Mt. Katadhin

Dates of Trip: 22-24 August 2008
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: Baxter State Park, ME, USA
Trailhead: Helon Taylor
Summit Objectives: Katadhin (Maine High Point)
Total Time: 10.5 hours
Summit: 5267 feet
Ele. Gain: 3410 feet
Distance: 9.8 mile

Car-camped at Katahdin Stream, then drove over to rolling brook trailhead. Ascended via Helon Taylor Trail, traversed the Knife Edge to bag all three Katahdin peaks: Pamola, South, and Baxter. Descended via Saddle (steep and LONG). Spotted a moose feeding at Chimney Pond. Tortoise's first class III!

The Great Gulf

Dates of Trip: 11-13 July 2008
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: Presidential Range, NH, USA
Trailhead: Six Husbands
Summit Objectives: Jefferson, Adams, Madison
Total Time: 10.0 hours
Summit: Adams at 5774 feet, Jefferson at 5712 ft, Madison at 5366 ft
Starting Ele: 1412 feet
Ele. Gain: 5300 feet
Distance: 10.0 mile

Packed in 4 miles up the Great Gulf trail to the Six Husbands/Wamsutta Junction and camped at an established site just beyond. Struck out along Six Husbands by 7:15, and scrambled up Jefferson's Knee to summit Mt. Jefferson. Then took Gulf Side trail across Edmund's Col to Mt. Adams and summitted. From there, a quick jaunt over to Madison Hut and the Mt. Madison summit. We then descended back to the Grest Gulf via The Buttress trail, arriving back in camp just after 5 pm. After one more night in camp, we packed out with very sore quads and soaked in the Peabody River before heading out. Distance/time listed is for summit day, not including pack-in.  Elevation gain is estimated cumulative, including pack in.

Welch/Dickey

Dates of Trip: 16 March 2008
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: White Mountains, NH, USA
Trailhead: Welch/Dickey Loop
Summit Objectives: Welch, Dickey
Total Time: 4.0 hours
Summit: Dickey at 2734 feet, Welch at 2605 ft
Starting Ele: 1934 feet
Ele. Gain: 1800 feet

Fairly warm, humid day. Climbed in plastic boots and crampons all day. Cool granite ledges covered in ice with a little exposure. Lots of icefalls. Very fun!

Mt. Pierce (aka Clinton)

Dates of Trip: 16 February 2008
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: White Mountains, NH, USA
Trailhead: Crawford Path
Summit Objectives: Pierce
Total Time: 5.0 hours
Summit: 4310 feet
Starting Ele: 1900 feet
Ele. Gain: 2410 feet
Distance: 6.4 mile

Mt. Pierce is also known as Mt. Clinton. A beautiful day, though windy up on top - we went zero exposure. The group of kids behind us were in blue jeans. :o\ We climbed in our new plastic boots. Brought snowshoes but didn't use them -- the snow was fluffy but solid. Only ran into trouble right at tree line where we postholed up to the chest into tree wells a few times. Very fast descent. Dinner after at 99, and a cold, but comfortable night in the yurt at Intervale due to MITOC Avy School.

Caribou

Dates of Trip: 3 November 2007
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: White Mountains, ME, USA
Trailhead: Mud Brook Trail
Summit Objectives: Caribou
Summit: 2840 feet
Ele. Gain: 1900 feet
Distance: 7.0 mile

Were freezing-rained out of our night of cold-weather camping thanks to Hurricane Noele, but still made the summit.

Mt. Hancock

Dates of Trip: 13-14 October 2007
Climbers: hobo and tortoise
Location: White Mountains, NH, USA
Trailhead: Cedar Brook/Hancock Loop
Summit Objectives: Hancock
Summit: 4420 feet
Starting Ele: 524 meter (1720 feet)
Ele. Gain: 823 meter (2700 feet)
Distance: 16 km (10.0 mile)

Mostly a backpacking trip. Packed in about 2.5 miles, camped, then summitted both north and south Hancock the next day. Brilliant fall colors at trailhead, snow on the summits!! Totally relaxing.