Hiking The Appalachian Trail, or parts of it

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<p>I would suggest getting in really good hiking shape for visits to the AMC huts in the White Mountains! Some of them are on pretty challenging terrain.</p>

<p>The one I have on my bucket list for this summer is the [Lake</a> of the Clouds Hut](<a href=“http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RMYQiQq4pzY/TWWzeT5Pt_I/AAAAAAAABI4/5Hc_266wd6M/s1600/hut.jpg]Lake”>http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RMYQiQq4pzY/TWWzeT5Pt_I/AAAAAAAABI4/5Hc_266wd6M/s1600/hut.jpg) on the approach to Mt. Washington. This one is right on the Appalachian trail.</p>

<p>I don’t honestly know if I’m capable of getting there. It’s a very strenuous hike up a steep trail. if I can get up to this hut, then I can actually climb Mt. Washington by going to the hut the first day, spending the night, and continuing to to the summit of Mt. Washington and down the second day. The round trip is probably just too much for a day hike for me.</p>

<p>The other one on my bucket list is the [Greenleaf</a> Hut](<a href=“http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Greenleaf_Mountain_Hut.jpg]Greenleaf”>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Greenleaf_Mountain_Hut.jpg). This one is on a connector trail, maybe a mile from the Appalachian trail.</p>

<p>This would be my option for a really nice loop hike across three summits on the Franconia Ridge. It’s one of the most spectacular hikes in NH, but, fast young hikers take 8 or 9 hours and it’s unrealistic for a day hike for me. But, again, there’s an option to hike to the hut, spend the night, then finish the climb, the ridge, and back down.</p>

<p>I’ve got day hikes in mind on these routes this summer. if those go well, then I’ll do one of the multi-day outings.</p>

<p>I made it to the [Lonesome</a> Lake Hut](<a href=“http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIeQs13tPQw/T-COejNO8BI/AAAAAAAAMGg/bsctXMrV9OQ/s1600/img_3571.jpg]Lonesome”>http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIeQs13tPQw/T-COejNO8BI/AAAAAAAAMGg/bsctXMrV9OQ/s1600/img_3571.jpg) on snowshoes this [url=&lt;a href=“- YouTube”&gt;- YouTube]winter[/url</a>], but people coming out the hut said that, with no heat, it was actually warmer outside in the sun. So I just kept my snow shoes on an had hot coffee standing out on the frozen lake before hiking back down the mountain. This one is right on the Appalachian Trail and is only one of a couple of the huts that are accessible on relatively easy hikes – although it’s still a 3.5 mile round trip hike with an 1100 foot climb.</p>