NH48 and a baby

[CraigW]

Hale was easy with good footing with my infant in the carrier. Very similiar to Tecumseh. Cannon via Kinsman Ridge tr is a quick one with fair footing, with great views not to mention a Tram getaway if weather turns. Mt Tom and Mt Field with option of Wiley (hike gets a bit long with all three) has smooth trails (go Avalon to AZ up and down) to field. Field to Wiley can by narrow with lots of branches.

My daughter is about the same age and I am weary of too long hikes and exposure. I plan on doing the Presies Hut to Hut when she is a few years older. I have heard of parents going hut to hut with the very young. Something to look into...

Have fun and do it your way. I took your advice from another post having the juice cup "on belay". works well.

 

[Zimmer]

My husband and I hiked with our twins until they were a bit over 2yo (at which point we switched to mountain biking with kiddie seats -- much easier on our backs!), and I completely agree with you about avoiding ladders.

I'd also like to gently disagree with the Cannon via Kinsman Ridge recommendation; the granite is disintegrating, which makes it very slick. It's my least favorite trail.

Hale is a no-brainer. We hike at a steady but not hurried pace, and made it up and down in under two hours while the kids were at a birthday party last summer.

 

[percious]

Ok, this has all been great advice. I am thinking about heading up to NH for May 20/21/22.

Right now, it looks like Pierce/Eisenhower, or Pierce/Jackson/Webster.

How is the Webster Cliff trail?

Am I going to need snowshoes (really dont want to need them) in two weeks?

The second day I will probably take it easy with just Hale.

I am looking forward to this weekend with my boy.

-percious

 

[lamerunner]

Pierce and Eisenhower are great choices. Jackson has a scrambly section near the summit which might be tricky with a child on the back. The Webster cliff trail is beautiful but that is another one with several rocky scrambly sections which would not be pleasant with a child.

We did a lot of hiking when our kids were that age; it is certainly easier with two adults so one can carry the extra gear. We traveled and hiked in Switzerland and out west with young kids and it worked fine. I also did several short hikes alone, esp with my son. mostly they were half day hikes,eg Doublehaed in Jackson, Tuckermans to Hermit Lake, Peaked and Middle Mtns in N Conway, but I did many in the winter, sometimes in snowshoes. I also took him up Eisenhower; that was a little trickier despite the ease of the Edmunds Path because I felt obligated to bring more gear to go above treeline.

As a family, with two adults, one in the pack and one older child walking, we have also done Moosilauke, Osceola, Monadnock , Kearsarge North, Chocurua and others. If you are strong and fit enough, the biggest issue is indeed footing.

Have fun!

 

[Tramper Al]

How is the Webster Cliff trail?

This is not one of the trails that would typically come up as recommended for hiking with a small child. It's nothing terribly serious, but it's pretty steep, with a couple of minor scrambles and lots of walking on the edge of a 'cliff'.

I think if you want to visit Webster's summit, then using the Webster-Jackson Trail loop would be a far better choice.