Help w/Planning 3 generation trip

[Quietman]

Planning a 2-3 day Columbus weekend trip for my 73 year old father, two 40ish brothers and 2 teenage sons. Needs to be in S. NH or S. Whites. Father had knee replacement 2 years ago and lost flexability but can still hike. Requirements are no steep sections, water availability(I'll be carying 2 tents) and a good view or 2.
So far I've narrowed down the options to the northern section of Monadnock Sunapee Greenway or the Drakes Brook trail on Sandwich Mtn. Drakes brook option would be to hike in 2 miles & camp, hike to Jennings Peak and waybe Sandwich Mtn and back to camp, then hike out.
Disadvantage of the M-S Greenway is camping only at specific sites and no fires.
Drakes brook sounds good but Jennings Peak will be crowded on the weekend.
Father has hiked Stinson, & Kinsman Mtn Trail to Bald Peak.
Welch-Dickey is an option but will probably be mobbed.
Does anyone have different suggestions?
Sitting around a campfire with my father, brothers and sons will be "priceless!"

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[brianW]

How about a 2 day/1night along the Wapack trail. Total distance is 21 miles. The only camping allowed (that I know Of) is at Windblown x/c ski area in New Ipswich where reservations are required. With some planning you could even leave a car at Windblown so you wouldn't have to carry any heavy gear.

 

[Quietman]

Thanks for the reply. Forgot to mention that we have a limit o f about 4-5 miles per day, due to my father's knee. The Wapack would require twice that distance.
Any other ideas?
Thanks!

 

[Jim lombard]

Passaconaway

Welch-Dickey is an option but will probably be mobbed.

I don't know that people usually camp on the Welch-Dickey loop, this is usually just a half day hike.

Mt Passaconaway via Dicey Mills trail is fairly mild and is 4.5 miles or so to the summit. Plenty of places to camp along there but no campfires. Mohamed's site has a good description. http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/index.html

Passaconaway and Whiteface are the two southernmost NH 4,000 footers and are located in the town of Wonalancet.

 

[Quietman]

Welch-Dickey was just a thought, nice views, probably too short of a hike.

I not limiting options to 4k peaks as my Dad will probably not be completing any lists

Just looking for an easy 2 day, short hike in, base camp, easy summit with views, then back to base. Brother is driving in from NJ so the farther south in NH, the better.

Thanks!!!!

 

[jn316]

cardigan

you could check with the AMC Cardigan Lodge (Alexandria, NH) to see if they still have camping near the lodge.
you could camp there, have the fireside experience, then do a nice loop up the clark trail and down manning, with great views:
open summit, but still close to the changing leaves.