whites

[Viewseeker]

I hope this is the place for this thread.....Im here in NY and have only hiked the ADKs....Want to expand and go to the whites...I know nothing..I'mreaching out to my fellow VFTTers to guide me to some of the best hut to hut /hostel /beautiful hiking next yr.. ...ex.. where to go,stay,any new needed equipment....Want to take a week and just GO!! thanks in advance...feel free to PM me with web sites to check out....

viewseeker

 

[Tom Rankin]

I hope this is the place for this thread.....Im here in NY and have only hiked the ADKs....Want to expand and go to the whites...I know nothing..I'mreaching out to my fellow VFTTers to guide me to some of the best hut to hut /hostel /beautiful hiking next yr.. ...ex.. where to go,stay,any new needed equipment....Want to take a week and just GO!! thanks in advance...feel free to PM me with web sites to check out....

viewseeker

Well, for starters there are thousands of threads and posts for you to read, now get busy!



My point is that you have asked a very broad question. Maybe start a thread on more specific places and peaks. If you have no clue, that's fine, but maybe get the AMC White Mountain guide and check it out.

If you like the idea of the huts, they are expensive, but very convenient. I've used them all. The food is usually great. Join the AMC if you plan to use them a lot. The huts will give you easy access to the Kinsman, Cannon, the Franconia Range, Gale Head, The Twins, The Bonds, Zealand, Tom, the Pressies, the Carters, and maybe a few more.

The Whites are beautiful and generally easier than the 46R's of the ADK, even though they average higher. But, there is significant above tree line travel, which can be extreme even in summer. In 2004, I could barely see from cairn to cairn (sometimes not) in the Pressies in August, and I had to contend with winds strong enough to knock me down.

Happy hunting!

 

[WhiteMTHike]

I hope this is the place for this thread.....Im here in NY and have only hiked the ADKs....Want to expand and go to the whites...I know nothing..I'mreaching out to my fellow VFTTers to guide me to some of the best hut to hut /hostel /beautiful hiking next yr.. ...ex.. where to go,stay,any new needed equipment....Want to take a week and just GO!! thanks in advance...feel free to PM me with web sites to check out....

viewseeker

This is a good one. A little pricey but good.

 

[Fisher Cat]

If you are interested in the huts, there are also nice huts on the Northern Presi's run by the Randolph Mountain Club. The link is below:
http://www.randolphmountainclub.org/

 

[vegematic]

I'm fond of the Randolph Mountain Club shelters, myself. They are self-serve, more rustic, and easier on the wallet than the AMC facilities. They give you great access to the Northern Presidentials (Mt. Madison, the Adams family, and Mt. Jefferson).

-vegematic

 

[MadRiver]

I'm fond of the Randolph Mountain Club shelters, myself. They are self-serve, more rustic, and easier on the wallet than the AMC facilities. They give you great access to the Northern Presidentials (Mt. Madison, the Adams family, and Mt. Jefferson).

-vegematic

Plus a different group of people than the AMC huts. I liked them so much I joined the club three years ago.

 

[Tom Rankin]

There was also a long thread titled cheap sleeps in the whites a while back.

 

[bubba]

Viewseeker:

The Whites are great and will surely broaden to your outdoor experiences. The Whites differ from the ADKs in that they are different on top (as TR pointed out above), and you don't hike as far to get to them. Most parking and trailheads are right off the road - park and hit the trail... and the trail starts going UP right away! (Note that parking in the WMNF is also a bit different than ADKs - there are several regs and fees that apply.)

The White Mtns are not as remote as the ADK are either. From many mtn tops you can see civilization (highways, buildings, trains, etc.) The ADKs are unique in being true wilderness in so many areas.

Lastly, Dave M (VFTT moderator) has maintained what many believe to be the superior resource for hiking in the White Mtns - Hike the Whites Spend some time there and you'll see that it is truly a wonderful resouce.

Another VFTT contributor (Mohammed) maintains another fine resouce focused on the 4Ks of the New England. Find it Here

 

[pocahontas]

I agree with Tom Rankin, the AMC White Mountain Guide is such a valuable resource to own if you plan on doing any hiking in the Whites.
It not only tells you trail head locations but it describes each trail in detail as well as the elevation gained, mileage & other necessary info when planning a hike.
The newer guide also comes with detailed maps and distances between pivotal points & intersecting trails, tentsites /campsites
noted right on the maps.

The really awesome thing about hiking in the Whites is that a lot of times by checking out the maps you can create your own hike by combining different trails to make a loop or spotting a car to make a traverse!
There is such an expansive interlocking Network of trails due in part to the old logging roads & railroads.

I really hope you love the White Mountains as much as we do
you can pick & choose depending on the degree of difficulty you're looking for!
Have fun & hope to hear more posts from your experience here!

 

[Viewseeker]

yes this will be a whole new animal in itself...looking forward to the views above treeline and the peacefulness of others along the trail as mostly you see very few people along the ADKs trail, which is great at times..Mt. washington was brought up between my group. I am soo excited for next year and what adventures these new MTNs. bring..thanks to everyone for there knowledge..

 

[una_dogger]

Whites are very different from Daks for reasons mentioned above. I'll add that the hard granite footing of the Whites takes some getting used to!

For me the Daks offer long distances and lots of tough scrambles and serious bouldering (because I'm so short!) and the Whites are easier to climb because the trails are so well constructed. In the Daks, the mountains surround and tower above you and they are connected by steep cols. In the Whites, the mountains are more spread out and connected by long ridges, offering wider open views. Both ranges offer so much!

The main thing to prepare for as was already posted was exposure above treeline. Being very familiar with bailouts, well geared, and skilled in navigation as visibility can drop to near zero quite unexpectedly above treeline, as can temperatures.

Have fun!
S

 

[WhiteMTHike]

Whites are very different from Daks for reasons mentioned above. I'll add that the hard granite footing of the Whites takes some getting used to!

For me the Daks offer long distances and lots of tough scrambles and serious bouldering (because I'm so short!) and the Whites are easier to climb because the trails are so well constructed. In the Daks, the mountains surround and tower above you and they are connected by steep cols. In the Whites, the mountains are more spread out and connected by long ridges, offering wider open views. Both ranges offer so much!

The main thing to prepare for as was already posted was exposure above treeline. Being very familiar with bailouts, well geared, and skilled in navigation as visibility can drop to near zero quite unexpectedly above treeline, as can temperatures.

Have fun!
S

Good point. On the other side off the coin, I had a tough time getting used to how much softer the ground was in the Daks after years of hiking in the Whites. They don't call N.H. the Granite State for nothing.

But both ranges offer great hiking. You can't go wrong in either location.

 

[bubba]

Oh, yeah! una dogger makes a good point! You won't believe how rocky the Presis' are! Like you can't get away from it... rock after rock on the peaks, one the trails.

Also good point made about the number of trails and intersecting/traversing trails. You don't find that in the ADK's either (there are also roads/drives that take you through back mtn country). Loops are much easier and opportunties for "bail" routes are usually there... again another concept to grasp in the Whites.

Loads of good info.