Mt. Liberty (4,459 ft) 9-11-22

Distance: 9.88 mi.
Elevation: 3,010 ft (overall) 3,302 ft (total)
Time: (with an 8 year old setting the pace) 4:57 (Summit) 8:50 (Total)
Trails: Whitehouse Trail, Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Bike Path

This year for Flags on the 48 our group picked Mt. Liberty to hike. The group I hike with includes 4 of the 6 members of the steering committtee, but this year all 6 members would be hiking the same peaks since the group was formed. Hiking with my 8 year old daughter though for her first time attending this event, I headed up the trail before most of the group. I knew with shorter legs and a younger hiker, we wouldn't be making it to the summit as quick as the others.

The first part of the trail goes good with a little bit of up then down getting to the bike path. After walking the bike path briefly we head back onto the hiking trail. Again things went well for the early part of the trail. Probably a bit before the Flume Slide Trail goes to the right we were passed by part of our group. Up near the brook crossing above this, more of our group passed us. Liliana was doing well, but she can't be expected to be as fast as other people who have far more hiking experience.

The last mile or so leading up to the ridge the trail gets pretty steep. This is where Liliana really started to get tired and her pace slowed down. Today was her biggest hike ever though, so it was expected. Before reaching this section I thought we had a chance to be on the summit to help raise the flag, but in the end we missed it by about 30 minutes. Liliana was a trooper though and kept making progress. And once we hit the ridge and things weren't as steep, it was like she got a boost of energy and we made it to the summit quickly.

After staying long enough that we could enjoy the views, rest, and help take down the flag, we packed up and headed down. We made good pace for an 8 year old in the lead. Liliana's feet were hurting some by the time we got down, but we managed to stay near some of the back markers of our group and got the parking lot just ahead of them after hiking on and off with them on the way down.

Liliana did great for her first Flags on the 48 event, even if we did miss the flags being raised on the summit. Depending on which peaks we choose for the next year or two, we might be able to do this again and have Liliana help with the flag raising. Everyone else in the group was glad to have a younger hiker taking part in it and they all thought she did great making it to the summit as well as she did.

An early section of trail after crossing the bike path

Brook crossing

Steep and rocky leading up to the ridge

Flag is up

View into the Pemi

The flag on Lincoln with Lafayette behind

The flag on Flume

The entire steering committee for Flags on the 48

Lots of people enjoying the event

Liliana and I in front of the flag

Liliana striking a pose on the way down

Google Earth representation of the hike

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

Cannon Mtn (4,100 ft) 9-11-21

Distance: 4.75 mi.
Elevation: 2,147 ft (overall) 2,421 ft (total)
Time: 1:41 (View Above Old Man Site) 2:13 (Summit) 3:50 (Total)
Trails: Kinsman Ridge Trail

Just like we did two years ago, today we hike Cannon Mountain for Flags on the 48. Being the 20th anniversary, our group leader Jim wanted to bring out his big flag, so we needed a peak that had somewhere to use it. Drapping it over the side of the building on Cannon Mtn has worked before, so that was the peak we picked for this year. We also had our normal size flag again, and a couple others to honor paramedics and firefighters as well as a soldier that was killed overseas in the war that followed 9-11.

We had quite a few people in our group this year and luckily we had enough people taking the tram up that we could send most of the poles, flags, and hardware needed up with them so the hike up would be easier. Some of the slower hikers in the group decided to get and earlier headstart so that we could catch up to them later on in the hike.

Two years ago someone that is working on a documentary about the american flag and what it means to people got some footage of us during the event. With the wind and clouds that day, some of the audio wasn't as good as he liked and there were no views to incorporate, so this year he had another photographer/videographer hike with us to get some more footage. It was interesting having someone document the hike as he didn't know much about the event before tagging along. He also got some great footage of the flags and the hike that should be good to use in the documentary and for their own personal uses.

We had all of our flags up by noon with 3 on poles and the big one draped down over the side of the building on the summit. Lots of people were out to enjoy the event and the views today. It made for a great atmosphere at the summit while we were up there. After packing up the gear after 2pm, the non hikers helped bring it all down in the trams again while we hiked down. Once they were down at the bottom of the mountain they started getting a big barbecue ready so as soon as we finished the hike down we could all have something good to eat. We offered food and drinks to everyone that was hiking down today with many other hikers taking us up on the deal. It made for a great end to the day.

The trail is steep from the start

One large wet slab to climb up

A rest at the view point

Getting one of our flags ready

Multiple flags are up

Zeppelin has the names of the rescue dogs involved on his vest

Other flags were visible with the nice weather

We brought the big flag out today

View down through the notch

The Kinsmans

Franconia Ridge

After hike barbecue

Google Earth representation of the hike

For all the pictures from the hike, just go to my gallery on SmugMug

Northeast Cannon Ball (3,769 ft) 5-28-16

Distance: 9.40 mi.
Elevation: 1,909 ft (overall) 3,152 ft (total)
Time: 2:48 (NE Cannon Ball) 7:13 (Total)
Trails: Lonesome Lake Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Lonesome Lake Trail

With the forecast being for hazy skies and possible rain showers, it was a good day to grab another NEHH peak that wouldn't have much for views. Unfortunately, the forecast was also for hot temperatures and higher humidity. This made the hike go a bit slower than normal with more and longer stops. Also, plenty of fluids to carry in my pack while traversing the ridge.

The hike from the parking lot to Lonesome Lake isn't all that bad normally, but today it was a bit uncomfortable. You could just tell the humidity was high this morning and I was sweating significantly early on. The trail itself is somewhat gradual with a long switchback built into it. A bit rocky in places due to the traffic it sees, but leveling off nicely before the lake. Only a few others were out this early with a couple just going up to the lake and then back down. Getting to the lake, it appears that materials have been dropped off for some new bog bridges.

Supplies at the lake

View at the lake with overcast skies

Continuing around the lake, the trail is mostly on bog bridges. These ones are still good, so they aren't likely the ones being replaced. As the trail leaves the lake though, that is when you find the bog bridges I expect are going to be replaced. Many of them in this section are getting pretty bad. As you get further from the lake though, the trail gets steeper and you lose the bog bridges all together. However, it gets pretty rocky and stays kind of steep for a while. Today there was also water in many places and damp rocks from the morning and the humidity. The trail does level out some again shortly before its end at the Kinsman Ridge Trail

A bit steep and rocky

Heading south on the Kinsman Ridge Trail (KRT), you head steeply up the NE Cannon Ball. It stays like this most of the way up, helping you gain elevation quickly. Once up near the summit, the trail levels out. I walked back and forth here a bit while looking at my GPS to help me decide which rock or opening was the actual high point. I didn't notice any cairns and didn't expect there to be a sign. With limited views over the trees and hazy skies in all direction, I didn't spend much time here. I changed into a dry shirt, had a snack, and took a few pictures.

View from the summit

Heading south along the KRT goes pretty well for a while. It isn't as steep as coming up the NE Cannon Ball and appears to see less traffic, so it isn't as worn. There are a few wooden steps/ladders in a couple steep spots to help out as well. Since you go behind the second Cannon Ball, the trail is a pretty steady decline over some rocky patches and some wet patches. I took a short break at a nice spot that had a bit of an opening to the north.

Limited view from the trail

Eventually you hit a small brook crossing and the start of the steep climb up the third Cannon Ball. This starts off rocky, but gets better as you get higher. The map makes it look like you might not go all the way up and over the summit here, but it seems in reality that you do. I was hoping for a bit less gain here, but didn't get it. After the high point, the trail has a couple more ups and down with the ups being a bit longer as you work your way up to the next intersection. Once there, it's mostly downhill back to the parking lot.

Climbing the 3rd Cannon Ball

Of course this means going down the Fishin' Jimmy Trial, which many consider rough and difficult. If nothing else, a little less enjoyable than most trails. The trail is steep and rocky for the first half as you descend. There has been some nice stone work since I was last here and the existing wooden steps added to the smooth rocks help. I didn't find it too bad going down today, but heard from another going up that he fell multiple times on the slick rocks. The second half of the trail is much smoother and more gradual. It does have some short climbs up though before you reach the lake. Today, this was the section that I seemed the slowest on. I think I was just getting too hot coming back down into the lower elevations and not drinking quite enough fluid.

Wooden steps on the Fishin' Jimmy Trail

I stopped at the hut to have some nice cold water and take a break. I also filled my bottles in case my water bladder ran out on the descent. Any extra could also be used to wash off at the car or just dump over my head to refresh myself. Heading from the hut to the car went pretty quick, even though there was much more traffic now than this morning. I've done this descent a few times and it's easy to carry a bit faster pace after resting at the hut. It also seemed to go quicker as I caught up to a few people that were good to talk too as we all headed down.

View from the porch on the hut

In the end, the hike went well considering the hot temps. I've bonked hard in similar weather before near the end of the hike, but today I kept a more casual pace with more breaks and drank plenty of water. In the end, I probably drank about 4.5-5 quarts of water while hiking and stopped at the hut.

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

Map of the hike

Mt. Pemigewasset (2,582 ft) 1-5-14

Distance: 3.357 mi. (trails) 1.172 mi. (road) 4.529 mi. (total)
Elevation: 1,221 ft (overall) 1,661 ft (total)
Time: 2:32 (trails) 2:56 (total)
Trails: Bike Path, Mt. Pemigewasset Trail, Indian Head Trail

After plans for a larger hike didn't happen, I decided to get something in and picked this smaller hike to one of 52 With A View on trails I've never been on. I parked at the Flume Gorge Visitor Center and grabbed some gear. After talking with someone who just came down, I left the snowshoes in the truck and just brought the microspikes.

After a short walk up the bike path (snowmobile trail in winter, so be careful), the Mt. Pemigewasset trail heads off to the left, quickly going under the highway. The trail starts up the mountain from here, but at a gentle incline. Shortly, the trail turns to the right some and levels off a bit more. Then it goes back to the left and uphill again.

Early section of trail

Never getting overly difficult, the trail goes around the mountain some to the northern side of it. The trail then turns to come out onto the open areas just behind the summit. By this point I was the only one on the trail and I had the summit to myself. I enjoyed the nice views to the south, but wished there were a bit better looking up into Franconia Notch as I enjoy seeing the peaks there more.

View south from the summit

Open summit area

Limited views further up into the notch

After exploring around a bit, I headed out for the descent. Going down I took the Indian Head Trail. This would be something different to see, would make a small loop, and would make it so I have hiked both trails on the peak (for redlining purposes). Coming down had one steep spot, but it wasn't bad. Fewer people had been on this trail, but it was easy to follow and conditions were good. After an easy descent, the trail heads under the highway and then works over to Route 3. The trail head here was plowed out enough to use, but had far less room. Since my truck was still at the Flume, I took off the microspikes and headed back uphill again along the side of the road.

Coming back down

For all the pictures from the hike, click HERE