming up on this flatter stretch of trail, the climbing begins as you make your gradual ascents and descents over a series of small field-covered hills that I believe are comparable to the bald mountains in southern Appalachia. Of note, the trail along the top of Pitcher Mountain is lined with blueberry bushes and frequented by locals during blueberry season. This section of trail is partially located in Andorra Forest, rich with wildlife and offers a variety of farmland, woodland, and wilderness terrain. The trail passes directly through Washington Center, which is the one place where you can resupply or stop for a meal on this trail at the Washington General Store. The trail passes just right of the store and then continues uphill for the final mountain of the day, Lovewell Mountain. It should be noted that the water source where I spent my second night on trail, Max Israel Shelter, is at the bottom of a steep climb to the shelter. Be sure to fill up before making the climb to the shelter.

The final day on trail was roughly 14 miles, including the descent from Sunapee Mountain to the trailhead. The terrain on this section of trail is more difficult than the terrain on day one. The majority of the day is spent in the forest on classic hiking trails and although there aren’t a substantial number of climbs, it was slower going simply because you’re no longer on forest or woods roads and are now hiking the majority of the time on a single-track hiking trail. The final few miles to the terminus brings you over rock slabs known as White Ledges and right along the edge of Lake Solitude before making the final climb to the summit of Mount Sunapee. Although this stretch of trail leading to the summit of Mount Sunapee is slower going than the forest roads of day one, it is much more scenic, and rather than cranking out big miles, is meant to be enjoyed. The final climb to the summit of Mount Sunapee is a short but steady climb up one of the ski trails to the summit lodge at the top of Mount Sunapee. There are a handful of ski trails that can be taken to the trailhead; however, I chose to take the red-blazed Summit Trail that is directly south of the summit lodge.    

How to get to the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway

Closest City: Manchester, New Hampshire (50-60 miles)

The termini for both ends of the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway are on the top of two distinct mountains in southwestern New Hampshire. When I hiked this trail, I went northbound (NOBO), starting on the top of Mount Monadnock (Jaffrey, New Hampshire), which I accessed via the White Cross Trail that starts in Monadnock State Park, and ending on the top of Sunapee Mountain (Sunapee, New Hampshire). The trail is marked with white blazes, is easy to follow, and well-marked. 

There are currently no shuttle services offered through the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Association to either trailheads; however, if you are flying into either of the two nearest cities, (Manchester, New Hampshire, or Concord, New Hampshire) it is recommended that you get in touch with one of the shuttle service companies that can be found here. Thomas Transportation in particular offers shuttles from Manchester Regional Airport to the counties that both of the termini are found in. Logistically, if you are doing a car spot, getting back to your car after completing this hike is probably the most difficult part of the whole trip. I had my spouse pick me up after completing the hike and was then driven back to my car, which was parked at Monadnock State Park. 

When to Hike the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail

The MSG is best hiked in summer or fall. I chose to hike this trail in late April and my feet were wet the entire time. There were still remnants of snow on the back side of Mount Sunapee and although there were ample water sources to choose from, hiking this trail in April was perhaps not the best decision, unless you enjoy hiking in peak mud season. I would recommend hiking this trail in summer or even fall (early October) to take advantage of peak foliage season. There is no problem with overcrowding on this hidden gem except perhaps on Mount Monadnock, which is known as one of the most hiked mountains in the world. This trail could potentially be hiked in winter by someone experienced with not only winter backpacking but someone willing to break trail for a large majority of the hike. 

Three-Day Itinerary: (South to North)
1) Hike the White Cross Trail (2 miles) to the Mount Monadnock summit and then the Greenway to Crider Shelter: ~ 20 miles
2) Crider Shelter to Max Israel Shelter: ~ 20 miles
3) Max Israel Shelter to Sunapee Mountain summit, followed by Summit Trail to trailhead: ~ 14 miles. 

Four-Day Itinerary: (North to South)
1) Sunapee Mountain trailhead to Summit Trail (2.1 miles) to Steve Galpin Shelter: ~ 7.6 miles
2) Steve Galpin Shelter to General Washington Shelter: ~ 11.2 miles
3) General Washington Shelter to Crider Shelter: ~ 13.4 miles
4) Crider Shelter to Mount Monadnock trailhead via White Dot Trail: ~ 20 miles 

Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Terrain 

This trail is a myriad of different terrain ranging from the classic rocky and rooted New England hiking trail to paved road walks. There are sections of trail that can be pretty wet in spring or in rainy conditions. Overall this trail doesn’t have any significant climbs and is generally rolling in nature despite the fact that over the 55 miles of trail you will gain around 10,000’ feet in elevation.

Logistics: Camping and Permits, Land Designations, Water 

Camping and Permits: Permits are not required to camp and all of the shelters have water sources nearby. Camping is only permitted in designated areas and no wood or charcoal fires are permitted. There is no guarantee that there will be openings at the shelters (reservations are not accepted), however this is not a heavily trafficked trail and you can always set up your tent next to the shelters. 

Land Designations: This trail runs along the Monadnock Highlands and is located on varying types of land from private to state forests. Most importantly, be sure to only camp in designated sites and be respectful of the private landowners where this trail runs near private residences and follow Leave No Trace principles.  

Water: Water is definitely not sparse on this trail and there are dozens of places where you can fill up along the trail; however, all water should be filtered. 

Know Before You Go

Parking at Monadnock State Park for more than one day requires purchasing multiple day passes. Be sure to contact the park before parking so that you don’t run into issues with getting a spot or being able to keep your car at the park for more than one day.  

I highly recommend purchasing the Monadnock-Sunapee Trail map. FarOut does offer a paid version of the trail as well, but I found this trail was easily navigable with just the waterproof map.

Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Resources

Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Map and Trail Guide 
Monadnock State Park 
Sunapee Mountain

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