How to Backpack in the White Mountains

Home to some of the most dramatic vistas and peaks on the Eastern seaboard, the White Mountains are a spectacular place to hike and enjoy the remnants of one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. Like most alpine environments, the White Mountains can be both challenging and rewarding, so the best thing is always to be prepared. Here are some tips on how to savor your time deep in the woods.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internal-frame hiking bag
• Hiking poles
• Synthetic undergarmets
• Fresh socks

1. Being home to a large stretch of the Appalachian Trail, the White Mountains are a key destination every year for avid hikers. There are also plenty of exceptional wilderness areas for the more solitary experience. While this may sound like common sense, a good sign of a less-traveled pathway is the trails that start far away from parking lots. The first decision you should make is what kind of experience you are looking for and to map a route accordingly.

2. When packing clothes for the trip, keep seasonal factors in mind. If you are hiking in April and plan on summiting some peaks, remember that much of the area above tree line will probably still be frozen or covered with snow. Also, the White Mountains are home to some pretty serious winds and dramatic weather changes, so make sure your tent is strong and that you have some reliable rain gear.

3. Throughout the designated wilderness areas as well as along more heavily traveled hiking paths there are specified tent platforms for campers. In peak season, some of these tent platform sites even have spillover locations for latecomers. If you are planning on using these tent platforms, make sure to schedule your hike to you arrive earlier in the day to secure a spot. Like most preserved areas, the rule is that backpackers stay within designated camping spots, which they ask in an effort to preserve the integrity of the landscape from human impact. Of course, you can always be discrete if you have to.

4. Take advantage of water sources when they present themselves. If you have a reliable water filter, mountain streams can be cool and refreshing. Often, good water sources are marked by the AMC stewards. The AMC huts and campsites are also great places to fill up.

5. Enjoy your time in the peace and splendor of the forest. When you are standing on top of a peak, know that you have your feet on 26-million-year-old rock that was once as high as the Himalayas.