Five Steps to Start Your NH 48
It was about a year ago around this time that I finished my New Hampshire 48. Here are some things to consider before starting…
The iconic Franconia ridgeline to get Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Lafayette.
It was about a year ago around this time that I finished my New Hampshire 48. The NH 48 are forty-eight mountains over 4,000 feet that reside in the White Mountains National Forest. To read about my epic finale, check out my post here. As I looked through pictures of my finish, it brought back all the memories of all the hikes I completed to get to this final moment.
I compiled a list of steps to take before starting your own adventure through New Hampshire 48 highest peaks in the White Mountains. Check them out below!
Step 1: Get the gear.
Regardless of whether you’re hiking in spring, summer, or winter, you’ll need certain gear. The gear that you’ll need no matter the season is below:
Durable water-resistant (or waterproof ideally) hiking shoes
I personally prefer hiking boots for added ankle support because I get a little careless on my descent with all the rocks, but trail runners or hiking shoes get the job done too. Often these are preferred by some hikers.
A day backpack
Find yourself a decent backpack that doesn’t break your back, but that can fit your necessities for a long hike. This can include water, snacks, maps, phone, extra layers, and a dry pair of socks.
This camelback backpack has been with me from the first of my 48 to the last.
A headlamp
I always forget this one and always regret that I do. I never plan on hiking at night, but sometimes you want more time at the summit, or getting up there took longer than ancitipated. A headlamp comes in handy on your return route. Don’t rely on your phone flashlight (though it’s a solid backup) because battery life should be saved for emergency calls.
Maps of your route
You’ll most likely lose service and shouldn’t rely on your phone. In cold conditions, phones lose battery quicker too. I’ve done this a number of times and have been fine. Other times, I’ve had 15% battery left with a few miles to return to my car. It’s not a fun gamble to take.
If you are going to use your phone as your GPS, screenshot the hike instructions and the map so you can access it without using too much battery life.
There are awesome books and maps available to purchase in every little town surrounded by the mountains, but they do come at a cost.
Fuel
Always bring more than you think you’ll need. Stock up on my favorites (Uncrustables and Clif bars) and bring electrolytes. It’s always better to have an extra pound in your pack to carry, than to be dehydrated or hungry. More mistakes happen when you’re tired and hungry.
Step 2: Start preparing with short hikes.
Regardless of where you live, you can prepare for the intense hikes in the Whites. You can run locally to build stamina, hike nearby to gain elevation, or ruck around your neighborhood. For this last one, pack a backpack with some heavy house items, put it on, and go for a walk.
The slide on the way to the Tripyramids.
Step 3: Research your anticipated hike.
I always google the hike I aim to do. There are so many blog posts and informational finds online about the exact hike you want to accomplish. People out there write extensively about each hike. Going into my hikes, I know where to park, what the trail looks like in various conditions, and how long it will roughly take.
The always lovely Owl’s Head, a solid 18.5 mile hike for this sliver of a view.
Step 4: Ask a friend to join you.
I love hiking solo and completed many of these peaks alone because I simply wanted to get out there. However, when I first started exploring New Hampshire hikes, I went with a friend who lived in the area.
As someone who grew up in Texas, hiking for me looked very different from the granite rock surfaces of the New Hampshire summits. I grew up walking on trails, exploring in the woods, and strolling in suburban neighborhoods. For me, it was beneficial to start hiking with a local who knew to look for cairns or trailmarkers (two things I had no idea about). When I started hiking in the winter, I learned new terminology like post-holing.
Tip: If you don’t know anyone locally, but have an urge to hike, search and join hiking groups on Facebook in your area or the area you hope to hike in (i.e. New Hampshire). There are always hikers looking for someone else to join!
Instagram is also a great place to follow along someone’s journey and then reach out
Step 5: Create a safety plan for the day hike.
When you are starting out, as I mentioned, there is little service in some mountain pockets. You’ll want a plan for your safety. After following the steps above, the final step is to create a plan for the day of.
I recommend:
Telling a close friend or family member what mountain you are climbing and what trail you plan to take.
A screenshot of this from a blog post or trail website will suffice! I also let friends know what time I’m heading out and when I’m anticipating being back within service.
Checking the forecast for the area you’re visiting as well as the summit you’re climbing.
My favorite website is Mountain Forecast because I can narrow in on the White Mountains and a specific mountain. Even if the mountain is near Lincoln, NH, weather is so unpredictable. The sun can shine down in town while you’re taking cover from hail on the ridgeline. I check this website before I leave for the drive, and I check it again in town to see if there are any changes.
Know when it’s time to turn back.
The summits will always be there. If you feel uneasy, or the weather takes a turn for the worse, there is no shame in heading back down. At least you got out there for the day and spent time outdoors.
My first sunset in the White Mountains after a full day hiking the Presidential traverse.
After taking these steps, do you feel ready to take on the 48?
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Twins Zealand Bonds Traverse
You know those mornings you’re so eager to wake up to? The ones where you wake up moments before your alarm in utter anticipation? One Sunday, this past October, was exactly that kind of morning for me. We cooked a hearty breakfast before dawn and loaded our packs for our adventure to snag my final 8 peaks of the 48.
The Route
After looking at which peaks I had left, I stared at a map trying to decide the best way to go about bagging them all. We headed up to the Twins on the North Twin trail, starting the morning with a steep ascent. North Twin to South Twin to Zealand to West Bond, Bond, and Bondcliff. We did this as an out-and-back, but skipped West Bond and Zealand (outlined in red on the map) on the return trip.
Elevation map below for the traverse.
North and South Twin
We parked at the North Twin trailhead at sunrise and began the two mile walk before the big climb. About a mile in, I turned on the trail and found myself encountering a moose face-to-face. A full-fledged, antlers as wide as the trail, moose. I felt pure awe. And shock. We slowly stepped backwards, off the trail, and watched him continue his Sunday morning stroll under he was out of our eye view.
I’ve patiently waited for a moose sighting for five years. To the point where I hoped one would cross the road when I drive past moose crossing signs on highways. In hindsight, it’s probably for the best I didn’t have my first encounter in that situation. Multiple trips to Maine, countless to the Whites, and even a two-week cross-country road trip out to Big Sky country didn’t help me cross off this bucket list item. This hike was off to an incredible start and it was only the first two miles of the day.
North Twin’s summit was well worth the arduous climb. I finally understood why hikers say the Pemigewasset wilderness is a Whites’ gem. The solitude alone was dreamy. We had each summit from North Twin to the Bonds to ourselves (aside from the finale at Bondcliff).
Zealand to the Bonds
From North Twin, we faced a muddy mile to South Twin, followed by a detour to Zealand where we were met with three relentless greyjays. Zealand was a tough addition to this traverse because we did it out and back before we headed to the Bonds. All the better for our return to avoid detours.
West Bond was incredible, but I started to hesitate at finishing this traverse due to daylight escaping us swiftly with Bond and Bondcliff still left on the itinerary. B carried me through the finish line with the descent down to Bondcliff. Honestly the views were jaw-dropping (fitting as we dropped hundreds of feet in elevation that we’d have to climb back up to get home). The bittersweet joy I felt heading into my final peak was met with glances over my shoulder to see that massive drop we made.
Bondcliff lived up to its hype and I couldn’t have picked a better day, partner, or peak to finish with. I set out to hike to 48 in August 2018 when I hiked up Lincoln and Lafayette with my roommates. On that hike, one of them said she’d love to hike the 48 before moving. I had never heard of the 48 before then, but I’m so glad that seed was planted that day because a little over two years later, I became an NH 48 finisher.
A 22ish-mile, ~7,000 ft gain, 15-hour day ended in the darkness of the Pemi wilderness. I don’t love night hiking, but it did present the opportunity of witnessing a mountaintop sunset on South Twin that did not disappoint. There may be more night hikes in my future to see sights like that again.
Until next time in the Whites.