copyright © 2015-2016 Dennis Paul Himes


2015 Hiking Trip Logs

These are trail logs for my hikes in 2015. Here's the main trail log page.

Legend

Text in italics is trail names.
Text in bold italics is trail names for trails which are part of the Appalachian Trail.
Underlined text is mountain peak names.
Bold underlined text is mountain peak names for mountains which are on the Northeast 111 list.
Underlined blue text is mountain peak names for mountains which are on the New England Fifty Finest list.
Underlined green text is mountain peak names for mountains which are on the Catskill 35 list.
A bold U means a turnaround point.


Trips


Flume, Carrigain, and Wildcat D - White Mountains, New Hampshire - 1-3 January 2015

Thursday 1 January 2015

Lincoln Woods - Lincoln Woods Trail - Osseo Trail - Franconia Ridge Trail - Mt. Flume U - Franconia Ridge Trail - Osseo Trail - Lincoln Woods Trail - Lincoln Woods

Friday 2 January 2015
parking lot by Sawyer River Road / 302 intersection - Sawyer River Road - Signal Ridge Trail - Mt. Carrigain U - Signal Ridge Trail - Sawyer River Road - parking lot by Sawyer River Road / 302 intersection

Saturday 3 January 2015

Pinkham Notch Visitors' Center - Lost Pond Trail - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat H Mountain - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat G Mountain - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat F Mountain - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat E Mountain - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat D Mountain U - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat E Mountain - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat F Mountain - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat G Mountain - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Wildcat H Mountain - Wildcat Ridge Trail - Lost Pond Trail - Pinkham Notch Visitors' Center

I spent the first three days of 2015 bagging peaks for the Winter New Hampshire 4000 Footer list. I stayed at a hostel in Conway. Trail conditions were very good; the trails were all hard packed and I was on microspikes most of the time.

For a longer trip reports see the Rocks on Top threads for Flume (Thu.), Carrigain (Fri.), and Wildcat D (Sat.).

I also have picture galleries for Flume (Thu.), Carrigain (Fri.), and Wildcat D (Sat.).


Nipmuck State Forest - Connecticut (and Mass.) - 14 February 2015

Saturday 14 February 2015
White Trailhead - White Trail - Ridge Trail - Peter Rabbit Rock - Ridge Trail - Cat Rocks - Ridge Trail - Blue & Red Trail - Nipmuck Trail - Red Trail (more or less) - White Trail - White Trailhead

This hike was mostly in Nipmuck State Forest in Union, although it started and ended in Bigelow Hollow State Park, and for a while went into Massachusetts. It was a beautiful snowy forest walk, although it was a lot of work, since I was breaking trail most of the way.

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top,

You can see more pictures here.


Zealand Mountain - White Mountains, New Hampshire - 28 February 2015

Saturday 28 February 2015
Zealand winter parking lot - Zealand Road - Zealand Trail - Twinway Trail - Zealand Falls Hut Twinway Trail - Zealand Spur - Zealand Mountain U - Zealand Spur - Twinway Trail - spruce trap of death U - Twinway Trail - Zealand Falls Hut Twinway Trail - Zealand Trail - Zealand Road - Zealand winter parking lot

I, and four others, attempted a Bonds Traverse. We turned around almost halfway through, though.

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top,

You can see more pictures here.


North and South Kinsman - White Mountains, New Hampshire - 28(-29) March 2015

Saturday 29 March 2015
Lafayette Campground - Lonesome Lake Trail - Lonesome Lake - Fishin' Jimmy Trail - Lonesome Lake Hut - Fishin' Jimmy Trail - Kinsman Ridge Trail - North Kinsman Mountain - Kinsman Ridge Trail - South Kinsman Mountain U - Kinsman Ridge Trail - North Kinsman Mountain - Kinsman Ridge Trail - Fishin' Jimmy Trail - Lonesome Lake Hut

Sunday 30 March 2015
Lonesome Lake Hut - Fishin' Jimmy Trail - Lonesome Lake - Lonesome Lake Trail - Lafayette Campground -

I attended my fifth Fool Scouts' Ball this year. On Saturday before the ball I hiked the Kinsmen with some of my fellow fools.

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top.

You can see my pictures from the hike here.


Balsam Lake Mountain and Graham Mountain - Catskills, New York - 2 May 2015

Saturday 2 May 2015
Dry Brook Trailhead - Dry Brook Ridge Trail - Balsam Lake Mountain Trail - Balsam Lake Mountain U - Balsam Lake Mountain Trail - Dry Brook Ridge Trail - Graham herdpath - Graham Mountain U - Graham herdpath - Dry Brook Ridge Trail - Dry Brook Trailhead

For my Catskill birthday hike this year JohnGalt and I hiked in the western Catskills.

For a longer trip report see The ADKHP fora.

You can see more pictures here.


Cardigan, Smarts, and Belknap - New Hampshire - 23-25 May 2015

Saturday 23 May 2015

Cardigan Lodge - Manning Trail - Holt Trail - Mt. Cardigan - Mowgli's Trail - Firescrew Mountain - Manning Trail - Cardigan Lodge

Sunday 24 May 2015
Dorchester Road Trailhead - Appalachian Trail - Smarts Mountain U - Appalachian Trail - Smarts Mountain Ranger Trail - Dorchester Road Trailhead

Monday 25 May 2015

High Belknap Trailhead - Warden's (Green) Trail - Belknap Mountain - Blue Trail - White Trail - Yellow Trail - Gunstock Mountain U - Yellow Trail - White Trail - Blue Trail - Belknap Mountain - East Gilford (Yellow) Trail - Boulder (Blue) Trail - Round Pond / Piper Link (Green) Trail - Old Piper (Orange) Trail - White Trail - High Belknap Trailhead

I spent Memorial Day Weekend car camping in New Hampshire and day hiking some New England Fifty Finest peaks, Cardigan, Smarts, and Belknap. With these I've finished the New Hampshire part of the list.

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top,

I also have picture galleries for Cardigan (Sat.), Smarts (Sun.), and Belknap (Mon.).


Doubletop Mountain - Catskills, New York - 14 June 2015

Sunday 14 June 2015
Seager Trailhead - Seager Trail - bushwhack - Doubletop Mountain U - bushwhack - Seager Trail - Seager Trailhead

On Sunday the 14th I climbed Doubletop in the Catskills. This is mostly a bushwhack. I got kind of lost, but not really.

For a longer trip report see The ADKHP fora.

You can see more pictures here.


Santanonis - Adirondacks Mountains, New York - 27(-28) June 2015

Saturday 27 June 2015
DEC Blue Trailhead - DEC Blue Trail - Santanoni Leanto U - DEC Blue Trail - Bradley Pond Herd Path - Herald Square - Santanoni Ridge Herd Path - Panther Peak U - Santanoni Ridge Herd Path - Herald Square - Santanoni Ridge Herd Path - Times Square - Santanoni Ridge Herd Path - Santanoni Peak U - Santanoni Ridge Herd Path - Times Square - Couchsachraga Herd Path - Couchsachraga Peak U - Couchsachraga Herd Path - Times Square - Santanoni Ridge Herd Path - Herald Square - Bradley Pond Herd Path - DEC Blue Trail - Santanoni Leanto

Sunday 28 June 2015
Santanoni Leanto - DEC Blue Trail - DEC Blue Trailhead

A return to the Santanoni Range in the Adirondacks.

For a longer trip report see The ADKHP fora.

You can see more pictures from this trip here.


The Great Gulf and the Northern Presidentials - White Mountains, New Hampshire - 10-12 July 2015

Friday 10 July 2015
Great Gulf Trailhead - Great Gulf Trail - Great Gulf Trail - Great Gulf Trail - WMNF campsite

Saturday 11 July 2015
WMNF campsite - Great Gulf Trail - Spaulding Lake - Great Gulf Trail - Gulfside Trail - Trinity Connector - Mt. Washington U - Trinity Connector - Gulfside Trail - Mt. Clay Loop - Mt. Clay - Mt. Clay Loop - Gulfside Trail - Mt. Jefferson Loop - Mt. Jefferson - Mt. Jefferson Loop - Gulfside Trail - Edmand's Col - Randolph Path - Israel Ridge Path - Perch Path - The Perch

Sunday 12 July 2015
The Perch - Perch Path - Israel Ridge Path - Israel Ridge Trail / Gulfside Trail - Israel Ridge Path - Lowe's Path - Mt. Adams - Airline Trail - Airline Trail - Madison Spring Hut - Osgood Trail - Mt. Madison - Osgood Trail - Osgood Trail - Great Gulf Trail - Great Gulf Trailhead

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top.

You can see more pictures from this trip here.


Trail Magic at Riga Junction - Taconic Range, Connecticut - 26 July 2015

Sunday 26 July 2015
Undermountain Trailhead - Undermountain Trail - Riga Junction U - Undermountain Trail - Undermountain Trailhead

For the fifth year in a row Connecticut Valley Atheists, brought trail magic to the Appalachian Train in Salisbury, Connecticut, although this year we (meaning I) only went as far as Riga Junction, due to forecast thunderstorms.

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top.

You can see more pictures from this trip here.


Baxter Bash IX - Baxter State Park, Maine - 9-13 August 2015

Sunday 9 August 2015
Merther Road - logging road - bushwhack - Saddleback Mountain U - bushwhack - stick road - logging road - Merther Road

Monday 10 August 2015
South Branch Pond Campground - Pogy Notch Trail - North Traveler Trail - North Traveler Mountain - Traveler Mountain Trail - The Traveler - Traveler Mountain Trail - Peak of the Ridges - Center Ridge Trail - Pogy Notch Trail - South Branch Pond Campground

Tuesday 11 August 2015
Doubletop Trailhead - Doubletop Trail - spur to someplace which is not Doubletop's south peak - Not Doubletop South Peak U - spur to someplace which is not Doubletop's south peak - Doubletop Trail - Doubletop South Peak - Doubletop Trail - Doubletop North Peak - Doubletop Trail - Nesowadnehunk Field

Thursday 13 August 2015
Katahdin Stream Campground - Hunt Trail - Katahdin Baxter Peak - trail between peaks whose name I'm not sure of - Hamlin Ridge Trail - Katahdin Hamlin Peak U - Hamlin Ridge Trail - trail between peaks whose name I'm not sure of - Baxter Peak Cutoff Trail - Hunt Trail - Katahdin Stream Campground

I spent five days in Baxter State Park in Maine attending the Baxter Bash, a hiker gathering held every summer there. This was the ninth bash, but only my second. I did a hike on the way up and on three of the days there, and took one rest day. With this trip I'm now at 49 out of 50 for the New England Fifty Finest list.

For a longer trip reports see the Rocks on Top threads for Saddleback (Sun.), The Travelers Loop (Mon.), Doubletop (Tue.), and Katahdin (Thu.).

I also have picture galleries for Saddleback (Sun.), The Travelers Loop (Mon.), Doubletop (Tue.), and Katahdin (Thu.).


Flags Weekend: The Tripyramids and the Hancocks - White Mountains, New Hampshire - 12-13 September 2015

Saturday 12 September 2015
Livermore Trailhead - Livermore Trail - Mt. Tripyramid Trail - South Tripyramid Mtn. - Mt. Tripyramid Trail - Middle Tripyramid Mtn. - Mt. Tripyramid Trail - North Tripyramid Mtn. Scaur Ridge Trail - Mt. Tripyramid Trail - Livermore Trail - Livermore Trailhead

Sunday 13 September 2015
Kancamagus Highway - Hancock Notch Trail - Cedar Brook Trail - relo - Cedar Brook Trail - Hancock Loop Trail - South Hancock Mtn. - Hancock Loop Trail - Mt. Hancock - Hancock Loop Trail - Cedar Brook Trail - Hancock Notch Trail - Kancamagus Highway

Every year hikers fly the American flag from each of the 4000 foot peaks in New Hampshire in remembrance of the victims of the theocratic attacks of September 2001. This year I again raised the flag on Middle Tripyramid, with a guy I met that day who lives in Glastonbury. The next day before I climbed the Hancocks for the first time since 2008.

For a longer trip reports see the Rocks on Top threads for the Tripyramids and the Hancocks.

You can see more pictures from the Tripyramid here.

You can see more pictures from the Hancock hike here.

And here is the official Flags on the 48 site.


New Roof on Story Spring Shelter - Green Mountains, Vermont - 18-20 September 2015

Friday 18 September 2015
Kelly Stand Road - secret trail - Long Trail - Story Spring Shelter

Saturday 19 September 2015 and Sunday 20 September 2015
Story Spring Shelter - Long Trail - secret trail - Kelly Stand Road - secret trail - Long Trail - Story Spring Shelter - [repeated several times] - Long Trail - secret trail - Kelly Stand Road

Three members of a GMC work crew together with about a dozen volunteers from the Conn. Chapter of the GMC replaced the roof, and did other repairs, at Story Spring Shelter.

I didn't write a trip report for this hike, or make my usual gallery, but I put some pictures on Facebook.


Gore Mountain - Northeast Kingdom, Vermont - 3 October 2015

Saturday 3 October 2015
Gore Mountain Trailhead - Gore Mountain Trail - Gore Mountain U - Gore Mountain Trail - lookout spur trail - "lookout" U - lookout spur trail - Gore Mountain Trail - Gore Mountain Trailhead

With this hike I finished the New England Fifty Finest list.

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top.

You can see more pictures here.


Talcott Mountain - Metacomet Range, Connecticut - 11 October 2015

Sunday 11 October 2015
Karen's front yard - bushwhack - trail around reservoir - Metacomet Trail - Talcott Mountain (and Heublein Tower) - Metacomet Trail - Alternative Trail - trail around reservoir - bushwhack - Karen's front yard

Today my friend Karen and I hiked up Talcott Mountain and up the Heublein Tower, starting and ending with a bushwhack from/to her front yard.

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top.

You can see more pictures here.


Blackhead Range - Catskills, New York - 18 October 2015

Sunday 18 October 2015
Barnum Road - Blackhead Range Trail - Camel Hump - Blackhead Range Trail - Thomas Cole Mountain - Blackhead Range Trail - Black Dome Mountain - Blackhead Range Trail - Blackhead Mountain Spur Trail - Blackhead Mountain U - Blackhead Mountain Spur Trail - Black Dome Mountain Trail - Big Hollow Road

Two weeks after finishing the New England Fifty Finest list I finished the Catskill 35 list, with a traverse of the Blackhead Range, accompanied by my GMC friend Jim.

For a longer trip report see The ADKHP fora.

You can see more pictures here.


Esther, Whiteface, and Big Slide - Adirondacks, New York - 21-22 November 2015

Saturday 21 November 2015
Marble Mountain Trailhead - Marble Mountain Trail - Wilmington Trail - Esther Herd Path - Esther Mountain U - Esther Herd Path - Wilmington Trail - Whiteface Mountain - Whiteface Road - Marble Mountain Road - Marble Mountain Trailhead

Sunday 22 November 2015
The Garden - Phelps Trail - Slide Mountain Brook Trail - Brothers Trail - Big Slide Mountain U - Brothers Trail - several Brothers - Brothers Trail - The Garden

I gave myself some mountain therapy in the Adirondacks, hiking Esther & Whiteface on Saturday and Big Slide on Sunday.

See the ADKHP for longer trip reports for the Esther & Whiteface Hike and for the Big Slide hike.

You can see more pictures from the Esther & Whiteface hike here.
You can see more pictures from the Big Slide hike here.


Garfield, not Madison, Galehead, and South Twin - White Mountains, New Hampshire - 30 December 2015 - 1 January 2016

Wednesday 30 December 2015

Rte. 3 - Gale River Loop roadwalk - Garfield Trail - Garfield Ridge Trail - Mt. Garfield U - Garfield Ridge Trail - Garfield Trail - Gale River Loop roadwalk - Rte. 3

Thursday 31 December 2015
Appalachia - Valley Way - Watson Path - somewhere above the treeline U - Watson Path - Valley Way - Appalachia

Friday 1 January 2016

Beaver Brook Rest Area - XC ski trails - bushwhack - Gale River Loop roadwalk - Gale River Trail - Garfield Ridge Trail - Frost Trail - Galehead Hut - Frost Trail - Galehead Mountain U - Frost Trail - Galehead Hut - Frost Trail - The Twinway - South Twin Mountain U - The Twinway - Garfield Ridge Trail - Gale River Trail - Gale River Loop roadwalk - bushwhack - XC ski trails - Beaver Brook Rest Area

After spending the beginning of the holidays in New York City, I spent three days hiking in the White Mountains. I picked up three more peaks for both the Winter NH4K list and my project of repeating the Northeast 111 in my 60s. Unfortunately, on Thursday I turned back during an attempt at Madison, so I still need that for the winter list.

For a longer trip report see Rocks on Top.

I also have picture galleries for Garfield (Wed.), the Madison attempt (Thu.), and Galehead and South Twin (Fri.).


You can go to my homepage, go to the 2014 traillog page, go to the 2016 traillog page, go to the main traillog page, or mail me.