Pammy said:
Have not done Owls Head, the Twins, Isolation, Trypyramids, Wildcat Peaks, Zealand, Whiteface,
Tecumseh, Passaconaway, Moriah
Thanks!
Pam
The Hale-Zealand-Twins loop is indeed a wonderful hike. I have it at 18.4 miles and if you add the Bonds you get to 24.7 miles. The Fire Warden’s Trail is one of the nicest forest walks I have been on in the Whites and there are great viewpoints from Zeacliff, Guyot, South Guyot, all of the Bonds and both Twins. On Hale you have to stand on the rock pile and think tall.
Other suggestions would be:
Franconia Ridge from the Wilderness and Osseo Trails, from Mt Lafayette backtrack to North Lincoln, head down the Lincoln Slide, turn left (North) into the woods when you get deep into the stream area, turn right (East) and head down through the open woods keeping the runoff stream from the Slide on your right. You will come out crossing Lincoln Brook and immediately hopping onto the Lincoln Brook Trail. Head right (South) and in about a mile you’ll come to the Owl’s Head Slide Trail on your left. Ascend and descend Owl’s Head and head back to the Wilderness Trail via Lincoln Brook and Franconia Brook Trails. 25.0 miles.
Franconia Ridge again from the Wilderness Trail but when you get to Mt Lafayette keep going over to Mt Garfield and over the other side. Restock water at the junction of the Garfield Ridge Campsite Trail then head down to 13 Falls via the Franconia Brook Trail. Continue out to Lincoln Woods via the Wilderness Trail. 25.1 miles.
Tripyramids-Whiteface-Passaconaway can be done in 16.8 miles of trails and 3.6 miles of road walk if you use Pine Bend Brook and Oliverian Brook Trails at either end. I’d park at Sabbaday Falls parking area because it will break up your road walk (1.0 miles to Pine Bend and 2.6 miles to Oliverian Brook), it is busier and less isolated than the Oliverian lot and not right on the road like at Pine Bend.
You could also do Tripyramids-Whiteface-Passaconaway from the Waterville Valley side via Livermore, Scaur Ridge, Pine Bend Brook (avoiding the North Slide), over the Tri’s, then the long out and back to Whiteface and Passaconaway. The long out and back may deter you and you still have the tedium of the Livermore Road walk. I’m estimating this to be about 22 to 23 miles.
Mt Isolation can be done on a nice out and back by starting on the Davis Path on Rte 302. This route crosses some non-4000 footers but several of them have unique viewpoints to the surrounding mountains and valleys. 21.4 miles.
Moriah, the Carters (which you’ve done) and the Wildcats can be done together but it is not really a loop. If you have two cars (or a car and a bike) spot one of them near the Wildcat ski area and start up Moriah via either the Stoney Brook Trail or the Carter-Moriah Trail. Cross all the Carters trying not to avoid Mt Hight (great views), down to the Hut from Carter Dome and up and over the Wildcats via the Wildcat Ridge Trail. From Wildcat D’s platform, head down the Polecat ski trails (keep to the right until you see the sign “Easy way down.” 19 to 20 miles depending up your start up Mt Moriah.
JohnL
