My pulk sled, laden with five days’ provisions, threatens to pull me down the hill I’ve been laboring up for the past quarter mile. I lean forward, dig in with my mountaineering snowshoes, and summon all the strength I can muster to lug this tremendous burden to the top of the hill.
Tag Archives: hiking
#45, 46, 47, 48 – Winter Hiking Goals
For my 40th birthday, I treated myself to the Appalachian Mountain Club New Hampshire Chapter’s Winter Hiking Series. I had felt a pull towards snow-covered peaks for years, and I wondered—could I do it? Did I have what it takes to hike high peaks in the winter? Was I brave enough to stretch my comfortContinue reading “#45, 46, 47, 48 – Winter Hiking Goals”
Full Moon Presi Traverse
This summer I set out with my friends Denise and Molly to hike the Presidential Range under the Buck Moon. Our plan was to begin at 4 o’clock in the afternoon so that we could make it up to Madison or Adams for sunset, hike through the night under the moon and stars, and watchContinue reading “Full Moon Presi Traverse”
Hiking the New England 67 with my Son
I had the privilege of joining my son on a backpacking trip to complete his New England 67 in the summer of 2020. Words cannot fully express how meaningful this journey has been for me. I’ve written a short piece about this that’s been published in Outdoors.org.
New England 67
New England is home to 67 high peaks (mountains that top off at 4,000 feet or more). For the past several years I’ve been backpacking and day hiking to the top of each one. Along the way, I’ve encountered soft forest paths that spring underfoot and unforgiving granite; views for miles and socked-in peaks; swelteringContinue reading “New England 67”
Downeast Maine to Grand Manan Island
4 Bikes, 3 Ferries, 2 Countries, 1 Lobster Boat to the Rescue “How old are your children?” “14 and 15.”“Okay, they’ll be fine. We don’t allow little ones at the cliff edge sites. Are you light sleepers?”“Not particularly, why do you ask?”“Some folks find they’re kept awake at night by the whales.” This is howContinue reading “Downeast Maine to Grand Manan Island”
The AMC Winter Hiking Series Leads to New Adventures
This article was originally published in the Summer 2017 edition of the Mountain Passages. In the pre-dawn hours of Christmas morning, my sons are leaving their warm beds, not to creep downstairs to check their stockings but to don their hiking clothes and collect their pillows to prepare for the trek to Grafton Notch StateContinue reading “The AMC Winter Hiking Series Leads to New Adventures”
Grafton Notch
This article was originally published in the Spring 2017 edition of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Wilderness Matters. Grafton Notch Loop Adventure: How I Discovered the Appalachian Mountain Club Grafton Notch is one of our favorite places. My husband and I visited the area in the summer of 2015 and summited our first 4,000 footer – OldContinue reading “Grafton Notch”