Just caught this and glad I did! That areas on my bucket list, absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing. You did an excellent job with both the hike and the Vlog! Congratulations!😊

@RachelWhelton

7 ай бұрын

Thanks!

I really enjoy your videos, I've hiked and backpacked in the NH White mountains years ago, also Baxter state park in Maine. So nice to see these scenes of mountains and rivers, just the way I remember.

@RachelWhelton

5 ай бұрын

Very cool! Thanks for the nice comment.

This was so awesome! I respect how you do all this stuff alone. I want to gain that confidence someday! For now, I always bring my partner with me. Seemed like such an awesome experience and those butterflies were beautiful.

@RachelWhelton

2 ай бұрын

Thanks. That was a good one. I don't think I'll be doing that kind of water crossing again if I can avoid it.

your adventures started with a determined step and look how far you've confidently gone; the value of exercise, literally, physically, mentally. Not to mention the fun factor.

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Yes and now I can't imagine stopping hiking. I don't want to lose what I have gained.

Nice! well made! Provocative! Well seasoned! (Black Pond, 34' deep, was my first backpack anywhere ~ in July 1972. Went swimming: leeches! )

@RachelWhelton

6 ай бұрын

Oh man, leeches are on my list of things to avoid for sure. But it must have been beautiful in 1972.

Very well done. Yay! Drop the pack! Your love and respect for the wilderness area is felt. Thank you.

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Thank you kindly! I learned a lot on this one and hopefully it will carry forward to future outings.

Excellent!

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

I watched the whole video You did so good i camped there in the 70' and 80's i enjoy the memories

@RachelWhelton

9 ай бұрын

Thanks! It's cool to think of people hiking here year after year, appreciating nature.

Awesome video! Congratulations on all the successful crossings and making it up to the peak in such warm weather. That's a tough climb! I have never done either of the minor bushwack trails you took, so it was very helpful to see them in this video. Thank you!

@RachelWhelton

8 ай бұрын

Thank you very much! Honestly I think it could have been a much easier day if I had made camp first, had a snack, and gone up at a normal temperature time of day without my backpack!

Terrific the way you caught the morning sun at 24:15. What a gnarly climb! Thank you for sharing.

@RachelWhelton

8 ай бұрын

Thanks! Yes, that was a tough one.

Don’t worry too much about the campsite - but not only is it 200 feet from trails but also 200 feet from any waterways. But I won’t tell anyone. 😉 I’ve only ever used the Black Pond bushwhack though I do need to take the regular trail at some point. Great work getting up there with that massive pack. Oof!

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Now see, I've heard this both ways - the water thing.... I can see in the national forest rules where it says "certain water bodies." And there is actually a list of the water bodies. But if you look up specifically the Pemigewasset wilderness rules there is no mention of water - only 200 feet from the trail.

@RhodySeth

10 ай бұрын

@@RachelWhelton ultimately from a rule perspective I would guess that since the Pemi Wilderness exists within the WMNF, any WMNF rules apply in addition to any Pemi specific rules. You're right that it's confusing though, the WMNF page says all bodies of water but then provides this brochures which spells out specific water bodies: www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf [shrugs]

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Good to discuss since it is confusing. I'll talk with the rangers again next time I am up there and see if I can iron it out.

@RachelWhelton

9 ай бұрын

I went and talked with a ranger about the rules. He said there are many smaller brooks and streams you can camp near. It is certain rivers and bodies of water which are protected by the 200 feet rule. He had a map but it isn't printed and so far I cannot find it online. I suppose it may be wise to always go 200 feet but it's also very nice to be near a small waterway certain times.

@RhodySeth

9 ай бұрын

@@RachelWhelton thanks Rachel that's good to know. They have this brochure online which lists specific water bodies so I guess that can be a guide going forward: www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf

It's always enjoyable for a dip in a clear mountain stream after a great hike enjoyed the video 😊

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

It really is! Hippo mode!

Wow! Thank you for taking the time to make this video. My October attempt was canceled due to rain. I really appreciate the videos of the trail itself, with the mud, rocks and roots, and all the water crossings. Thank you for taking both the trail and the two bushwacks. This will have to wait until Summer 2024 and the longer days.

@RachelWhelton

9 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the comment. It is very cool to know somebody will have more data on their hike from watching my video.

Thank you for this video. Very informative and it gives me confidence that I can do it too. I was very nervous for the amount of mileage and I knew I would have to do it as overnight as well.

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! It was a tough one for me to wrap my mind around before seeing it in person. So I tried to get shots of all the sections to help somebody know in advance what it might be like. Of course every time out is different so hopefully on your day it won't be so hot.

Please have fun out there. Enjoy , listen to your body not your head. I have to do the same thing listen to my body. Let my mind wander into the woods. I see more and learn more. Woo hoo I’m so excited to get out there. Great videos. 😊 Fun fact deer 🦌 kill more people a year than any other wild animal in North America. Over 120 people a year. Yikes 😱! 😊

@RachelWhelton

7 ай бұрын

Interesting deer fact so I typed that in and the computer also says hunters kill 6 million deer a year and cars kill 2 million deer per year. There are over 330 million humans in the US and over 30 million deer. There are over 290 million cars.

@roberttrough6439

7 ай бұрын

@@RachelWhelton Oh Deer 🦌! Hahaha 🤣

We were over at the Franconia Brook tentsite this past weekend. Brought our 5 year old on her first backpacking trip there. I have been talking with my husband about taking our son to do owls head since then. I was worried/wondering about where to camp. Thanks for sharing!!

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Glad it was of some help. The ranger said there were more spots at the base of the slide, which I think means near the entrance of Owl's Head path. I should have taken a bit longer to hunt around there but at least you can go knowing there are multiple options. Just takes some patience to find them like an Easter egg hunt! Franconia Brook tent site is on my list too, perhaps when it starts getting snowy!

Think this makes 41 for you... so close! Brave of you to cross that large waist deep stream going the regular way and carrying your heavy pack all the way up Owl's Head in all that heat. Have only done the Black Pond bushwhack, and glad I did. Water crossings always a challenge on this NH48 no matter when you go.

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Yes! Thanks for the encouragement. Glad to get this one done. I think I'll save a relatively easy one for last, perhaps Cabot or would that be too boring? I don't know!

@MikeRyder-ml2mb

10 ай бұрын

Cabot does have the green hikers cabin near the top that's interesting. But no real views. Maybe save a hike with a view for last to capture a nice closing picture of your NH48 adventure. I saved Washington for 48 and Monroe for 47. Got views along with the line of train/car tourists on Washington. But was OK, as many to take your picture for you :) @@RachelWhelton

Wow super inspirational:) My daughter and I ended up camping at both layfeyette place and dolly copp campgrounds when we visited NH during the last week of July this summer. We did the Lonesome Lake trail from layfayette one day, Gorgeous! Hiking in your area is super challenging for low landers who aren't used to rocks and big changes in elevation:) We had a clear day to drive up Mount Washington which was challenging enough lol. I bought a copy of The Last Traverese while at a cafe in Gorham. I've read the White Mountains can be dangerous, but the book gave me another layer of healthy fear as I read it by headlamp in our tent in Dolly Copp. Its fascinating to see some of the trail names and areas named in the book that are also along your hike. Thank you so much for sharing your adventures!! We'll return again:) Are you a member of a trail club in the area?

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

Wonderful comment, thank you. I can imagine reading by headlamp in the tent. I am not a member of a trail club. Once I looked for one but didn't find it and by now I enjoy the solitude. However just today I renewed my Randolph Mountain Club membership so I can stay at their huts this winter. So many things to do in the White Mountains. I am glad you had a good visit.

Kudos to you for enduring the heat to complete the hike. Did I count 4 dips?! Glad you did the fire too.

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

I went in that refreshing water as much as possible. Next summer I will make a day trip just to hang out at one of the big pools of water. It's such a great mix of feeling wild and civilized at the same time.

Incredible trip, it looked like it was taking a bit out of you every step. But, you did it and got to refresh yourself in the wild mountain stream. A question: at the beginning of the video you mentioned that of the NH 4,000 footers, this one held particular caution for you, why?

@RachelWhelton

10 ай бұрын

So true! I was like a character in a video game with the energy bar going lower and lower to the red zone. I guess I feared Owl's Head because it is extra far and has too many unknown factors like the water crossings could be too high, the bushwhacks might have been too muddy, etc. It has more potential complications than most of the trails.

It seems like you've harder hikes. What made you anxious about Owl's head compared to others?

@RachelWhelton

4 ай бұрын

The distance was daunting. Turned out alright. I would feel much more at ease now. But at that point I was dreading it!

74 likes 914 views posted 1 month ago

Rangers …… scary ???

@RachelWhelton

Ай бұрын

I was afraid of the idea of a police-like ranger coming to give me a ticket and tell me to leave. I realize now this was overly fearful. I am now very fond of Rangers and think of them as the most knowledgeable and helpful people out there.