Did this one with Kevin. We skipped Crawford as we had already done it and we had a lot of elevation left to go. We barebooted it when we got to the split off for the spur, then threw on our snowshoes for the rest. The trail was untouched from that point on, so we were breaking trail on 6-12" of snow depending on the location. The trail to the base of stairs was pretty forgiving, it just felt long. When it began ascending, the rocks and angles made it difficult in the snowshoes but it was manageable. We made it to the lookout and the sky opened up, giving us our first views of the day. We enjoyed some food and headed to the branch off for Resolution. We were hesistant after reading trail conditions for the slab, but went for it anyway. When we got there, it did seem dicey, but it was pretty manageable to do a bushwack around the edge and avoid any danger of falling or sliding. The out and back was relatively short, and we continued the long stretch back to the Crawford spur. There we stopped and switched to microspikes for the descent. We also saw the only other people we would see that day. Breaking trail made it feel longer than it was, but overall a success.

17/52 52 With a View

Did this one with Kevin. Rough conditions for this one. The way up Glen Boulder was not bad, snow was still sticky and the trail wasn't packed yet, so we were mostly post-holing in the trees above 4000 ft. Encountered 80 mph winds at the top but we were prepared for it. Going along the ridge, once we went into the trees the snow was once again 2-3 ft deep and mostly untouched so it was slow going. When we reached the turn off for Rocky Branch, us and two others decided to skip the summit as we had a time constraint and would definitely make it back after dark if we summited. Isolation trail and Rocky Branch were a mess. Both trails were completely flooded, and at the higher elevations the water was hidden by a layer of snow. The river crossings were flowing too fast and deep with only slippery rocks for crossing, so we bushwacked around them. Wettest day I have had so far and most of the hike was at 1 mph pace aside from the last 3-4 miles, so it took much longer than expected. I would wait until a bit more snow pack, or do it in the summer. 

Did this one solo.

15/52 52 With a View

This was my longest race so far, and with quite a bit of elevation gain. I was not super prepared for it following my injury at the 10k, and started the morning poorly by not eating and getting very little sleep. That made the initial climb up rough and I slogged the whole stretch. I started to get my legs back on the first big downhill and flat section, where Kevin and I met up again. The "road" portion felt longer than expected, but soon we were at the aid station before the second large climb. I made the mistake of not filling up my water, and I ran out with a couple miles remaining in the race. This climb really took it out of me as well, and it was slow going to the summit. We began the final downhill portion and Kevin and I split up as our paces varied a little. There were a few climbs on the downhill portion, but overall it was just nice to not be constantly climbing. I finished in 4.5 hours, which was pretty much the middle of the pack. Not an amazing performance, but I was just glad to finish and enjoy such a cool experience with so many people.

Did this one with Kevin as a warmup for the race.

13/52 52 With a View

This was the second race in the Loon Echo Land Trust Race Series. I felt pretty good out of the gate, but made some wrong turns with a group of people that led to almost an additional half-mile of distance. I also took a pretty bad fall right before the first large incline, which banged my knee on a rock. This injury has lasted for a few months now. After limping it out for about a minute, I was able to get it feeling loose enough to start the climb. Getting that first climb out of the way felt great, and led to an out-and-back portion followed by another short climb back up to the summit. From there was a huge descent down, which felt terrible knowing that all the elevation we were losing was about to be gained again. We wrapped around the base of the mountain and started back up it again, going up the steepest portion of the trail around mile 4. That climb was brutal, but the descent that followed felt amazing to just full-send it down the mountain. Following that was a stretch of (mostly) flat to the finish line, giving me a finish of 1.5 hours. Given the elevation gain, I was pretty happy with this time and enjoyed the race beyond the injuries.

Did this one with Kevin.

39/48 NH 4000 Footers

This was a solo hike, and a longer day. I did this on a Friday so it was when many people seemed to be starting their Pemi Loop, so the shared trail was pretty busy. That business stopped immediately when I turned off for the trail to Black Pond to do the bushwack. I also made an error and ended up legitimately bushwhacking the entire way back to the trail as I was about 300-400 ft off of the established version. The rest of the way felt long and I only encountered people going up the slide where some good views of the Lincoln Slide revealed themselves. The summit was uneventful and I started my way back down, taking the Brutus Bushwack for the descent which felt much easier on the knees. I was able to find the other bushwhack much easier on the return trip as well and jogged some portions until I made it back to the Lincoln Woods Trail, where I ran back out the rest of it. I could not have asked for better weather and I really enjoyed the physical challenge of this one.

37/48 NH 4000 Footers

This was a hike I did with Kevin. We had a late start due to some prior commitments but it was a shorter hike so it was no problem at all, and we got the last parking spot. We encountered a woman in the first mile and a half that said she had just seen a bear that did not want to leave, and so she turned around for her and her dog's sake. We ended up never seeing it which was a little disappointing. Only one portion of the Carter Ledge Trail felt "terrifying", but you could definitely see what might have happened if you slipped. The views from the top were amazing and we enjoyed some snacks in the breeze before descending via the Middle Sister Trail. Overall an easier hike and a good choice to test my new Hoka Challenger 8's.

12/52 52 With a View

6/25 Terrifying 25

This was my first time partaking in this iconic race. I joined the chill wave since I had no idea what to expect. It was a relatively cool day and the rain held off until the summit. Like many, I started off at a good running pace and the slope of the mountain immediately humbled me. I did not technically run for most of the race, but I never stopped to take a break or rest and I'm proud of that - slow and steady is what worked for me. I kept my heart rate low and finished in the top 53%, just slightly above average. I definitely think I want to do it again next year!

This was a wet and windy solo venture up to Zealand.

36/48 NH 4000 Footers

A fun walk on the boardwalk and the beach in the Cahuita National Park.

This was a shorter hike done with my fiancee's friend that was close to where we were staying and was relatively short.

Another guided birdwatching excursion in the Children's Eternal Rainforest to see various species, including Montezuma Oropendola and Speckled Tanager.

A fun quick guided hike up to a viewing area toward the summit of the Arenal Volcano.

Our first hike and birdwatching experience on my trip to Costa Rica with my fiancee and a friend.

This was a long day across a cool hidden mountain range just outside of Boston. 

1/1 Blue Hills Skyliner

My first forray into mountaineering.

This was a fun hike up a 4000 footer with Kevin, starting and ending with a long road walk due to the snow closure.

35/48 NH 4000 Footers

A fun solo scramble up a couple peaks.

A fun solo scramble up a couple peaks.

11/52 52 With a View

A fun solo scramble up a couple peaks.

10/52 52 With a View

A fun solo scramble up a couple peaks.

A fun solo scramble up a couple peaks.

9/52 52 With a View

A fun solo scramble up a couple peaks.

8/52 52 With a View

A fun solo scramble up a couple peaks.

6/52 52 With a View

5/25 Terrifying 25

This was a long push for all 12 Belknap summits with my buddy Kevin.

12/12 Belknap Range Mountains

A short hike on vacation with my family. We did not commit to the whole loop and instead just walked out and back to the ocean view. It was incredibly foggy by the water despite no fog inland, but it made the view even more beautiful in its own way. This was a more casual hike and I was able to do some nice birdwatching along the way. We brought the family dog as well and she loved it, the low elevation gain was good for her old joints.

I did this hike with my buddy Kevin. We avoided the Baldface Circle Trail section that's a bit dicey for the ascent for the sake of time since we were including Eastman and went up Slippery Brook Trail instead. The weather was beautiful and we were able to see Mount Washington from South Baldface easily. We made good time across the ridge and descended via the Baldface Circle Trail, stopping in at the bottom to check out the Emerald Pool. I think we both just wanted to get back to the car as it felt a bit underwhelming and we mostly just noticed an increase in mosquitos closer to the water. Overall it was an incredible hike and I will definitely return at some point to do the first ascent up South Baldface for the Terrifying 25 list.

4/52 52 With a View

I did this hike with my coworker. The snow was minimal at the base but after a half mile it began, and the monorail was mostly intact so we donned our microspikes and kept moving. There were some steep sections but overall nothing extreme that required using hands. There were a few spots available on the way up with views overlooking the road and the nearby mountains. Once we got close to the top there were some good views of Washington in the distance as well since this one is right on the Maine border. We were seeing intermittent moose prints and droppings the entire way up, but they did not seem to be from the same day and we didn't get any lucky sights of moose. However, in the last quarter mile I saw my first good view of a fisher cat ahead of us on the trail. It bounded away but about 50 feet later I caught another view of it before it took off into the woods. We reached the top and took in some views from the fire tower and ate some lunch at the base before beginning our descent down, enjoying the nice weather and views. It was fast going, but with the downhill force the monorail was able to withstand less force and my foot broke through at one point, sending me rolling and bruising my shin up pretty good. Besides that, the descent was uneventful and we made it back to the parking lot in good time. It was a great day for a hiking and this peak was not too strenuous.

8/14 ME 4000 Footers

I got to the base of the mountain at 7 a.m., arriving an hour before the slopes even opened. I began my ascent of the uphill slope they have designated for skinning and snowshoeing, making quick work. It was difficult at times to find the right way to go, but once it entered the trees it was easy. I took a quick stop at the top of the ski slope to ask the mountain rescue for directions, then continued up to the actual summit. The wind was pretty extreme with how bare the top was, but I stayed warm in my ski jacket and began making my way over to The Horn. It was hard at times to find the trail, both due to minimal use and the wind, but when I was able to locate it the movement wasn't too bad. There was a lot of ice but nothing my snowshoes couldn't handle. Once I reached The Horn and was above the treeline, the wind was ripping again but it was an incredible feeling to be done the Triple Twinter Challenge and to be all alone on a mountain so beautiful. I took a few minutes to soak in how priveleged I felt and then continued back, seeing the first people of the day besides mountain rescue once I got back to the Saddleback peak. The descent was fast and I only had to move out of the way of skinners a few times, and by the time I made it back to the base of the mountain it was still before noon. I felt incredibly accomplished and it was such a great day to be on the mountain.

6/6 Triple Twinter Challenge

7/14 ME 4000 Footers

Day 2 of my solo hiking weekend. I spent the night nearby so I was able to make the quick drive over and start around 7 a.m. I parked at the Sugarloaf Country Club and put on the snowshoes immediately again. I made the trek over to where I thought the bushwhack would be and found an incredibly easy to follow trail over to Caribou Pond Road. From there it was roughly 2 miles over to the trailhead. The trail itself was actually less travelled than the bushwhack was, it seemed like nobody had been on the Crocker's for at least a week. The beginning was simple but at the switchback to the slope increase the snow got deeper and looser and made it much trickier to follow and ascend. Due to the wind and depth I lost the trail a few times but was easily able to backtrack and relocate it when necessary. I made great time to the first summit and the mile over to Crocker felt easier than it looked given the steep valley change in-between. Views were minimal but great when they peaked through. The way back down was much quicker and I felt great physically, so when I made it back to the road I jogged intermittently. I definitely got the hang of the snowshoes this time and the heel lift was a big help on some of the slopes. I made it back to the car in good time and officially completed my solo hiking weekend.

4/6 Triple Twinter Challenge

5/14 ME 4000 Footers

This hike was the start of a two-day solo hiking weekend I planned. Given the winter conditions I began the 2 1/2 hour drive at 3 a.m., expecting to have to hike in via Stratton Brook Rd given it didn't seem to be plowed in the winter. To my surprise it was cleaned up enough for my Subaru to make it to the trailhead, cutting an extra 5 or so miles out of my trip. I put on my new snowshoes almost immediately and needed them the entire time. Most of the approach hike was very gradual and easy on the legs, but the last mile up to the col was incredibly steep. I met two guys up there who were only ascending the West Peak, so I chose to start at the less-traveled Avery Peak so at least somebody on the mountain would know the direction I took. Based on the tracks it seemed nobody had gone up this one in at least a week and the deep, untouched snow and windy conditions made it that I got turned around a few times until I got above the treeline and was able to see the target in the distance. The wind was whipping but the views were amazing and the day was incredibly clear. The return to the col was much easier since I could follow my tracks, and following the tracks of the guys I met earlier made the West Peak a breeze. I took a quick break to take in the views and began my descent. The steep portion of the trail was too difficult to do with or without snowshoes so I glissaded most of it. The rest of the way out was gentle. This was my longest solo hike at the time and a good learning experience as I tried to get the hang of the snowshoes as well. 

2/6 Triple Twinter Challenge

3/14 ME 4000 Footers

This was my first solo 4,000 Footer. I had a Friday off and decided to try Jackson and Webster together early in the morning. The temperature was about 12 degrees Fahrenheit at the base, but due to my new Montec skiing jacket I was still overheating a bit on the way up. The trail was well-packed and the incline was steady. I only used microspikes until the last quarter mile, where I decided to try out my new MSR Evo Ascent Snowshoes I had just bought the day before. I did not fully get the hang of them, but they made a huge difference when the snow was steep and packed. The top was clouded and the wind was moving fast. I intended to traverse over to Webster but had difficulty locating the trail. The trees were all packed with snow so no blazes were visible and it was clear nobody else had taken the path in a while, if ever. I decided to choose the safe option and descended back to the trailhead. I kept the snowshoes on until the last half mile to try and get a better hang of them. It made for a relatively short trip but still an enjoyable one. 

34/48 NH 4000 Footers

Both of these hikes were done solo. Red Hill was a bit longer but the trail was frequently used and well-packed, with a gradual slope the entire trek. Conditions were cloudy but mild. I heard my first Pine Grosbeak as well. Snowshoes were not needed the entire time, and I jogged out the last half mile. I drove over to the Green Mountain trailhead and due to snow plow piles I had to park about 500 feet from the trailhead. This trail was much less used, and I believe it was because of the previously mentioned worse accessibility. I did not own a pair of snowshoes on this hike and it made it much worse as it was entirely untouched snow and much steeper than the previous hike. The distance was short but it definitely worked my legs more than Red Hill. This hike convinced me to get snowshoes the following week. This was a combined day of close to 7 miles and it was enough to feel well accomplished. These two hikes also wrapped up my patch for NH Fire Towers.

5/5 NH Fire Towers

I did this hike with my girlfriend Colby and my dad. Despite it being after Christmas the snow was pretty mild. We took the 19-Mile Brook Trail to the Carter Dome trail, which meant a longer hike over to Carter Dome once we reached the ridge, but a much less steep ascent. We didn't put on microspikes until we reached the top of the ridge since there was a solid monorail up there and it was hardened by rain, beginning to get slippery. There was also incredibly low visibility, so for that reason we skipped Mount Hight. After we ascended Carter Dome and began the trek over to South Carter we realized our pace was lending to us likely finishing in the dark. The rain picked up along the ridge, but that did not deter some Gray Jays and Boreal Chickadees, the former of which would only eat fruits and would toss nuts if you tried to give it to them. We skipped North Carter for time and began the descent with probably an hour and a half of daylight left and roughly 4 miles to go. Almost immediately I twisted my ankle on some wet rocks, which made the trip much less enjoyable and the mileage feel much longer. With about a mile left we donned our headlamps and after the rest of the trail and a short walk along the road, we returned to the parking lot a little after 5 p.m. This hike had many hiccups but it was still a success on paper.

33/48 NH 4000 Footers

I did this hike with my coworker. The infamous portion of the trail that is the steepest section of the Appalachian Trail was a fun climb. Some of the climbing elements were obscurred by snow and more difficult to traverse, but still quite doable. We did spot some bear tracks about halfway up that followed the trail and were from within the last few days, so that was a cool sighting that kept us alert. Once we reached the top of the first Wildcat it was already well-populated by skiiers. We began the traverse across to the last one and aside from a few steep sections it was relatively harmless. I encountered some issues with my microspikes but I managed to correct them on my next hike. The view of the Carters from the last Wildcat made it worth the hike despite the cloudy day. When we returned to the ski mountain we decided to descend via the ski trails for the sake of time and safety given the steepness of the trail up and how deep the snow was in parts. When an opportunity presented itself we veered off onto ski trails that had not been opened to the public yet, which made the going slower but was the right move to avoid any accidents. We made it back to the parking lot well before dark and hitched a ride back to my car from two skiiers we met on the way down. Overall the hike was a success.

30/48 NH 4000 Footers

3/25 Terrifying 25

This was my 3-year anniversary hike with my girlfriend Colby. We had originally planned to do Zealand and Hale, but given the poor weather we decided on this shorter hike that Colby had already done previously. The ascent was very gradual and the biggest obstacles were mud-related. It was past peak foliage but that didn't mean it wasn't still a beautiful day in the fall woods. We made good time to Starr King and then we were over to Waumbek in no time. We met a very cool hiker at the summit who has done a handstand on every peak and had previously completed the Adirondacks and the Appalachian Trail, and we enjoyed listening to his retellings of his accomplishments. The way back down was also relatively quick, although I did slip on some wet leaves and bashed my elbow on a rock, but no major injuries. Right when we had the car back in our sights the rain started, so our timing was perfect and it confirmed our apprehension for the longer hike on our getaway weekend. Overall this was a great short one, and we enjoyed ourselves.

28/48 NH 4000 Footers

I did this hike with my girlfriend Colby. The parking was adjacent to a fish hatchery breaming with trout, so it got off to a cool start. The incline started off gradual and after the first switchback it got steeper. The incline never became drastic, however. There was only one opening for views on the way up, but the visibility was low due to Canadian wildfire smoke. We stopped for a quick break at the cabin near the top, then continued the remaining half mile over to the summit. The summit had no views but we met some other nice hikers while we sat and ate our lunch. The way down was much quicker but the flat sections felt longer than they did on the approach. When we got back to the car we watched the trout jumping in the stream for a few minutes and then went off on our way, feeling accomplished from a successful hike.

27/48 NH 4000 Footers

Decided to wrap up the RRCT list in one day, hitting 4 different stops in one day. The mileage still remained low but with some driving time in between each short hike. I started with Libby Hill, ascending via the cross country ski trail and descended via the dirt road. Only encountered some cyclists but otherwise it was a quick trip. Next up was Shaker Bog. I was the only one present but I did encounter two Black Racer snakes, a flock of Canada Geese, and a Belted Kingfisher looking for food. It was a quick out and back. Next up was Little Hill which has no official trail, so I bushwhacked up to the summit. I happened upon an old logging road that I was able to follow back out to the road, and along the way I happened upon some Black Trumpets. I was still pretty new to foraging so I made sure to consult my book and some experts beforehand. I later prepared them in a white sauce pasta dish. The last trip was Pisgah Hill, it was very well-maintained and it had a cool granite field along the way. When I got back to my car it wrapped up the list and I received my patch a few weeks later.

10/10 RRCT 400 Footers

This was the longest hike I have done to date and a test to see how far I could push myself. I did this with my buddy Kevin. We both drove up the night before and parked at the finish line, by the AMC Highland Center. We both slept in our cars and woke up at 2 a.m., preparing ourselves for the day ahead and making the half hour drive to the trailhead of Madison, giving us a 3:11 a.m. start time. The ascent to Madison in the dark was uneventful, but we did see one other person along the way. When we reached the Madison Hut, Kevin decided to stay there and fuel up while I summited since he had done it before. When I hit the peak it was right at sunrise, and almost brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't stay long due to the wind making it freezing, and descended rapidly. Once back at the hut we made the climb up to Adams. The wind was minimal below the summits, and it began to heat up as the sun rose. After Adams the 0.3 mile descent was real slow due to the boulder hopping. I took some Tylenol before heading up to Jefferson and had a gel at the summit where a kind stranger gave me some hand sanitizer after the wind blew it everywhere. From there it was 3.5 miles to Washington, we opted to take the trail that was along the side of Clay rather than over the top. This portion felt long and hard and I was really starting to feel it by the time we hit Washington. We bought some fresh food and took about 30-60 minutes of much needed rest. Mentally I made sure I never thought of it as a bailout, only as the halfway point, to avoid any doubts creeping in. Feeling refreshed, we began the descent to the Lakes of the Clouds and then quickly went up Monroe, which all felt relatively short. We went up Little Monroe and began the walk to Eisenhower, which also began to drag on our feet. Once we hit Eisenhower we debated if we should do Jackson, and decided against it for time and the fatigue we were feeling. That fatigue really started to hit on the way to Pierce, and we took another break at the summit there, where we hung out and chatted with two other groups who were doing the Presi that day. We began the descent and waited for the sight for sore eyes that was the parking lot. I was filled with pride when we finally finished and began the drive back home. I bought new Oboz a week or two before this, and they felt great the whole time. 

26/48 NH 4000 Footers

I did this hike with my buddy Kevin.