NH hikes around the AT?

imported
#1

Hi all -
I’m not going to make a thru hike this year, but i wanted to do a 2 or 3 week hike in NH starting early August. I had thought about doing the AT through NH but it sounds like it’s just going to be so jammed with peoples. Does anyone have advice for some great trails in NH that I could loop together for a great 2-3 hike that won’t be as highly trafficked as the AT? i don’t need to be the only person on a summit (it is the northeast after all) but it’d be nice to have some quiet time.

Thanks much.
-s

Sonia

#2

I had a great time with an August hike of the NH AT (Grafton Notch to Norwich). The only times I thought there were too many people was at the Summits of Washington and Lafayette. If you don’t need a loop, you might consider either a section of the Cohos trail, or starting the AT Southward with good maps of the Whites and getting off the White Blaze Highway whenever the traffic got to be too much.

Another option: If you have a good WMF map, build yourself a loop hike somewhere around the Kancamagus highway. I’d suggest including the Pemigewassett Wilderness, particularly the Bonds. The Bonds are spectacular and popular, so do them on a weekday. There’s a great network of trails that can take you to the Presidentials or across the Kanc to the TriPyramids and elsewhere.

pedxing

#3

I would ditto pedxing. Check the Cohos on-line. Also the Pemi is an excellent choice. If you need a shuttle I’m about through August.

Pipesmoke