Where should my friends and I hike and camp this weekend? New Hampshire! (Backcountry camping)?
by admin on Saturday, February 26th, 2011 | 3 Comments
Hello all. My friends and I want to hike in New Hampshire this weekend, and we want somewhere that back country camping is allowed, because we want to make it a two-day hike. We know the weather wont be so great Friday so we are prepared. We want to be able to pitch a tent and have a fire in the woods, and then wake up early the next morning to hike onto a ridge or summit to see the view. Any suggestions?
You could always hike a section of the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail (AT) runs 161 miles up the state of New Hampshire to Mt. Success and through the White Mountains before it crosses into Maine. However, you may need to check out the restrictions in certain areas, such as needing a ‘backcountry permit’, and whether fires are allowed, before camping in some areas along the AT.
There are some other good hiking trails in the state:
Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail is a 50-mile trail that connects Grand Monadnock with Mount Sunapee in southwestern New Hampshire. This trail runs through three NH state parks. A trail guide is available from Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Club (MSGTC).
Wapack Trail (Southern NH) The Wapack Trail is 21 miles long and runs from Mt. Watatic in Ashburnham, Massachusetts to North Pack Monadnock (summit 2,278 feet) in Greenfield, New Hampshire. The trail crosses Pack Monadnock (summit 2,280 feet) at Miller State Park in Peterborough, NH. Pack Monadnock also has a paved road that you can drive to the summit for a great view.
White Mountain National Forest – There are 1,200 miles of hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest, which is home of the Presidential Mountain Range, which includes Mounts Madison, Adams, Jefferson and Washington. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) offers year-round campsites, shelters, guide books and maps. The Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) maintains 100 miles of trails in the White Mountains.
I’m also hiking/camping this weekend, I just bought a light cheap tent and sleeping bag to carry in my pack with everything else I’ll need like a ground mat and lots to keep me warm.
Where I’m going, the White Mountains, weather will be warmer and clear up by Sunday.
Basically you should have either a two-person tent or each person carry a light one-person tent. Each of you should have a sleeping bag, two changes of clothes, and warm hiking gear like boots, polyester, hat. Bring dry food, water, flashlights, and things like a pocket knife or cooking utensils.
Also you HAVE to be aware of hunting season. Wear orange on your head and body.
a little late but franconia notch is a good place, nice loop, you can stealth camp just below the tree line and get up early enough to watch the sunup, for next time mabye, careful with fires up there though
mabye next time