Growing up in southern Vermont, I was spoiled with the gorgeous autumn that blankets the Green Mountains each year. It’s not that shocking that I fell in love with the equally beautiful state of New Hampshire when I was looking at colleges; the drive from Bennington, my little hometown, to Durham, my little college town, is breathtaking. Last year I discovered that I have a passion for hiking. It’s not just something easy to mention when someone asks what I do for fun; each ascent is an empowering experience. The rigor leads to a reward of seeing our world from a perspective many people do not. With the right people, I find it impossible to not feel completely at peace and overjoyed when I go hiking. I’d like to share some of the mountains I eager to climb, in no particular order.
1. Mount Washington (6,288 ft) in Sargeant’s Purchase, New Hampshire.
Mount Washington is the tallest mountain in New Hampshire, and all of the Northeast. It is not uncommon to see snow at the summit, even in July. Mount Washington is on my list because it, like many mountains that will be listed here, is part of the forty-eight 4,000 footers in New Hampshire and a goal that I have is to hike all forty eight. If I get the tallest one out of the way the rest should be easy!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/4g1/43760967692
2. Franconia Ridge Loop (Mount Lafayette [5,249] Mount Lincoln [5,089] Little Haystack [4,760]) in Franconia, New Hampshire
The Franconia Ridge Loop is a popular New Hampshire hike because it knocks out three of the 4,000 footers in one go. It is also, clearly, a fantastic photo-op.
https://www.trailrunproject.com/trail/7002742/franconia-ridge-loop
3. Mount Flume (4,328) to Mount Liberty (4,459) via the Flume Slide Trail and Liberty Spring Trail in Franconia, New Hampshire
Mount Flume gets its name from the waterfalls that descend the mountain. These two should be done together, because Mount Liberty is a much safer way down; there’s no water.
http://hikethewhites.com/flume.html
4. Mount Mansfield (4,395) in Underhill, Vermont
I can’t really brag about being someone who hikes and someone who is from Vermont until I hike Mansfield.
5. Plain of the Six Glaciers Trails in Bannf National Park in Alberta, Canada
Glaciers in British Columbia. That’s all.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/plain-of-the-six-glaciers-trail
6. Castle Hill in Kura Tawhiti, New Zealand
One of my friends got to go here while she was studying abroad in New Zealand and she had an awesome time.
http://www.castlehill.net.nz/castlehill/castlehill.php
There are so many more hikes that I want to go on, because I am never going to stop gaining something new and special out of doing it. The world is too beautiful to not explore while also exploring yourself.