Mount Chocorua, NH, 11/22/06

[threecy]

Mt. Chocorua, NH, Three Sisters, NH

Date Hiked: 11/22/06

Trails(s) Hiked: Champney Falls Trail, Middle Sister Trail

Total Distance: 9 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Conditions: Sunny

Special Required Equipment: None

We embarked on our first hiking venture in the White Mountains via the Champney Falls Trail. Intending to summit with minimal crowds, we bypassed the falls and Three Sisters range and went straight to the Chocorua summit. Surprisingly, there wasn't a single person in sight.

After looking at the panoramic views on Chocorua, we went over each of the Three Sisters. We then took a very icy Champney Falls Cut Off trail back to the Champney Falls Trail, and then detoured down to the Champney and Pitcher Falls.


Looking north from the Mount Chocorua summit


Looking north from what I assume to be called Third Sister (northeast of Middle Sister)

[Mike P.]

Thanks for sharing, looks like no snow of very little anywhere to be found too.

[MichaelJ]

What a *wonderful* choice for your first foray into the Whites! That's a great route up Chocorua, and not nearly as heavily used as those trails from the east side; a good choice.

Was Pitcher Falls running? It's so wild to walk into that tiny box canyon up there!

[threecy]

Ya, the only snow visible was on Mt. Washington (and just patches). There was considerable ice on the Champney Falls Trail (wish I had crampons, but I don't do enough winter hiking to bother getting them yet).

Pitcher Falls was running, however the rocks across the brook were covered in ice, so I didn't dare to get too close.

It's a nice trail, however I must say that after Champney Falls on the return trip, it felt like it went on forever!

[MichaelJ]

LoL! Next thing to try is a hike that involves finishing on the Wilderness/Lincoln Woods trail. There's several miles of straight and flat to totally numb the brain at the end of the day!

[threecy]

For me, the two ultimates thus far have been the return hikes on my Mt. Ellen and Saddle Ball-Greylock hikes - 8.5 & 7.5 mile return trips, about as exciting as a Laverne and Shirley Marathon.

[MichaelJ]

I've done the out-and-back to Ellen from Lincoln Gap so I can commiserate. Two weekends ago I was up there again, but fortunately we had a car spotted and did it as a through-hike from Lincoln Gap to App Gap. Not much to see after it got dark, but still far, far, better and more fun than turning around.

[threecy]

Ya, I hear ya...I did the return trip from Ellen to the App Gap and it just wouldn't end! The advantage of Chocorua is that it's all down hill - the LT from Ellen is up and down many times.