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Did a Belknap diretissima yesterday. They're on the wet side with some squishy terrain and mud puddles at trail sags, but overall in good hiking shape. Nothing in the way of a stream crossing that's at all challenging. A couple of sunny days in a row would do wonders for the damp spots. Alex

Wildcats-Carters-Moriah Traverse 4/27/2017 Peaks: Wildcat D, Wildcat A, Carter Dome, South Carter, Middle Carter, Moriah Route: Polecat, Wildcat Ridge, Carter-Moriah, and Stony Brook Trails At elevation (snow line was ~2500'), 2-5' tall monorails were the order of the day -- some standing...

Would a hiking career be anywhere near as much fun without such experiences? A bigger example: the "Northbound" AT finishes with the Presi summits at Madison, and then doubles back almost due south for a full 6.9 miles in the presence of two (or more, depending on how you count) other seriously...

A quick note that the Friends of the Wapack map is both gorgeous (waterproof and nice use of color) and comprehensive. You can't get it in time for this weekend by ordering it from the website, unfortunately, but definitely represents value-add over what's online thus far. For example, the...

Goodness knows WHAT activity he thought was more important (and fun) than blowing and freezing me off the mountain -- but I'm not one to complain.

In the Apple-verse, these things are accomplished with the "Find My Phone" app or iCloud feature, and location sharing.

This hike had beckoned to me for quite some time before I put thoughts into action. Opportunity #1: Attempt Katahdin from Daicey on the day after what proved to be a brutal (cold, wind, deep snow) North Brother/Fort hike; I quit while still on the Tote Road – no gas in the tank. Opportunity...

OK, one more slug of geekiness . . . While experimenting with my Reactor a few years ago, I thought the same thing: how much difference could gas expansion (from draining) in the canister possibly make while running a stove at an 80-minute drain rate? Not much, right? On a rare minus 5-degree...

Makes sense. But hey, if you do happen upon the Raptor on closeout somewhere, give it a shot! Another recently retired shoe in the [very light] hiking boot category that has wide-footed fans: the Salomon Fastpacker. Alex

Per my comments in the other threads on this subject, I've experimented extensively with my Reactor, which runs on the MSR fuel that Doug described. At somewhere around 10 degrees F and below (my travels have taken me to minus 10), and absent supplementary warming of the canister (most commonly...

A quick caution: The Ultra Raptor and the Raptor are two different (though related) shoes. They share the same really nice, sticky but short-lived outsoles. The Ultra's, which came out after the Raptors, are aimed at folks who want enough cushioning to support a really long day -- in short...

It looks as though a few of us have tossed you some fish -- here's some guidance on how to actually fish . . . Just go to forecast.weather.gov. This is the NOAA forecast website. If you're interested in the forecast at a particular point (e.g., Mt. Cabot), just click on Cabot's approximate...

Hey, thanks for the great report! What storybook conditions for this trip -- congrats on some truly amazing influence on Mother Nature's temperament, as well as for having the stamina and early-rise wherewithal to take full advantage !! Alex

Platypus reservoirs are made for that express purpose, and I've used them for years. Haven't had any leakage problems from a capped bladder. And as a special bonus in your case, the Sawyer and Platypus caps are compatible, and if you'd like to put a Platypus cap to the test yourself, you need...

I teamed with an ADK friend to lead an AMC group on a single-day Great Range traverse three years ago, entering at the Rooster Comb trailhead and exiting at the Garden. The peaks are amazing in their own right, but even more so to someone who's steeped in the Whites' interpretation of beauty...

So sad when one's pursuit of what he/she loves turns into a tragic loss for family and friends. A tradeoff I think about often. For the pleasure/fun/satisfaction it's likely to yield, what level of risk is acceptable in the context of those we love? A friend and I attempted this hike in...

I know what you mean about the conditions - a friend and I broke out the Twinway to Guyot on Monday. Lots of work and a frigid (zero-ish), windy evening after making the inevitable call at sunset to backtrack rather than punch on to the Twins. Still a pleasure, though -- the breakable crust...

Brian, I don't see the logic in cutting back to the WhisperLite @minus 20. As it gets colder, Reactor boil times will increase commensurately because: - The starting temperature of the water/snow is lower. Boil time for the Reactor is just under 3 minutes for 1L at room temperature. At...

Agreed. The bottom line is that we control the weather on our hikes simply by heeding the forecast and waiting for a good day.

Online sources? Ummm, if you're planning an above-tree line hike, All you do is open up your map, use your compass to protract and record the necessary exit bearings, and if jniehof's post hasn't scared you off, fold up and pack your map. Probably less time than finding and comprehending some...