Hiking The Belknap Range in New Hampshire

If you've been following my blog, you know that I just finished hiking the Belknap Range, to the west of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. If you haven't been following and hopefully are finding this blog for some advice on how to go about exploring this area, here's a bunch of links to my trips of the 12 mountains.

Whiteface Mountain (1644 feet)

Rowe Mountain (1680 feet)

Piper, Belknap, and Gunstock Mountains loop (with Sean and Allocca) (2044, 2384, and 2245 feet)
          (Piper Mountain via Whiteface Trail)

West Quarry Mountain (1894 feet) 
          (visit 2 with better pictures)

Rand, Klem and Mack Mountains out-and-back (with Kevin) (1883, 2001, and 1945 feet)

Major, Straightback and Anna Mountains out-and-back (1786, 1890, and 1670 feet)

Here's basically what these trips look like:

I went into it a bit on the post about my last hike, but it really was quite the accomplishment for me to get these all done. They're small mountains by NH mountain standards, but there was a lot of time, effort and heart involved in conquering all of these. Time spent researching routes and maps, conversations with friends about my progress, slowly learning what mountains I was looking at and slowly becoming a bit of an expert on the area... it's all been worthwhile to accomplish something I'm extremely proud of. I decided I was going to do something, I learned about it, and then I went out and did it. I earned my patch, and I'm proud to have it. 

I got a short letter from the guy in charge too, Don Watson. He told me to "please, please, please carry a trail map and guide book" with me while hiking. Thanks for the concern Don, I appreciate it. He also told me that I am the 314th person to send in for the patch; a number that is both smaller and larger than I thought it would be. I think a bunch of people have done all of these and just didn't care about the patch, but I certainly did. On the other side, it's pretty awesome that that many people have hiked this small range that not that many people even know about. 

He also told me that there is a patch for hiking all the mountains in NH with fire towers (although it looks like you only have to hike 5 of them and I've already hiked 4...) and one for hiking all 10 peaks of the Ossipee range. I've seen the lists, but I can't find proof anywhere online that such a patch exists. If you're a hiker and know if there is in fact a patch, please comment with info on how to get it. I'm patch crazy now, and I may just consider it.

Anyway, I'm now taking on the task of conquering all 48 4,000 footers in NH, which will probably prove to be harder than anything I've ever done before. I have 2 down, leaving a lot of work left. I'm pumped and terrified, but mostly, I'm excited to have another goal. Thanks for being a nice small journey Belknaps, I raise my glass to you.

Basic info: http://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/nhbelknaprange.php

Checklist and info on the patch: http://www.belknapsportsmensclub.com/hiking.php

Search around for any more info, or use my guides. 

currently listening to: Shellac- B-Sides