Trips are taking shape...

So today I got my AMC member number, allowing me to register for their online trail maps at the (slightly) discounted price. And I've been looking at potential groupings of mountains to climb that would be logical to do in a trip, whether it be a day trip or a several day trip (because I want to do at least one of those).

Here are some thoughts...

Mt. Moosilauke, Mt. Carrigan, Mt. Tecumseh, Mt. Hale, North Twin, Mt. Cannon, Mt. Jackson, Mt. Cabot and Mt. Waumbek will probably be done individually. The first three just aren't easily reachable by trails that go to other mountains, and the others are close enough to trail heads that though they could be combined, I'll probably do them separately unless I get pressed for time. That way there will be several relatively easy short trips for weekends (some are probably very long days, though, and I would likely camp the night before at the trailhead to get an early start). I may also climb Mt. Washington all by itself so that anyone that wanted to "Climb Mt. Washington!" could come with me.

Similarly, Mt. Osceola and East Osceola, Mt. Hancock and South Hancock, North and Middle Tripyramids, and North and South Kinsman will be done in their respective pairs, as they're logical hikes.

Mt. Passaconaway and Mt. Whiteface will be easily done together. Mt. Willey, Mt. Field and Mt. Tom are a logical threesome, short-ish. Mt. Adams, Madison and Jefferson are a logical threesome, though much higher and further into the wilderness; longer. Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Monroe and Mt. Isolation; even longer.

Long trips. Mt. Moriah to Wildcat D (including Middle Carter, South Carter, Carter Dome and Wildcat A) is a logical one; if someone comes with me and we have two cars, that will save on backtracking. But if nobody wants to come for that one, I can certainly do it alone (maybe I could hitchhike back to my car? or just suck it up and hike the long loop).

I am very sorely tempted to do one very long loop: Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Garfield, Galehead Mountain, South Twin Mountain, Zealand Mountain, West Bond Mountain, Mt. Bond, and Bondcliff. They go around one big bowl, with Owl's Head sitting in the middle (which I would do on a separate trip). There are also ways I could rearrange those hikes to make two longish hikes, and I may. But I'm kind of intrigued by the 4 day long loop. The hard thing about it would probably be that it's ridge walking much of the time, meaning there's very little chance to get down into the trees and shelter if weather turns, or when I want to sleep. Also possible would be to break it up into two trips: Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Garfield, Galehead Mountain and Owl's Head, and then North Twin, South Twin, Zealand Mountain, West Bond, Mt. Bond and Bondcliff in another (that latter part would either involve a lot of backtracking or two cars, but oh well).

All told (if I do the long loop) that's 21 different hikes. Two a month is probably manageable, especially if I get more done in the spring and fall. And there are some I can combine if I find I'm having difficulty getting away. Some will probably be done mid-week.

Next post will give estimated times for all of these hikes :). But first, I'm going for a walk with my dog!