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![White Mountain Traverse, New Hampshire
You might not have six months to spare to do the 2,168-mile-long Appalachian Trail (AT) from Georgia to Maine, but if you have about a week, you can hike the most rugged and inspiring part of the trail (in the opinion of this proud New Englander) through New Hampshire's White Mountains. Starting in Franconia Notch State Park, you'll climb a link trail up to the AT and follow it over the rocky Franconia and Garfield ridges, through Zealand and Crawford notches, and across the wild, windswept Presidential Range. The AT skirts some of the summits along the way, so you'll want to break away from the AT briefly to hit them all. "The real highlight of this 53-mile route is the vaunted Presidential Range Traverse, perhaps the most difficult and dangerous section of the [AT]," writes Potterfield. "The route climbs over a succession of peaks more than 5,000 feet high, and one over 6,000 feet."
You can stay in mountain huts along the way ($89 per night, including meals) or camp outside (fees may apply depending on location).
(Photo: Molly Feltner)](http://i.slimg.com/photos/featured/NH-MtMadison.jpg "White Mountain Traverse, New Hampshire
You might not have six months to spare to do the 2,168-mile-long Appalachian Trail (AT) from Georgia to Maine, but if you have about a week, you can hike the most rugged and inspiring part of the trail (in the opinion of this proud New Englander) through New Hampshire's White Mountains. Starting in Franconia Notch State Park, you'll climb a link trail up to the AT and follow it over the rocky Franconia and Garfield ridges, through Zealand and Crawford notches, and across the wild, windswept Presidential Range. The AT skirts some of the summits along the way, so you'll want to break away from the AT briefly to hit them all. \"The real highlight of this 53-mile route is the vaunted Presidential Range Traverse, perhaps the most difficult and dangerous section of the [AT],\" writes Potterfield. \"The route climbs over a succession of peaks more than 5,000 feet high, and one over 6,000 feet.\"
You can stay in mountain huts along the way ($89 per night, including meals) or camp outside (fees may apply depending on location).
(Photo: Molly Feltner)")
For adventure vacation inspiration close to home, here's a look at five of my favorite outdoor destinations: three U.S. national parks, a U.S. national forest, and one Canadian park reserve. Some of the areas spotlighted are icons, while others may be lesser known, but well worth investigating. I've highlighted some of the best ways for travelers to experience each, from classic treks to more extreme adventures.
White Mountain National Forest
For the best alpine adventures east of the Rockies, head to the White Mountain National Forest in northern New Hampshire. Although the White Mountains, with their highest peak Mt. Washington standing at 6,288 feet, are less than half the size of some of the mountains in the West, the Whites more than match the Rockies for challenging trails, mountain-top views, and wild weather.
The White Mountains' Presidential range experiences some of the most extreme weather in the U.S., with the highest wind gusts (231 mph) on earth recorded at the top of Mt. Washington. The severe climate means that the treeline turns to alpine scrub around 4,500 feet, with bare granite summits and ridges above. From these exposed areas, you can see more than 100 miles away into Vermont, Maine, Quebec, and New York State on a clear day.
With more than 1,200 miles of hiking trails including a significant portion of the Appalachian Trail, the White Mountain National Forest is a magnet for backpackers and weekend trailblazers from Boston and New York. There's also paddling and mountain biking in the summer. In the winter, downhill skiing at the area's numerous resorts dominates; backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing, and ice-climbing are popular too.
Adventure highlights
Hike the Presidential range
For the ultimate White Mountain hike, traverse the region's highest mountains along the Presidential range: Webster, Jackson, Pierce, Eisenhower, Monroe, Washington, Clay, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison.
Most people do the hike in the summer, but early fall tends to bring better weather and fewer people. "September is my favorite month to hike," says Mike Kautz, huts manager for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). "Canadian air cools the weather down, the bugs are gone, the vegetation and birch trees start changing colors, and the trails are nice and quiet."
Many have tried to make the 20-mile plus journey (varying depending on the trails you take) in a single day, but saner folk opt to break the trip up with a few overnights at the AMC huts, which are staggered along the ridge. For about $80 per night in the summer you'll get rustic bunkroom accommodations and hearty homemade meals. You should book by mid-winter for a spot on weekends in July and August.
Strong hikers can do a 24-mile route over the "Prezzies" in three days. Start at the Webster Cliff Trail and follow the Crawford Path, Gulfslide, Osgood, and Air Line trails over the 10 summits and down to the road at the bottom of Madison. Overnight at the Lake of the Clouds and Madison Spring huts. You can also break the distance up into four days, spending the first night at Mizpah Spring hut.
Ski Tuckerman's Ravine
Late March through May, downhill skiers flock by the thousands to Mt. Washington's Tuckerman's Ravine to ski the most fabled backcountry run east of the Mississippi. Skiing Tuckerman's headwall, as steep as 55 degrees, is an experts-only proposition, although mellower runs are located nearby. There's no chair lift here. Skiers must hike up about three miles from Pinkham Notch to the base of the ski bowl. At the bowl, it's another short but grueling trudge up a steep icy slope to good start positions on the headwall.
"There's nothing quite like the feeling of hiking for your turns," says Tom Runcie, a member of the Dartmouth College Ski Patrol who's skied Tuckerman's three times. "The views are spectacular, the ravine is breathtaking, and early in the season you get to look smugly across Pinkham Notch at all the Wildcat Mountain [ski resort] skiers paying for their mellow groomers. Then you turn and point your skis over some of the steepest, gnarliest terrain in the world."
Conditions in the ravine can be dangerous, so be sure to read the safety tips and weather updates posted on Tuckerman.org before going.
Resources
To begin your trip planning, go to the White Mountains National Forest website. The Appalachian Mountain Club website also has information about activities in the mountains, plus details on how to book AMC huts, guided trips, and workshops. You can read more about weather in the region on the Mount Washington Observatory website. For information about area lodging and dining, go to New Hampshire's official tourism site.
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