Hey, I was hiking the AT earlier this year and got off in HF, me and my friend want to go for a little hike now though. We were thinking 2 days of hiking in the white mountains, it shouuld be strenous, scenic, and with no expensive huts. I live close by Boston, the less driving to this place, the better though this isn’t really the main consideration.
thanks,
danny
danny
I can’t speak to any of the views since all I saw was clouds, but even in fog and rain I really liked Madison. Strenuous yes (Nothing from GA to Harpers even compares). AMC has an outrageous amount of info out there on short hikes and there are people out there who know a hen of a lot more than me. But I think maybe from Pinkham notch you have lots of 2 day options. And the AMC isn’t all bad. They are wealthy, but still made up of good people.
Officer Taco
In two days you could either hike the Presidentials: Crawford Notch to Pinkham Notch or The Franconias: Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch. Great views on both hikes and good strenuous climbs. From Lafayette to South Twin along the Garfield Ridge is especially rough. If you want to make the Presidentials more strenuous, take the shorts loops over all the peaks and go south so you have to climb the long Osgood Ridge to Mt Madison (then again for some descending is more difficult). Pick your overnight spots carefully in the Presidentials. The AMC Huts at Lakes, Mizpah and Madison are the only spots on the trail to overnight in this mostly above treeline section. Mizpah has a campsite too. North of Mt. Washington you’ll find side trails to the Randolph Mountain Club cabins (2) and shelter (1) and the USFS campsite Valley Way. All these options are about a mile west of the trail (and down about 1000 feet) and they charge a fee, about six bucks last year. North of Madison is the Osgood tent site which is free and on the trail.
Celt
If you are looking for a two day with minimum fees, this spring I hiked from glennclife to Dartmouth Skiway and thought it was a beautiful hike, free camping, small crouds, relativly easy and nice (but not great) views. Also from Glennclife to Franconia Notch is great but really tough. If you can squeeze an extra day out my favorite hike is a loop that starts and end at the Wilderness Trail parking area off the Kancamangas Highway. You get to do all of the Franconia range including the Bonds and Bondcliff which AT hikers do not get to see. I did it last weekend and was blown away.
Big B