White Mountains Backpack/Fall Foliage

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By Jonny Rosenfield.

I'm psyched to report that Katahdin and I did my first pointless (no peaks, no famous destination) backpack, bear canister and all, this past Thursday night. I took the Austin Brook trail up to Gentian Pond which I shared with a trio of very fun, very nice (and one very attractive) guys. Next morning I hiked out via Moss Pond, Dream Lake

and Dryad Falls.

The rest of the weekend was unbelievable. Something about the weather and the foliage seemed to get everyone sky high. I spent this weekend hiking by day and hanging around a campfire on Haystack Road by night with a group of fun-loving, peakbagging Quebecois that I have come to know over the last couple of years. I'm betting you had quite an awesome time focused on photography. I'll be

looking for the trip report.

In terms of hikes: Saturday, I did a 14 mile loop in the Wild River Valley (up Basin, across Basin Rim and Meader Ridge and down Eagle Link to return to via Wild River trail. Wow.) Sunday I hiked up Moriah (I never saw a clear view from the summit the first time, so I was surprised to see how impressive the view of the Carters and the

Northern Presidentials is.) and Shelburne Moriah which is one of my new favorite peaks with its sweeping view of the Wild River Valley on one side and the Mahoosucs on the other. Monday I hiked to Ethan Pond and hit the road before traffic got bad.

Anyhow, I'm still higher than a kite from this past weekend. I'm still enjoying my deeper appreciation for Katahdin from that week in the Adirondacks. And once again, I want to thank you for the great backpack that finally cracked my backpacking phobia, heavy pack

and all.