View Full Version : Hanover to Grafton Notch-campsites & resupply info
Need help in planning/finalizing itinerary for July section hike from Hanover to Grafton Notch, ME. :datz Also, is there still a snack bar on Mt. Washington? does it have snacks (peanuts, Ramen, candy/protein bars)? what are the food options at Pinkham Notch? How easy is it to get a ride into N. Woodstock? Gorham?
I would appreciate ANY help!
Thanks in advance:sun
Spunky
Here's what I have so far:
Hanover to Moose Mtn shelter - 11 miles
Firewarden's cabin - 12.4 miles
Ore Hill Shelter - 12.6 miles
Jeffers Brook Shelter - 8.5
Beaver Brook Shelter - 6.8 (climb over Moosilauke)
Eliza Brook (9.1 miles) or Kinsman Pond (13.1)
Liberty Spring Tentsite - 11.4 or 7.4
Guyot Campsite -13.2
Ethan Pond Campsite - 9 miles
help through this 42 mile section !
Nauman tentsite
Lake of the Clouds
Osgood tentsite
The Perch?
Imp Campsite
Gorham hostel?
Gentian Pond - 11.8 miles
Full Goose Shelter - 9.6 miles
Speck Pond Campsite - 5.1 (Maoosuc Notch)
Grafton Notch - Andover ME
See my comments inserted below.
Need help in planning/finalizing itinerary for July section hike from Hanover to Grafton Notch, ME. :datz Also, is there still a snack bar on Mt. Washington? does it have snacks (peanuts, Ramen, candy/protein bars)? what are the food options at Pinkham Notch? How easy is it to get a ride into N. Woodstock? Gorham?
Wash Mountington has a snack bar catering to the tourists who flock there via the road and cog RR. It sells snacks, etc. but i wouldn't count on it for serious resupply. Same with Pinkham Notch though it shouldn't be too hard to get a ride into Gorham which is about 8 miles N of Pinkham.
I would appreciate ANY help!
Thanks in advance:sun
Spunky
Here's what I have so far:
Hanover to Moose Mtn shelter - 11 miles
Firewarden's cabin - 12.4 miles
Ore Hill Shelter - 12.6 miles
Jeffers Brook Shelter - 8.5
Beaver Brook Shelter - 6.8 (climb over Moosilauke)
Eliza Brook (9.1 miles) or Kinsman Pond (13.1)
Liberty Spring Tentsite - 11.4 or 7.4
Guyot Campsite -13.2
Ethan Pond Campsite - 9 miles
This is a sensible itinerary, though unless you're in really good shape Liberty Spring to Guyot is a long haul, especially if you resupply in North Woodstock from Franconia Notch and have a full pack. Consider using Garfield Ridge Campsite at the mid-point and taking another day. That stretch is IMO the roughest piece between Kinsman Notch and Webster Cliff.
help through this 42 mile section !
Nauman tentsite
Lake of the Clouds
Osgood tentsite
The Perch?
If you stay at Nauman, unless the weather is bad head for either the Perch or Osgood the next day. The section is all above treeline so if it's lousy stay at the dungeon under Lakes and do the Northern Peaks in good weather.
Imp Campsite
Gorham hostel?
Gentian Pond - 11.8 miles
Full Goose Shelter - 9.6 miles
Speck Pond Campsite - 5.1 (Maoosuc Notch)
Grafton Notch - Andover ME
Making Imp from Pinkham is another rough day. Consider reserving a bunk at the self-service hut at Carter midway. The rest of the trip is doable, though the Mahoosucs have a lot of up and down. Give yourself at least two hours for Mahoosuc Notch between Full Goose and Speck.
You know your physical condition better than I do. A thru-hiker coming from Georgia would probably laugh at my comments about Liberty-Guyot and Pinkham-Imp, but as a section hiker I'm not in the same shape as one who's been hiking daily for 4-5 months. I would take two days for each of these sections, your mileage may vary. :D If you haven't hiked the White's before be aware that the miles seem longer than farther to the south due to the rough treadways and steeper climbs.
This section is probably the most spectacular part of the entire AT due to the 360-degree views above treeline. Here's to great weather and a great trip.
A lot of good info given here and I agree with all of it. Gorham is generally a pretty easy hitch (though it was my longest on the AT, because it was in a driving rain). Not sure if the Barn is open this season, but Hikers Paradise also houses hikers for the night, and there are several motels. You can hitch into Gorham from Pinkham Notch or from US 2. One option, especially if you're a bit worn out, is to spend the night in Gorham (via Pinkham Notch) and hike with a light pack, spending one night at Imp Campsite or somewhere near there, then hiking back to Gorham the next day. I did this a couple yrs ago and was able to traverse probably the steepest part of the AT with a light pack (no tent, one days food, etc.).
The Whites definately include some of the toughest climbs, so be sure to get an early start and try to keep the pack weight low. If you run low on food, you can always buy candy bars and snacks from the huts. North Woodstock was not a very tough hitch, but it is right next to the interstate, so you may be better off trying to talk to some day hikers on the way down from Lonesome Lake Hut. Try not to take too much food out from N. Woodstock, as the climb up to Franconia Ridge is really tough, or at least I found it to be so.
Have a blast, this section is great. But don't underestimate the climbs and weather.
Overall, not bad, but:
Liberty Springs to Guyot is going to be a long day. Tough climb up Twin from Galehead Hut. Better to go Liberty to Garfield.
Likewise, going from somewhere (Perch, or Osgood) to Imp is going to be a very long day. If you stay at Perch, then I'd suggest Pinkham for the next day. Stay at Osgood, and I'd suggest Carter Notch.
If in doubt, you might buy the AMC White Mountain Guide and look at the published hiking times for the route you are following.
Thanks to all who responded. This was exactly what I was wanting to know. Neither one of us have ever been to the WHites. Sometimes I have a tendency to "bite off more than I can chew" so to speak so I wanted to get input from others who have done this, especially for section hikers.
Anything else that I really need to know that may not have been covered?
I did the same section in the reverse direction (Grafton to Norwich). As has always happened when I've section hiked, my itinerary was out the window within a day. You may find out that you can get much better mileage than you are planning on. I averaged a bit over 14 miles a day and had a couple 19 mile days south of Moosilauke and I am not a particularly fast hiker by any stretch. Another reason to stay flexible is that Nauman can fill early (almost every thing in the Presidentials fills early on weekends).
Other notes:
Pinkham has a AYCE with healthful food, and hot showers. You can get meals at Mt. Washington Observatory (not nearly as healthful, tough... but hot dogs, clam chowder and such were available). You also have a good shot at buying baked goods at the huts. I chowed down to a couple AYCE cake and bread deals for a dollar each.
Be sure to have some good insulation available for the presidentials. You can run into cold wet hypothermia inducing weather in the Northern Presidentials in the summer. People have died of hypothermia on the ridge in August.
I had no trouble hitching into N. Woodstock for resupply and a barbecue dinner. Hitching into Gorham was also pretty easy. I did some extra hitching to reposition my car (which also held supplies) and found it pretty easy - especially with a sign that indicated my destination. Gorham and Woodstock were my two resupply points, although I stretched my food supply by eating meals at the Mt. W observatory and Pinkham notch and through baked goods at some huts.
Some huts will let section hikers do work for stay in a pinch, especially if the weather is bad. I accepted once and slept on the floor and kept going the second time.
Jack Tarlin
06-25-2005, 08:52
While Jeffers Brook is a fine spot, you might also want to consider staying over at the hostel in nearby Glerncliff (it's only a few yards from the Trail). Great place, great folks.