Martin um die Welt: Hiking White Mountains

Sonntag, 13. Dezember 2015

Hiking White Mountains

After collecting our rental car Friday night, we started early Saturday (12.12.) morning towards the White Mountains in New Hampshire. We drove I-93 north until Layafette Campground in the White Mountains. There we hiked up to Lonsome Lake. It was an easy hike an only little ice awaited us on the trail. Lonesome Lake had a great setting and was really beautiful. We surrounded the lake and then wanted to hike a loop back to the Campground. However, we clearly misjudged that trail. We thought it would lead us along the side of Cannon Mountain back down to the Campground. The sun was already setting and we ran a bit out of time. The trail became extremely icy and the rocks got bigger and bigger. We met a few hikers on the way that told us we could indeed take that route. Then, an experienced hiker that also works as guide told us to turn around as the path would get much more dangerous and without equipment such as spikes we would surely risk a broken arm or leg. So we turned around and made it back to our car at the Campground just before darkness. 20min later it was completely dark. That was kinda scary^^ We then drove to Ashland where we stayed at Comfort Inn - a simple but pleasent hotel. We went to Village Pizza & Grill for dinner. They provided large portions for an ok price. But the meals looked better than they tasted... not bad, but not great either.

Our picnic spot at Lonesome Lake

trail around Lonesome Lake

Franzi on the Lonesome Lake trail

Overlooking Lonesome Lake and Cannon Mountain

Climbing above Lonesome Lake on the Cannon Mountain trail

The next day (13.12.) we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel before checking out. We then drove into the White Mountains again starting with an easy visit to Flume Gorge - a small canyon carved into the rocks by a small stream. After struggling to find the trail, we found out the the canyon was closed for walking. Instead, we climbed on Mt Pemigewasset, which was a rather easy hike too. But it rewarded us with some amazing views. Great place for a picnic :D We took the Indian Head trail down and sometimes finding the trail marks was not too easy^^ Back at our car we looked for a place to have lunch and found the charming Sunny day diner - a truly classy American diner. Their prices were good and food tasty. With full bellies we visited the Basin, a natural pool in the White Mountains. From there we went on the Cascade Brook trail. A nice trail that led along a small stream. The trail normally would have led as far as to the Lonesome Lake. A bridge, however, was destroyed but floods. At that point we returned to our car and headed back to Boston leaving the White Mountains while the sun set.