Backpacking in the White Mountains
This weekend we took our first ever family backpacking trip! I planned for a moderate 5 mile trip in to the Pemigewasset Wilderness Area in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I helped everyone get packed on Friday and we all hit the sack for an early 2+ hour drive.
We managed to hit the road at 5:30am and headed for the hills. A quick stop for coffee and off we went. Nick, John and I have a favorite little breakfast place in Lincoln called Mr. W’s House of Pancakes.
 |
Since this was our exit for the Kancamagus highway, it made perfect sense to pay another visit! One interesting thing about Mr. W’s – they have a safe built in to the wall with a booth right in front of it! The building used to be a bank. The breakfast was, once again, excellent and in short order, we were on our way. |
The drive to Lincoln Woods Parking lot was short. We geared up at the van (make sure to buy a parking pass – or better yet, an annual pass) and were ready to hit the trail at 8: 45.
Mia was ready to go!
|
|
 |
|
We started on the Lincoln Woods Trail (aka Wilderness Trail). The “plan” was to take a break at Franconia Falls (3.2 miles) and then cross in to the Pemigewasset Wilderness and head to Bondcliff Trail (4.7 miles). Reports suggested that there were several back-country camping sites about 7/10 of a mile up Bondcliff Trail. |
 |
Crossing the bridge to the trail.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Our first break on the trail.
On the way up at mile 3.2, we decided to take the Franconia Falls spur. The falls are .4 miles up the trail. We stashed our packs behind a log and headed up. Franconia Falls is popular spot on hot summer days and is beautiful.
 |
|
 |
The colors are amazing – crystal clear and turquoise water, gold and red rocks and blue sky! |
 |
There are also lots of interesting features like this hole carved out by a rock. |
|
|
| And of course, there were wild Brook Trout and Elizabeth swimming in the deep pools! |
 |
| Elizabeth could not resist sliding over the falls. Nicolas and John joined in the fun. I got some great videos of all of them going over the falls. |
 |
| After taking a nice break, we headed down to get our packs and hit the trail. |
 |
| At 4.7 miles, we reached the Bondcliff trailhead. Sadly, when we returned the next day, someone had stolen the Bondcliff Trail sign! We chatted with several hikers who had passed the trailhead because the sign was missing. |
 |
| Here I am taking a break. |
| The Bondcliff Trail was a lot steeper. The plan was to find a backwoods camp site close to the river. Despite several descriptions, we walked right past it! After an exhausting hour of hunting, we finally found it and set up camp. |
 |
| Mom taking a break! |
 |
| Elizabeth and Mia liked their new home away from home. |
 |
| Mia had a long day! Her pack had a leash, snacks, her food and a water bowl in it. Not too much for a little dog to carry. |
 |
|
Mom, Elizabeth and Mia took a long nap while Nick, John and I pumped 11 quarts of water. Then I made dinner for everyone – Mountain House Beef Stew with cheese and little bagels. The MH Beef Stew is really good! Jetboils are wonderful stoves. I used the large pot and boiled plenty of water for the cooking and cleanup. As it started to cool down, I made hot chocolate and cleaned up, hung the bear bag with all the food and then we hit the hay for the night. Mia spent the entire night licking every part she could reach – making a huge racket. Next morning I made breakfast – freeze dried eggs with bacon for John and Mom and oatmeal for everyone else. Hot chocolate too, of course. We then packed all our gear and hit the trail for the walk out. Everyone was looking forward to visiting Franconia Falls again. This time, I promised to take a ride down the plume! |
 |
| The kids are rested up and ready to go. Mom was a little less enthusiastic! |
 |
| Remember that earlier photo of Elizabeth by the Bondcliff Trail sign? Here she is next to the missing sign on our way out. Hard to believe that someone would take a trail sign. |
 |
| Just a 100’ from the Bondcliff Trailhead (on the Wilderness Trail) is an old railroad trestle. Apparently the bridge has a bit of interesting history – it is a historic site and therefore can not be destroyed but it is also in a designated wilderness area and therefore must be removed! |
 |
| On the way down, we stopped at Franconia Falls again. Everyone rode the chute over the waterfall! The videos are below to prove it. |
| Elizabeth over the falls. |
|
|
| Nick over the falls. |
|
|
| John over the falls. |
|
|
| Eileen missed my first ride and I had to go again to get a video! That water is ICE COLD brrrrr! |
|
|
| and then Eileen takes her turn! |
 |
| All in all, we had a great weekend of backpacking. Franconia Falls was the highlight of the trip. |
