WHEN WINTER WINDS ARE GUSTING, TRY KEARSARGE NORTH
Mount Kearsarge North in North Conway, NH, is a favorite winter mountain hike for my wife, Nancy, and I when weather conditions and wind chills are severe. It is a particularly good choice if winds are gusting out of the north or northwest and temperatures are low. A recent forecast called for wind speeds in excess of 35 MPH from the northwest and a high temperature in the mid-teens. Kearsarge North seemed the perfect hiking solution. Arriving at the trailhead late morning, only two cars were in the small parking area and the trail surface was hard-packed snow and ice. Since it’s a popular hike, we gambled that the trail would be packed to the summit and left our snowshoes behind. In fact, the conditions were ideal for a first-time field test of our new micro-spikes. They worked flawlessly and we consider them a better alternative to stableicers or instep crampons under most circumstances. Ninety percent of our hike was sheltered from the blustery winds that roared above us. At the summit, we found shelter in the old, enclosed fire tower and enjoyed a comfortable lunch protected from the harsh conditions with 360 degree views. Mount Kearsarge North is featured in our mountain guidebook, Mountains for Mortals – New England, which provides GPS coordinates, directions, a detailed trail description, and additional pertinent information for this moderate 6 mile hike. For more information on our book, visit www.ronchaseoutdoors.com.