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You'll need to ford Winter Creek if you're planning a day hike or an overnight stay at either campsite 1C4 a?…a?…a?… or 1C5 a?…a?…a?…, both of which are located near the Trilobite Lake Trail junction. At 5.25 miles the trail reaches the northern end of a large meadow where campsites 1C4 a?…a?…a?… and 1C5 a?…a?…a?… are located. At 5.6 miles the trail crosses a narrow section of Winter Creek that is just wide enough to require another minor stream crossing.
After crossing Winter Creek the trail climbs briefly through new growth forest which eventually opens to a large sloping plateau flanking the lower half of the mountain. As you move farther up this large open slope the rocky peaks of both Mount Holmes and the White Peaks become more prominent along the northern skyline. Over the last mile the grade to the summit is still very gradual even though Mount Holmes tops out at an elevation of 10,336 ft. WARNING: YOU MUST BE WELL PREPARED and carry the necessary equipment to make your hike a safe one. Sepulcher Mountain (Trailhead 1K3) - A nice out and back to the top of peak that gives you a stunning view of Electric Peak. Fawn Pass - East Side (Trailhead 1K3) - Plenty of mountain scenery with access to four beautiful backcountry campsites.
Bunsen Peak (Trailhead 1K4) - A very popular summit with incredible views of the Gallatin Range and the Swan Lake Flat area. Osprey Falls (Trailhead 1K4) - Descends into Sheepeater Canyon to the base of a 150' waterfall. Mammoth Campground - Open All Year - Mammoth Campground is located approximately 12 miles north of the Mount Holmes Trailhead and has 85 that are mostly pull-through. Overnight backcountry permits for this area can be obtained at the Albright Visitor Center (at Mammoth Hot Springs). The following map from Beartooth Publishing covers all of the hiking trails located in Yellowstone National Park.
And let’s pretend that I actually have that whole first packing list with all the right stuff – except maybe the coyote ran away with my tent. Of course, maybe we should also add – since it’s a story and all…my laptop so I could get my posts up for the next day – and respond to comments and whatnot.
And to keep him from wandering off, and thus causing me to worry, I’d have a little mote built around my campsite.
And suddenly in my mind it makes sense, how always the Bible talks of things being like a woman in labour – first there is pain, but then there is rejoicing.
Good words Bekky – all good words – and all received – and my mind and spirit are munching on them right now.
This harrowing expedition pushed a group of mountaineers to their mental and physical brink; carving them Down To Nothing. As I sit at my kitchen table in New Hampton writing this article I’m looking out the window watching snow fall as it blankets the ground. The climb to summit of Sandwich Dome was necessary if I wanted to complete the Winter New England Highest 100 this year.
A few days later my trail friend Sandy Price and I decided to hike the Tunnel Brook Trail in Benton, NH. After reaching the height of land and passing three other beaver ponds we continued along the trail, heading toward its junction with Tunnel Brook Rd.
As spring approaches and if you are a nature lover, this short hike to Mud Pond of 2 miles should not be missed.
On February 23, 2016, myself and seven hiking partners summited the highest peak in Maine, Baxter Peak on Mount Katahdin, a journey that began months earlier.
Every person who enters the park must first register with the park and reservations are limited.
Over the next several months planning and preparations began for our epic journey to the summit of Katahdin.
Gordon and Fran picked me and my gear up (or most of it anyway) at 10:00 am Saturday morning and we headed north. We stopped in Bangor at Epic Sports and one other sporting good shop where I was able to purchase a balaclava, goggles, two headlamps, and expedition mittens, the four key things that remained at home that would have prevented me from summiting. We arrived at the hotel between five and seven and gathered in the bar as we waited for everyone to show and began getting to know one another as they arrived. We settled in to dinner at the hotel restaurant around 8:00, our last real meal before five days of camp food. Each hiker carried 30 to 40 lbs of gear and food on their backs and the remaining grear, between 40 and 60 lbs or more, in a sled which we pulled behind us, totalling between 70 and 100 plus pounds per person.
The hike in involved an approximate 13 mile hike up a modest elevation gain of around 1000 feet to our first night’s destination, Roaring Brook Cabin, elevation 1,500’.
It was unseasonably warm at about 35 degrees and raining for the first three or four hours of the trip. The evening’s activities consisted mainly of settling into our bunks which were plywood platforms three high in two separate bunk rooms, and preparing our evening meals for retiring early for the climb up to Chimney Pond. Day Two, February 22: It was a bluebird day with temps in the single digits and expecting to climb into the high teens by afternoon and no wind, couldn’t have been more perfect. Again, Fran and I arrived at the Cabin first, arriving around 10:30 am with the rest of the party not far behind. The group got off at about 8:00 am to a bit of a staggered start with our leader setting the pace. As we leave treeline the snow begins to thin and the trail turned to mostly rock and ice with patches of iced over snow between.
For the next two hours we climb steadily with just wisps of wind and the warm sun giving us relief from the the cold. As we approached to top of the ridge, about five or six hundred feet from the summit things started to change, a strong fifteen to twenty mile and hour wind started to develope from the south and the surface become more ice than snow.
It was clear we were going to be dealing with increasing winds for the duration of our hike. Within just minutes of changing our gear, and less than two miles into our hike, we were at the summit of Hamlin. It was nice to be heading down for a change, reaching Hamlin involved hiking over 1,800 feet in just over a mile, my legs were burning. It is here where the Saddle trail comes up from the Valley, had that trail been safe, we would have arrived onto the saddle right between Hamlin and Baxter. It seemed like forever, but was really less than two hours crossing from Hamlin to Baxter Peak, a long time for just two miles, but the views were amazing and we had no reason to hurry. We all spent no more than 10 or 20 minutes on the summit, each of us starting our return journey in our own time. The simplest answer is that Katahdin and Hamlin are two of the mountains on the list of New England’s Hundred Highest mountains, a list which Gordon and I have been trying to complete in the winter for nearly 15 years. I will add here that Summiting Hamlin and Baxter today, was by far the most challenging of all the summits I have hiked. To help put this into perspective, some of our party, including Gordon had been on this trip twice before in the winter and never summited Baxter.
However, summiting is only half the challenge, we still had 4 miles of hiking to return to our base and an additional 16 miles to get back to our car.
The Ranger interrupted our celebration to inform us that the weather was changing for the worse and that we might want to consider cutting our trip short as a result.
It snowed for the first hour and a half as we went quickly down the 1,500 feet and 3.3 miles to Roaring Brook.
After warming up and showering at our hotel, we celebrated our accomplishments at the Sawmill Bar and Grill just outside of Millinocket. As Terence McKenna observed, humans are probably better categorized as crustaceans, since we basically live our lives moving from one shell to another, whether it’s a house, car, office, or a tent. Please keep in mind that all the gear I’m listing below is for backpacking in the mountains of Colorado.
Our tent at a spectacular camp spot at Cracker Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana - July.
All my camera gear (except the tripod) fits nicely into a Tamrac 3350 Aero 50 Photo Bag F-Stop Small Shallow ICU case, which then gets put into the top of my backpack.
A backpack is probably the #1 item where you should really be careful what you buy, and buy the best available. When you’re shopping for a backpack, make sure that you load it up with lots of heavy stuff in the shop, so you can feel how it really holds a heavy load. Shown in the pictures here is my previous backpack — a custom made McHale panel loader backpack. I am a big fan of panel loader packs, which means that the whole pack unzips like a suitcase, instead of just having a top pull-tie opening. Above, you can see from bottom to top (left to right), the sleeping bag, clothes bag, food bag, and finally the camera bag on top and quickly accessible. Instead of listing every single thing again, I’ll just list the main differences from the summer setup.
If it’s not entirely obvious by now, collecting all of this gear can be a very expensive endeavor! Please remember that there are many different strategies for backpacking, and many great products on the market beyond the ones I listed here.
If you are discouraged by the sometimes outrageous prices of some of this gear, remember that people have been enjoying the mountains for hundreds of years, using gear that was probably worse than what you could compile from a thrift store nowadays! Hey Floris, the Twin Sisters does great in the wind, better than any other kind of tent that I could imagine, except for perhaps some kind of super heavy-duty Everest style tent. I like the Sawyer squeeze filter, and remember, you can always pre-filter to avoid obvious large particulates. From being a drummer trapped in yucky rehearsal rooms it will take a while for me to find my way to the wilderness (especially because there is no wilderness where I live), but this one will definetely help!
Hi Jeff, with the floorless tent, I do bring a tent-floor sheet (or sheet of Tyvec) to keep things off the snow. Hiking in winter conditions is always going to be much different, and much less forgiving than hiking in summer conditions. In a lot of cases, the gear you use in the summer will be the same gear that you use in the winter. There are a few other items, however, that you will want to swap out for warmer, winter versions of the same. This list is by no means complete, but it should give you a good idea of what the essential items should be on any winter hiking gear list. Winter Tent - A winter tent isn't crucial, and depending on what the conditions are going to be like where you're going a summer tent might do the job fine.
Winter Sleeping Bag - A winter sleeping bag is going to be a lynch pin item in any winter hiking gear list.
Winter Sleeping Pad - Another item that will help keep you warm at night is a winter sleeping pad. Sunscreen - Most people hope for good weather when going winter hiking, but fail to include anything to protect that from that good weather on their winter hiking gear list.
Outer Layer - A good waterproof outer layer is a very important piece of gear when going hiking. Insulating Layer - For those really cold conditions you should also consider an insulating layer to help improve whatever other clothes you have on. Enter your email address below, and when we see a great piece of gear on sale for a great price we'll send you an email.
With cooler and rainy weather just days ahead, you will need to suit up in rain gear that keeps you dry even on the wettest days.
Recreation Equipment, Inc., (REI) has been a key part of the Sacramento indoor and outdoor scene since 1985.
For those who love to camp during the rainy season, this Granite Bay store is located just a few miles out of the Sacramento area and close to camping areas. The summit rises to over 10,000 ft., towering above the sublime Yellowstone landscapes that stretch in every direction. The trail continues along the western edge of this beautiful open expanse as it turns north, climbing a few very small hills before it reaches the Winter Creek crossing at just over a mile. From here you can look down on a very wide section of Straight Creek as it flows north from Grizzly Lake to join Winter Creek. Campsite 1C4 is situated just off the trail in a large unburned stand of trees and offers plenty of shade and easy access to water. During this trip there were a handful of boards placed over a narrow spot along the creek, but don't rely on this temporary bridge to be there for very long. As the forest thins and the terrain opens along this broad hillside be on the lookout for grizzlies.
The spectacular alpine scenery will pull you along as the trail ascends high above the surrounding peaks. During the summer months afternoon thunderstorms are very common and there is no easy way off the summit of Mount Holmes if a storm moves in.
You are responsible for your own well-being while trekking in these remote wilderness locations. 14 - Indian Creek Campground is located approximately 3 miles north of the Mount Holmes Trailhead and has 75 primitive sites (no RV hook ups).
28 - Norris Campground is located approximately 8.5 miles south of the Mount Holmes Trailhead and has 100 sites. A six-person team from The North Face and National Geographic attempted to summit an obscure peak in Myanmar (Hkakabo Razi) to determine if it is Southeast Asia’s highest point.
For the past few weeks we have been experiencing spring conditions, and I’ve be thinking about my summer hiking and biking plans. We decided to take the Drakes Brook Trail as this is the shortest route, 4.4 miles, to the summit. The views of the cliffs, the ponds, the beaver dams, and the active bird life offers a chance to experience the wilderness that awaits those who are fortunate enough to live so close to the wonders of the natural world. Confirming participants, organizing group gear, travel arrangements, hotel accommodations, car pooling, etc. After dinner we made our final group preparations and went over last minute details and went to bed early for a 6:30 am departure on Sunday. We arrived at the parking area around 9:00 and it took everyone about 30 minutes to unload and prepare all the gear in the sleds for the hike in. Meals ranged from freeze dried food to complete gourmet meals depending on each person’s ambition and level of fatigue.
The Rangers were reporting a slight risk of avalanche on this route so we wanted to check it out before deciding whether to take this route to the summit or not.
From here on out, we are following what looks less like a trail than simply a route marked by the occasional blue blazes, over and around rocks and boulders.
No time to linger, a couple summit shots with those that arrived together and off to Baxter.
The view across the saddle, an area between Hamlin and Baxter of about two miles and about 500 feet drop from the summit of Hamlin was breathtaking. From Hamlin peak, Baxter looks like an easy walk and the first mile really is, as you drop off the summit of Hamlin. Had we been able to hike the Saddle Trail, our hike would have been shortened by two or three miles, but, we would have missed the spectacular view coming up the Hamlin Ridge. I was feeling every mile of the over 20 miles of the last three days journey into the mountains.
At around 2:00 pm the first of the group, Greg, Gordon, Fran, and I arrived at the summit in that order.
Today’s summiting of Baxter marked the completion of that list for Gordon (Congratulation Gordon!), I am still about a dozen summits away from completing the list.
We returned the same way we came, everyone still felt that trying to go down the Saddle would be too dangerous. The owner bought us all a round of beers, gave those who didn’t have one already, a Sawmill T-Shirt and printed a picture off our camera, framed it and placed in the wall of fame, the Mile High Club.
Gordon is a resident of New Hampton, NH and has hiked extensively in the mountains of Northern New England. There is a $30 registration fee Send your name phone number registration fee to Gordon DuBois, 27 Forest Pond Road, New Hampton, NH 03256.
It feels adventurous and liberating to venture into the wilderness with everything you need to survive (and even stay comfortable) on your back. Which is to say, we can’t just wander off naked into the woods and expect to be one with nature!
Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends are two companies that make the lightest, warmest sleeping bags available, using top quality down fill.
For many years I used a regular old RidgeRest foam pad, but I would have to find a perfectly flat spot for the tent, and would still sleep uncomfortably on my side. These things have gotten so light, compact, and cheap, that there’s really no reason to not have one with you at all times in the backcountry. And just a quick note about this: NEVER leave your toilet paper lying around after you’re done! This is useful for hauling water, allowing you to camp in awesome locations that aren’t necessarily near a lake or stream, like high ridges. Cards, Sudoku, a lightweight book (I wrote about backpacking books here), and maybe a lightweight journal or sketchbook. I am a HUGE fan of the Outdoor Research Foray Jacket, one of the most perfect pieces of equipment I’ve ever used.
Check out the Halo Headband which has a much thinner profile than usual sweatbands, so it fits nicely under a hat.
When I was younger I used to wear skate shoes when backpacking – because they were comfortable. A good backpack will last a long time, and will make the difference between an enjoyable trek and a grueling death march. A good pack will put most of the weight comfortably on your hips, not your shoulders, and it will sit straight without pulling backwards on your shoulders.
I now use and highly recommend the Seek Outside Unaweep-Exposure panel loader backpack, which I actually helped to design specifically for us backpacking photographers. It’s so much easier to access your stuff when you can unzip the whole pack, instead of having to dig through from the top. You need to have the big snow baskets on them, which the summer trekking poles don’t have. I also take less food, since I typically don’t go out for more than two nights at a time in the winter. It can fit two people, but in practical use, it can fit one person and their gear (you probably don’t want to leave your stuff outside in the winter). Some people recommend keeping your boots inside your sleeping bag at night, but I don’t do this. I do, however, only go winter backpacking on routes that are safe from avalanches – no steep slopes whatsoever. These are heavyweight shirts that are not meant for hiking in, but just for sitting around in the winter. The Hoorag is a useful and versatile neck gaiter that is much lighter and more compact than a typical fleece neck gaiter (which is usually too hot and bulky anyways).
This is an especially good time to buy winter gear, with down jackets and ski gear often on sale for 50% or even 75% off. In many towns, at least here in Colorado, there are big annual ski swaps, where companies and stores unload all their old stock at cheap prices, or where people sell their used stuff.
My strategy for backpacking involves striking a balance between lightweight travel and basic comforts. All those trips were watered by clear mountain streams, the Escalante would probably be a different story, of course. In the winter you have a variety of concerns, most having to do with the cold, unpredictable weather, and before heading out in to all that it helps to consult a winter hiking gear list so you know you're not forgetting anything crucial. Your stove, for instance, or your water filter wont change much, though you might want to bring along a little extra food to help keep yourself warm. But if you're expecting wind and lots of moisture, or worse, have no idea what to expect, then it might be a good idea to bring along a beefier winter tent, if for nothing else than a little a peace of mind. You can try and supplement your summer sleeping bag with a sleeping bag liner, but your best bet really is a whole different winter sleeping bag. Not all sleeping pads are created equal, and a winter sleeping pad will have certain features, like down insulation, to keep your body from losing heat in to the ground at night. Unless you're in a part of the world that gets some good winter weather, backpacking shoes should not make an appearance on your winter hiking gear list. Your outer layer should also be something that breaths, since you will be exerting yourself by hiking. Mont Bell, a Japanese manufacturer, makes a few really great down insulating layers, including a men's down inner jacket (women's version) and a matching pair of down inner pants (women's version). This store carries waist overalls, shell jackets, journeyman pants and rain pants to meet your requirements for any outing.
The store carries name-brand rainwear that includes tops, bottoms and rain suits tailored to fit men and women. If you love the outdoors during the wet season, REI provides all types of gear for rain, sleet or snow. While on your way to the campsite, stop by and check out its popular Frogg Toggs and Dri Duck rain suits and ponchos, which are sized to fit small, medium, large and extra-large body frames.
She works and volunteers for local agencies and organizations promoting healthy family living.
The Trans Line, which crisscrosses the park in a number of locations, emerges from the woods and follows the trail until you reach Winter Creek where it continues heading north toward Mammoth Hot Springs. A light pair of sandals and trekking poles will make stream crossings a little easier because of Winter Creek's rocky bottom that can be hard on bare feet.
Continuing past this trail junction you continue climbing gradually to an overlook where the trail bends to the right, skirting this low hillside before dropping steeply to meet Winter Creek at 3.2 miles. The boards are not permanently attached and with a good rain storm they will probably wash away. These large mammals are often found foraging in these meadows and this is the perfect habitat for locating bears.
There is one last area of significant deadfall as the trail climbs to the saddle between the White Peaks and Mount Holmes at around 9,300 ft. The steep northwestern slopes of Mount Holmes angle sharply toward the fire-scarred valleys below, as the trail cuts a distinct path up the side of the mountain. Temperatures can drop significantly within minutes and at elevation the wind will almost always be a factor even on the nicest of days. He’s easily distracted – and just the tiniest bit self-centered, so I think it’s best to keep him with me.
The expedition members, led by The North Face athlete and Telluride mountaineer Hilaree O’Neill include, videographer Renan Ozturk, climber Emily Harrington, and National Geographic author Mark Jenkins, photographer Cory Richards, and basecamp manager Taylor Rees.
So hold on, even though the Spring Equinox arrived this past Sunday, we have jumped back into winter. This Federally Designated Wilderness Area created in 1984 contains 35,800 acres managed by the U.S. We didn’t anticipate the trail disappearing into beaver ponds, losing the trail a number of times.
The trail is not marked and there are several more stream crossings, so a map is necessary to insure you stay on the route to the north end of the trail at Tunnel Brook Rd. The park is is only open to cars during the months of May through the end of October, during the rest of the year you can only access the park on foot. For this reason, access to the park is extremely difficult to get, especially for the more popular areas like Chimney Pond, the most common access point to climb Katahdin.
Our trip organizer exchanged dozens of emails with trip participants ensuring we were all prepared and well informed with regard to the trip itinerary and required equipment. On Saturday, February 20th, the eight remaining hikers began their journey to Northern Maine from all points across New England and as far away as Southwestern Connecticut. Fortunately, the cabin was occupied the night before so it was warm and the stove was already full of coals. The Saddle trail provides the easiest and shortest route to Baxter Peak, a 1.2 mile climb to the saddle and a one mile climb to the summit.
The Ranger paid us a visit and reported favorable conditions for the high summits on the following day, good news for everyone. Everyone seemed to be taking it especially slow, taking lots of time to catch their breath, enjoy the views, take pictures, contemplating, who know’s, the experience is different for everyone. We hunkered down below whatever rocks and shelter we could find and each began adjusting our gear for the summit push. However, once you reach the bottom of the saddle, the next mile over to the summit of Baxter climbs thousand feet. If you are ever in the position to choose the Saddle Trail over the Hamlin Ridge, only choose the Saddle trail if you have done the Hamlin Ridge trail before, you don’t want to miss it.
Some of the group had been on the summit many times before, winter and summer, others, like myself, only in the summer and I believe at least one of us was seeing the summit for the first time.
No, climbing Baxter is a trip that takes months of planning, hours of preparation, and miles of hiking and climbing just to get the chance to hike the mountain, and many people go through all that and never get to make the summit. If I had to guess, I would say that less than a third of all attempts to summit Baxter in the winter are not successful, don’t quote me on that, it is really a wild guess. We had achieved our goal and did not relish spending two days cooped up in the cabin while it rained and risk not being able to get out on Friday due to potential flooding. The workshop will cover a broad range of topics, including: financial and time considerations, equipment, food, clothing, safety, leave no trace, and physical conditioning.
He completed his AT hike in 2011 and has also thru hiked the Long Trail, The John Muir Trail and sections of the International Appalachian Trail in Quebec Canada. Fortunately for the modern adventurous crustacean we have an almost endless array of high tech, lightweight clothes, sleeping bags, shelters, and tools to keep us alive and happy while walking in the wilderness. I tried the even lighter carbon fiber version of these, but they snapped on their first outing.
You put your food into an odor-proof plastic bag inside, then tie the bag to the base of a tree away from your tent. Super compact and lightweight, boils water fast, simmers well, and has a reliable auto-ignition. I’ve written about personal locator beacons before on this blog; but this new model is tiny compared to the old one I had!
I have these great knot-tying playing cards, so when we’re not playing Rummy I can brush up on my bowlines, bends, and hitches! It’s better to use wool or high-tech hiking fabrics, which are lighter, will breathe better, keep you warmer, and dry faster.
Don’t pay much attention to all the bells and whistles, like a bunch of cool pockets or whatever, but rather the main priority should be how well it carries a heavy load on your body. However, during the winter I still get that urge to go out and backpack in the wild and take photos. I used to use a Mountain Hardwear Lamina -30? synthetic bag; although much cheaper, this was very bulky and heavy, and not nearly as warm as down.
The reason for this is because you can fill up the bottles with hot water and put them in your sleeping bag to keep warm at night! This severely limits my options, especially in the San Juans where the mountains are mostly all steep.
Whether you’re splitboarding or just snowshoeing, snowboard boots are comfortable and warm. They are very lightweight and easy to pack, and they are comfortable and warm for when you’re lounging around camp, melting snow.
Especially for photographers who must use thinner gloves when fiddling with the camera, hand warmers will keep your blood warm and your fingers from freezing. This is probably more likely to happen if you live in a mountain town, where mountain athletes live. When it comes to your sleep and your comfort in bed at night, you do not want to take any chances. Also consider bringing along sunglasses so that you don't put yourself at risk for snow blindness. Look for fabrics like Gore-Tex and eVent, which will both protect you from snow and rain and also let moisture escape. These Sacramento stores are the best in town that offer a wide selection of waterproof garb. Rainwear is not complete without a pair of boots and you will find Brossard zip waterproof insulated boots for both women and children in this store.
While gearing up in outerwear, don’t forget to check Factor Cycle’s convertible ATV top, a top that can fit over four wheelers to keep the wet out.
The variety of categories for men, women and children features insulated, weather-resistant and fog-proof gear such as rain-proof binoculars and Bob Sport’s stroller weather shields. After reaching the opposite side of Winter Creek the terrain opens significantly as the trail swings back in a southerly direction. The trail follows this small stream for another 2.2 miles with very little gain in elevation. At this point you are about halfway to the summit and from here the trail begins gaining most of its elevation, with the steepest sections beginning at around mile 8.5.
At around 7.5 miles the ground becomes much wetter as small channels of water descend from the slopes to the north. From this location you'll have your first view north toward the rugged peaks of the Gallatin Range that run along the parks western boundary.
After reaching the final switchback the trail will be facing the small brown lookout tower perched high above Yellowstone. We choose to the access the trail from the southern end, off Long Pond Rd., which is short distance from Rt. The beavers were very active during the summer months and are always looking to expand their aqua terrain.
Once we reached the parking area at the trail head we reverse directions and made our way back to Mud Pond and eventually the parking area where we found our car.
As the day of departure approached, the flurry of emails grew ever greater checking and rechecking last minute details.
Our group leader and one other member of our group had summited Katahdin in the winter numerous times befor. However, upon reaching an elevation of around 3,700 feet, the rangers suspicions became clear. Any exposed skin over a long period of time in these conditions could easily result in frostbite. Some were pursuing lists, others just looking for another excuse to be out in the great outdoors. Honestly, when the conditions are really harsh and the going really tough, I can’t tell you why I am out there, but at the end of the day, I am always glad I am.
Needless to say, I am feeling very fortunate to have been able to achieve the summit on my first winter attempt. The afternoon light was spectacular, views changing by the minute as the sun began to set and a front started to move in. The central focus of the workshop will be to prepare participants to thru hike or section hike the Appalachian Trail. On the following day, May 26, Gordon will lead an optional day hike on the AT in New Hampshire to provide a hands-on learning experience.
In this post, I’m going to list and explain all the gear that I use on backpacking treks. Nowadays I mostly backpack with my wife Claudia, and we bring a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3 tent, which is very spacious for its weight. Claudia and I both have these bags, with left and right side zippers so that we can zip them together – romantic, huh? After finding a private place a long distance from camp or trail, you should first dig a hole at least six inches deep, then bury everything when you’re done.
Because it shields you well from wind and heavy rain, yet it is very lightweight and breathable, so you can wear it while hiking without sweating to death.
On longer treks, I’ll take three pairs of socks, one of which I keep for camp and sleeping. Typically I don’t go winter camping more than once a month, because it takes at least a month after each trip to forget how brutal it was! When camping on deep snow, I use snow anchors instead of stakes (which are useless in snow). The reason is because at very cold temperatures, the fuel canisters can lose all their gas pressure, rendering the stove useless. If you are building an igloo, you’re going to want an oversized shovel to move lots of snow around quicker and more efficiently.
Also be sure to bring along a good pair of socks and consider hiking snowshoes if you plan to be spending a lot of time in the snow.
This heavy-duty convertible top can also be used as a “hunting blind and a one-man tent.” With equipment covered and rain wear on, you will keep dry during the rainy weather.
Visit this store and its friendly staff will help you get ready for the rainy weather or become a REI member to receive lifetime benefits.
Camping World also offers you the opportunity to shop on the website to take advantage of its online sales.
The bare summits of Mount Holmes and the White Peaks are often visible along the distant horizon. On a really hot day Winter Creek can provide some relief from the heat, especially on the return trip from the summit.
Campsite 1C5 is very similar to 1C4, with tall pines surrounding both the tent and cooking areas. This damp rocky soil is also the ideal habitat for a wide variety of wildflowers, including subalpine larkspur, mountain harebell, fringed gentian and the poisonous death camus (see the photo gallery to properly identify this harmful flower). Echo Peak, Three Rivers Peak and Antler Peak are visible as you ascend up the northwestern ridge to the summit.
Generators are not permitted - Get Directions from the Mount Holmes Trailhead to the Indian Creek Campground.
Generators are permitted from 8am - 8pm - Get Directions from the Mount Holmes Trailhead to the Norris Campground. So, even though we have had one of the warmest winters on record don’t put away your winter hiking gear just yet. The Wilderness Act, passed by Congress in 1964 states, “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain (and) to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.” The Sandwich Wilderness area is one of several designated in the White Mountains. We saw bare ground at the parking lot and decided not to don foot traction (Micospikes or Hillsounds), but we were rudely awakened to the fact that ice on the trail would rule the day when we both stated slipping and sliding. The trail became very obscure and we found ourselves bushwhacking in several locations, staying close to the ponds and stream. My expedition pack was packed very lightly as most of my gear would be hauled to the base camp in my sled. We were soon above treeline on the spine of the Hamlin Ridge trail with all of Katahdin spread out in all it’s glory before us. I don’t know all the reasons people choose to go through what we went through to spend a few minutes on the top of this mountain, I only know mine, and I am not sure I even fully understand that.
As we got to the bottom of the ridge we could see the summits of Hamlin and Baxter begin to be engulfed with clouds, thankfully, none of us were still there. Our good gear kept us dry for the most part but the temperature hovered around 32 degrees and hypothermia remained a serious risk should anything happen to cause us to have to stop. Trekking poles save your knees, give you extra hiking power from your arms, and aid in balance.
You can potentially go even lighter with a floorless tarp style tent or pyramid style tent that uses a trekking pole for support. The ability to text could provide a huge advantage in an emergency situation, or just to send updates to a loved one back home. Sometimes it’s easier to find a big rock, roll it over, poop in the hole, then roll it back in place. With a normal MSR fuel bottle, this is not an issue since the pressure is created by the manual pump.
You might even see me walking around Ouray with these things on like the Michelin man this winter. The bear bag is a great idea as the last trip we only had one and it was not enough anyway.
Much of this area is a patchwork of standing dead trees, new growth, sagebrush, and a few areas of mature trees that managed to escape the fires in this region. The Mount Holmes Trail has very little shade and because of its length you'll be on the move for a good part of the day, and this little creek is the perfect oasis. A small stream is located behind the campsite making it easy to collect water for cooking and drinking. There are an overwhelming number of wildflowers that exist throughout Yellowstone but death camus is one flower that's worth remembering because it is lethal if ingested. A gas station, general store, restaurants, a hotel and visitor center are located nearby at Mammoth Hot Springs - Get Directions from the Mount Holmes Trailhead to the Mammoth Campground. Others include the Great Gulf, Wild River, Dry River, Caribou –Speckled Mountain and Pemigewasset Wilderness Areas.
This hike didn’t require traction, but due to spring runoff and ice forming on the rocks at designated stream crossing it made travel challenging. Due to the unseasonably warm weather, the ice on the lake was thin and a hole had already been made for accessing the water. With only another quarter mile to the saddle, we could see the snow propagating with each step, cracks forming away from our snowshoes. The mount Katahdin massif includes Baxter Peak to the left or south which also includes the Knife’s Edge and Pamola, Hamlin Peak in the center (from this vantage point), and the Howe Peaks to the right or north. As the terrain was very steep and in places sheer ice, with steep drop offs on both sides, one slip could send you careening over the side, the ice axe is really your only defense should this happen. We were all safely back at our cabin at Chimney Pond by five-ish and began celebrating our spectacular day. But, we think the comfort of having a sealed-up mosquito-proof tent is worth the little extra weight.
Yes, there is always the danger that it could leak or pop; I carry the patch kit just in case of emergency. If the weather is damp and wet you can burn your TP, but of course never attempt this if there is any chance whatsoever of sparking a wildfire. Also, much of your time winter camping is spent melting snow for water, so it’s nice to have a big bottle full of fuel. The nice things about these particular pants, aside from the usual excellent down that Western Mountaineering is known for, are the full length side zips for when it gets too hot, and reinforced butt and leg materials. No one enjoys a wet ride and luckily, Cycle Gear can outfit you in a way that prevents those dreaded rainy days. There were several stream crossing where we had to bushwhack a considerable distance up stream to find a suitable crossing and at two of these we had to build bridges using fallen logs. Fortunately, with some strapping and some creative tying, we were underway again in just minutes.
We dug down and discovered there was about 12 inches of fresh snow on top of an iced over layer of snow, perfect avalanche conditions.
I wondered a few yards out onto the Knife’s edge to take in the views of the Chimney Pond area below, marveling at the thousand foot drop just feet away on both sides of me, truly awesome.
As for backpacking food, that is a whole ‘nother topic that I will try to tackle some other time in another post. Plus, with these tents you can take the rainfly off in hot weather, or to enjoy the stars on a clear night. If your stove breaks or you run out of fuel, you have no water, and with no water, you must leave immediately! Or, with the matching footprint you can leave the inner tent behind and just use the poles and rainfly for an ultralight setup. As we made our way up the trail and gained elevation the trail became an unending ice flow, making the footing difficult at best. Not a picturesque name, but this is a destination not to be missed: A beautiful idyllic set of beaver ponds that sit between the cliff faces of Mt. We were rudely awakened to the fact that winter still prevails at elevations above 2,500 ft. In my past adventures on this trail I have always taken the side trail to Jennings Peak.
This rock cliff offers amazing views of the surrounding area and I wouldn’t have missed it if trail conditions would have been different. We made it to the summit in about 3 hours, celebrated my completion of the Winter NEHH and began the treacherous journey back to the car.
Ice still covered the ponds, but as the sun became stronger throughout the day we heard the groans of the ice as is warmed and melted.
At the southern end of the first pond we found a welcoming campsite, making me think that this would be a great place to bring my granddaughter Maggie in a few years for her first backpacking trip.
