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Thursday, November 11, 2021

What I'm Up To...and why I'm not blogging as much


Hi friends and followers!

My blog hasn't been super active lately and I'd love to tell you why... I'm so busy!!!

I have a few projects I'm working on and would love to direct to you to those spots so you can continue to get quality hiking and travel content through my lens.  Here's what's going on...

- Instagram - I've been finding success in reaching an audience by delivering my hiking, family adventure, and travel content through instagram.  My captions can serve as a micro-blog ... give advice, locations, and inspiration to my audience.  If you aren't already, check out my account @FreelanceAdventurer.

- Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks - In June 2021, I released the ebook "Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks - Volume 1".  In addition, I manage the instagram and facebook account @SeacoastHikes where I post almost weekly new hikes to try in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Maine.

- Field and Stream - I started as a regular gear reviewer and contributor to the magazine Field and Stream.  Gear testing and writing is a time consuming activity but I love it!  Check out some of my latest articles here.

- Seacoast Moms - For a couple years now, I am a monthly contributor to the local mom blog.  I especially love writing about getting outdoors in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Maine. Read my posts here.

- Others - I am freelance writing for businesses blogs and also trying to start on Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks - Volume 2!!

Want to get a hold of me?  Reach out on my instagram or send me an email.  I usually get back to people in 24 hours.

Thanks for checking in!

Lindsey



Thursday, July 8, 2021

Interview for Happy Outdoor Families Podcast

Freelance adventurer with kids



 It was an honor and fun to be interviewed by Emily Isenbarger for the Happy Outdoor Families Podcast.  You can listen wherever you get podcasts like:

Here is the description of the episode:

"I have been looking forward to sharing this conversation! Lindsey Lapointe is an outdoor adventurer, a writer, a middle school teacher, and a mom. She currently lives with her family in New England where she enjoys hiking and documenting her adventures on her blog, the freelance adventurer, and on social media. She is a regular contributor to the Seacoast Moms Blog and recently wrote a book, Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks, to share her knowledge of some of the amazing trails in the Seacoast region. Lindsey loves to take her family out in the wild on adventures but also does such a great job getting out on solo adventures. I hope you enjoy hearing some of her outdoor story!"


Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Girls Trip 2021: Florida Keys, National Parks, and Miami

 


Some of you know that every year, I go on an adventure trip with my best friend Leanne (and often a few other friends).  We were excited that this summer a lot of places have opened up after the COVID 19 pandemic and that, being vaccinated, we would be able to travel pretty freely domestically.  After much deliberation, we spent the past three months planning a week getaway in Sedona, Arizona.  But then...five days before our hiking trip was set to start, we got news that the national forests all around the town were suffering horrible fires and then entire hiking region was shut down indefinitely.  

We had to regroup and pivot to something new.  The Florida Keys had been on our short list of possible destinations but concerned about the possibility of hurricanes, had decided not to book there.  Now, with only 5 days to plan and a 10 day weather forecast we felt safe make the trip.  Even though our trips are usually adventure-based, I realized that many of the adventure activities we'd want would be full and I might be just reading a book by the pool.  I couldn't have been more wrong! We were booked solid with adventure the entire week. 

I'm proud that we were able to pull this trip together in the last minute.  Here's our itinerary:


Day 1

Monday, June 28: Arrive in Miami

Leanne and I flew into Miami International Airport around 7 pm.  We got the rental car and drove to Miami Beach.  After we checked into the Palihouse Miami Beach Hotel, we walked to dinner at The Tavern in Miami Beach.  Our hotel was super cute boutique hotel a short walk from the beach.  It had a serene pool area, hip bar in the lobby, rental bikes, beach equipment, and even cooler lunches to go.  I wish we could have taken more advantage of these, but since we arrived so late, we really didn't.  The Tavern was lively and had good pub food.  Draft and bottle beer/cider choice was limited.  It was a fine first night in the city!

Miami Beach Lifeguard Towers are all different!
Miami lifeguard towers are all colorful!

Day 2

Tuesday, June 29: Miami Beach, Wynwood Murals, and Travel to Key West

The first thing we did was walk down to the beach.  I really enjoyed walking the Miami Beach Boardwalk and seeing the colorful and diverse lifeguard towers.  It was also exciting to see lizards and iguanas along the path.  After a leisurely walk and quick toe dip in the ocean, we went back up to town and grabbed coffee and breakfast at Starbucks.  We checked out of our hotel around 11 am and drove to the Wynwood area of Miami.  This portion of the city is known for the Wynwood murals - diverse and large artwork painted on the exterior walls of the many buildings.  For $10 each, we were able to enter the exhibition of the Wynwood Walls - "a unique outdoor museum featuring huge, colorful street murals from artists around the globe".  I really enjoyed this exhibit and would highly recommend! As we had a long drive to Key West that day, we decided to leave Miami and get on the road.

artwork on wynwood walls
The Wynwood area is worth visiting to see these large pieces of art!

The Keys are a long string of islands coming off the southern tip of Florida.  We decided start our trip at the very end - Key West - and then make our way back up.  On the way to Key West, we stopped at Morada Bay Beach Cafe in Islamorada for (a very late) lunch and drinks.  This open air restaurant on the sand had that perfect "Keys vibe" I was looking for - colorful tables, white sand, palm trees and fruity drinks.  We enjoyed the fish and chips and got our first glimpses of the wild/free range chickens/roosters that call the Keys their home.  After lunch, we booked it to Key West - enjoying the water views on the seven mile bridge as we traveled between islands.

tropical drinks in florida
Tropical drinks at Morada Bay Beach Cafe

Once in Key West, we checked into our hotel - the Seascape Tropical Inn Bed and Breakfast.  We really loved this little inn.  Open the double doors of your small, but updated room to a central patio and hot tub.  The location is wedged between the historic Hemingway house and the lively Duval Street.  Once we parked our car, we never took out again, as Key West is really easy to maneuver on foot or by bicycle.  By the time we checked in, it was getting late so we walked Duval street - bustling with restaurants, bars, and shops.  We walked to the end and caught last light at Sunset Pier then grabbed giant cookies and ice cream (our dinner) at Mattheessen's Candy Kitchen.  We also found the Mile 0 marker!

Day 3

Wednesday, June 30: Fort, Pool, Hemingway House, and Sunset Cocktail Cruise

We knew it was a long shot, but we decided to try to get on the ferry to the Dry Tortugas National Park on standby.  This US national park is located 70 miles west of Key West and is only accessible by boat or sea plane.  Unfortunately for us, the ferry and planes are completely booked months in advance.  However, visitors are welcome to get to the ferry terminal early and wait to see if anyone doesn't show.  This is a first come, first served basis.  We got there at 6 am and much to our surprise, there were already multiple groups ahead of us on the list.  At 8 am we learned we weren't getting on standby (only 7 people did).  One of the groups that got on told us they go there at 4 am.  We decided we'd try the next day.  Before going back to the hotel, we walked over to the popular photo spot of the "Southern Most Point in the Continental US".

We returned to our hotel for our complimentary breakfast, then packed up our beach bags and went for a walk to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.  This is both a historic park with a walk-able fort and also a beach and picnic area.  Fee was $6 a car (or for us $2.50 a person).  The fort was really cool!  I loved walking the walls and reading the interpretive signs.  As we made our way down to the beach, the sky opened up in a torrential downpour.  We sought shelter under an interpretive sign (we also had umbrellas and jackets) and waited out the storm.

fort zachary taylor
Fort Zachary Taylor has the fort as well as beach and picnic area.

After the fort, we walked to the historic seaport and enjoyed fried conch and fish sandwiches at Conch Republic Seafood Company.  I loved the open air atmosphere and marina views!  After lunch we walked across the street to Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe for a chocolate dipped key lime pie (on a stick) for dessert.

After lunch, we returned to our hotel, soaked in the hot tub and relaxed, then headed back out to visit our neighbor, The Hemingway Home and Museum.  Admission is $17 per adults and is well worth it, especially if you take advantage of one of the included 20 minute walking tours.  I personally am not any sort of Hemingway fan, but I really enjoyed the house and history.  Plus, it was pretty adorable meeting some of the 60 six-toed cats that reside on the property.  

Hemingway Home
Hemingway Home

The weather had improved so we decided to skip dinner our and jump onto a last minute Sunset booze cruise! For $42 a person we got a cruise and unlimited beer and wine (more for cocktails).  It was awesome seeing the sunset this way!

Day 4

Thursday, July 1: Dry Tortugas National Park and Little Deer

I got up at 3 am and raced to the docks - getting to the ferry terminal at 3:20 am.  I was shocked to see someone had beaten me to the front of the standby line (he later told me he got there at 2:45 am).  As we waited (and chatted) other groups slowly showed up until by 6 am there were over seven.  While the day before, they had put out a clipboard at 6 am to sign up for standby, this morning they waited until 7 am to record the list (boy did I have to pee by then).  Leanne was left to pack up our car (since we would have to check out that morning) and meet me at the dock at 7:30.  WE GOT ON!!!  The ferry to the national park is $190 a person.  It includes the 2.5 hour ride each way to the island as well as breakfast, lunch, and snorkel rental.  We were OVERJOYED (and also a little sleep deprived).  We hopped on the ferry with water, towel, change of clothes, and a lot of sunscreen.  

Dry Tortugas National Park Sign
Dry Tortugas National Park Sign

We lucked out with a great day to ride out there.  Calm seas and beautiful weather - pretty grateful now it wasn't the day before.  Only 1% of this national park is above water - the small island holding Fort Jefferson.  Once we arrived, visitors were free to take a guided tour (either 20 min or hour), hike and explore the fort and island, and snorkel.  Lunch was available for pick up at the boat. We had a little over four hours on the island.  

Leanne and I chose to start with the 20 minute talk/tour which gave us historic background about the fort. After that, we walked the top rim and explored the grounds.  Afterwards, we got our included bag lunch (sandwich, cookies, chips, and drink) from the boat and enjoyed it at one of the many picnic tables.  We got suited for snorkel gear and walked to one of the swim beaches which was an entry point to explore the coral.  

snorkeling at dry tortugas national park
Awesome snorkeling right from the beach!

The snorkeling was so cool!  Pretty good visibility with beautiful coral and diversity of fish.  It was magical stepping out on a beach of white coral sand and into the warm sub-tropical water to explore.  **Advice: even slathered with reef-safe sunscreen, our bums and backs of our legs got sunburned from floating on our stomachs in the water for two hours.  I'd suggest reapplying or wearing covering swimwear.  I was wearing a rash-guard on top and it saved my arms and back from the same fate.  

At 3 pm we returned to the boat and took the 2.5 hour ride return.  One the way, we saw a sea turtle!  We returned to Key West at 5:15 pm, still needing to do the two hour drive to our next hotel in Key Largo.  

On the way to Key Largo, we took a detour at No Name Key.  This was special for two reasons: we had multiple sightings of Key deer - a native (and endangered) species of small deer that live on the island, and a fun pub dinner at No Name Pub - famous for the thousands of one dollar bills on the ceilings and walls.  The nachos were delicious!

We got to Key Largo and our next hotel exhausted but fulfilled from a truly amazing day.  We both agreed, we could leave happy!  

Day 5

Friday, July 2: The Everglades

We got some bad news Thursday night that the all-day kayak trip we had booked in the Everglades National Park was canceled.  Similar excursions at that time were already booked and it looked like we wouldn't be kayaking this trip.  No worries, we could see much of the park on foot and we still had an airboat ride booked for the morning.  

We got up early and drove up near Shark Valley to catch our airboat expedition with Everglades Airboat Expeditions. We booked the one hour semi-private tour for $60 a person.  We loved it! Not only was it super fun to whiz around on the boat at high speeds, but we also saw awesome wildlife and got some natural history about the everglades.  We saw diverse waterfowl and multiple alligators.  

airboat in everglades
Our airboat in the Everglades

After our tour, we drove down to the main entrance to Everglades National Park at the Ernest F Coe Visitor Center.  It's $30 a vehicle to enter the park.  The ranger gave us suggestions for trails to stop for the rest of our day there.  

florida alligator
Alligator in the water right next to the airboat

Our first trail was at Royal Palm stop.  We walked the Ahinga Trail - a short boardwalk loop.  We saw beautiful birds, fish, and multiple alligators!  Next we drove further into the park and hiked the Pa-hay-okee Trail - another short boardwalk loop where we witness expansive grasslands, diverse trees, and more birds.  Lastly, we drove all the way to the final spot on the road called Flamingo (about an hour drive from the original visitor center).  This part of the park is a salt water ecosystem.  The ranger at the visitor center pointed us to where we could see manatees and crocodiles in the marina.  And we saw both!  What a trip!

boardwalk trails in everglades
Boardwalk trails in the Everglades National Park

Florida manatees
Manatee sightings in Flamingo


Fulfilled, we drove back out of the park and returned to Key Largo for a delicious seafood dinner platter at Mrs Mac's Kitchen and sunset on the hotel beach at Marriot Key Largo resort.  

Florida Sunset
Florida Sunset


Day 6

Saturday, July 3: Reef Snorkel and Biscayne National Park

Our final full day in Florida was dedicated to snorkel and the third (and final) national park of Florida.  We had a 9 am snorkel set up at Sundiver Snorkel Tours in Key Largo.  We had a great experience with them, although were annoyed that on their confirmation noted we'd have to bring our own snorkel (or buy one of theirs).  This seemed a little fishy since our other snorkel tour provided them.  Either way, we LOVED this snorkel.  We went out to the "Christ of the Abyss" statue which is surrounded by a coral reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  This overlaps with the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Boat that took us snorkeling

After our snorkel, we grabbed lunch overlooking the marina at the Pilot House (yummy shrimp tacos) followed by homemade ice cream at Mrs C's Homemade Ice Cream.  She even made our waffle cone to order.  Yum!

We got in the car and said goodbye to the Keys.  When our kayak had been canceled in the Everglades, we decided to sign up for a paddle in Biscayne National Park instead.  This park is mostly underwater and best explored by boat or snorkel.  This national park is also free to enter and is only 30 miles from Miami.  We snagged an 1.5 hour partially guided kayak with the Biscayne National Park Institute for $39 each which included the kayaks, safety equipment and a naturalist to point us in the right direction and answer questions.  It was oppressively hot but this kept any mosquitoes away and left for calm water a great visibility.  We got to kayak in an aggregation of manatees and weave through a maze of mangroves.  It was perfection!

kayaking in biscayne national park
Kayaking the mangroves in Biscayne National Park

It was bittersweet ending our kayak at 5 pm because we knew our vacation was almost over.  Our kayak guide/naturalist gave us a recommendation to visit Black Point Ocean Grill in Homestead for dinner.  It was another great place to get outdoor seating with views of the marina.  I enjoyed my dolphin reuben (dolphin fish - not marine mammal) and margarita. 

Kayaking with manatees in Biscayne National Park
Kayaking with manatees in Biscayne National Park


From Homestead, we drove the half hour back to the Miami airport where we returned out rental car and spent the night in the Miami International Airport Hotel.  I had no idea that airports had hotels in them but this was super convenient since both our flights were before 7 am and the nearby hotels didn't offer shuttles that early.  We simply checked out and were already in our concourse E!

Misfortune Turned Good Fortune

I was pretty bummed when we were unable to go to Sedona due to forest fires.  Pivoting our trip in five days was challenging but not impossible.  In the end, we were able to snorkel, hike, paddle, visit three national parks, ride on three boats, see hundreds of new species, drink and eat delicious new foods, and most importantly, enjoy each others company.  It was an amazing trip!  For questions, reach out on my instagram at freelanceadventuer.

You might also enjoy reading about these other Girls Trips:












Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks Book - Now Available

 I'm blown away by the amount of preorders for my book Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks Volume 1.  Thank you to my followers on Facebook and Instagram who really stepped up to support this project.  You put me on the Amazon Best Seller list multiple weeks in a row!  If you are just learning about it, here's what you need to know...



The Book    

I have created a short ebook trail guide featuring ten of my favorite Seacoast Hikes.  The chapters are set up similar to my blog posts with information including:

- Directions and parking information
- Detailed Trail Descriptions
- Photos of trailhead and views
- Dog Friendliness information
- Difficulty and Family accessibility
- Wheelchair and Stroller accessibility
- Bathroom and Playground Information
- Seacoast Hiker Safety

The trails are all family friendly and range between 0.7 - 4 miles long.  It's in an ebook format to make it affordable (only $4.99) and also easily portable.  You are meant to view it on a free app on your phone.

How to I get it?

Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks is available anywhere e-books are sold.  These sellers all have free apps to view their ebooks on your phone.  You do not need a kindle or ebook reader.

AVAILABLE ANYWHERE EBOOKS ARE SOLD:

Seacoast Hikes and Nature Walks - Volume 1

AMAZON: Purchase Here

Barnes and Noble: Purchase Here

Apple Books: Purchase Here

Smashwords (any format including pdf): Purchase Here


Can I get a print copy?

Print copies are not available.  However, Smashwords sells the book in ANY digital format including pdf.  So you could easily purchase through Smashwords then print it out.

Completion Patch

If you complete all ten, you can earn a completion patch and bumper sticker!     To participate in the Hike for the Patch Program, track your hiking accomplishments and email SeacoastHikes@gmail.com to receive information on how to get your patch and sticker!  You will be sent a digital form and instructions.  There is a $10 processing fee that covers your patch, a sticker, and postage.  Please give four weeks for processing. 



I want more hikes!

Love these hikes and want to explore some more?  Explore my Seacoast Hikes map or visit my social media to get videos and photos of 65+ hikes on the Seacoasts!



Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Little Niagara Falls in New Hampshire

I first heard about this little hike on the Hike it Baby group I belong to.  The mom couldn't tell me much about the hike, but the idea of a waterfall in the area with "Niagara" in the name sounded too good to pass up.  So I did some research...and it was hard. Few people could tell me anything about it.  I found a few sites with minimal information, but even all trails didn't have it listed.  Therefore, I feel it's my duty put aside my other work for tonight, giant pile of laundry, and messy house...and write this one down.  If not for the public, then for me so I can remember how to do it again!

Little Niagara Falls is a secret treasure in New Hampshire


Here's how to recreate this adventure...

Adventure: Little Niagara Falls

Getting there:  The falls are located along a road-like trail that stretches from Barn Door Gap Road to Little Niagara Road (off First Crown Point Road) in Strafford, New Hampshire.  The falls can be accessed from either side of this 1 mile end-to-end trail.  With limited time, I decided to go from the Barn Door Gap Road side. Drive to Leightons Corner Road in Strafford, New Hampshire.  Drive 800 feet and then turn right onto Wingate Road.  Travel 1.5 miles down Wingate until you reach Barn Door Gap Road.  Turn right onto Barn Door Gap Road - it is a dirt road and can be quite muddy during the spring mud season.  Along Barn Door Gap Road you will pass a few homes and green gated tote roads.  At exactly 1.3 miles down the road, your trailhead will be on your left.  It is a forked entrance to an old logging type road.  On one side of the fork is a green gate, and the other large bounders blocking vehicles.  If you reach the house at 375 Barn Door Gap Road, you've gone a little too far.  Park on the side of the road.  

trailhead to Little Niagara Falls Trail
Trailhead to Little Niagara Falls Trail

Trail:  The trail is wide.  My guess is that it is an old logging road.  It was a little unnerving that it was not marked in anyway, but with the wide cut road, it was easy to follow and I never worried about getting lost.  

It begins by declining down into the forest.  The scenery is a mixed hard and softwood forest.  There was some natural sticks and forest debris in parts of the trail but overall is was easy to maneuver.  Near the beginning, a powerline was visible over the trailhead.  Soon, that disappears and the trail rises back up with some easy elevation.  There are very few points of interest along the route, although I did see a seasonal stream along the way.  

I heard the falls before I saw them.  It's spring melt and the water was flowing hard!  At 0.4 miles from the trailhead, the trail opened up to a rock slab with the falls to the left and the trail continuing straight.  Hikers are able to approach the waterfall on the slab and get fairly close (careful of your footing)!  It's power was impressive!
 
 To view the cascade from the opposite side, walk upstream and cross the narrow gapped bridge.  Here you can see the top of the falls as well as the pond of standing water behind it, waiting to fall.  

The trail does continue from here an additional 0.6 miles straight out to Little Niagara Road.  I'm told this section is flatter and easier walk (though longer). Next time I'll have to approach from that side!

Little Niagara Falls Trail
Little Niagara Falls Trail is wide and easy to follow


Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Distance: 0.8 out-and-back to falls from Barn Door Gap Road.

Recommendations: 

- This path can get muddy and wet in wet season.  Wear waterproof boots.
- Wear bug spray and take precautions for ticks
- There are no bathrooms at the trailhead.  
- Pack in and out your waste.  
- I'm not sure if the trail is managed by anyone but it was surprisingly devoid of litter.  Carry in/carry out waste and trash.
- I had cell service there but it was spotty.  Don't count on it.

This was a great after-work short hike and I was thrilled to find another waterfall near Seacoast New Hampshire!  Do you love waterfalls?  Check out these other similar hikes:




See video of this hike at Seacoast Hikes on Instagram and Facebook.  Please follow!

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Mt Avalon in Winter

With my Christmas vacation week, I was looking for a couple great White Mountain hikes to explore.  One of the ones I tried was going back to South and Middle Moat Mountain.  I've done it over and over, but it's only about an hour from my house and has amazing 360 degree views.  The other one was to revisit another awesome peak - Mt Avalon!

Mount Avalon in Winter

Choosing the Peak


I chose Mt Avalon for a few reasons.  My original plan was to do a 6-8 mile day.  I love that by taking the Avalon trail, you can easily hit up three peaks in about 7 miles: Mt Avalon, Mt Field, and Mt Tom.  This provides a lot of bang for your buck and hikers get gorgeous Crawford Notch views.  The last two times I've hiked this trail, I've been hit with snowstorms and haven't gotten to see it, so I was hoping this year would be different.

Sometimes you have to abandon the plan


I was wrong ... hiking up to Mt Avalon was slower than expected.  We hit two sizeable stream crossings as well as a trail that was literally a river of ice.  Halfway through our hike, high winds and wet snow made it a blustery white out on the summit.  The slow trek made us abandon our original plan to do three peaks and settled for a 3.4 mile out and back.  Even though it wasn't the hike we planned, it was pretty magical walking in the whites through a snow storm.

icy trail in the white mountains
Dexter did a better job navigating the icy trail than I did!

Here's how to recreate this adventure...

Adventure: Mount Avalon

Getting there:
Mount Avalon is accessible from the Avalon Trail located in Crawford Notch State Park.  The trailhead is easy to find.  Park at the Crawford Depot train station which is adjacent to the AMC Highland Center.  Cross the train tracks and follow the path to the trailhead which is well signed just down the path.
Snowy summit
Snowy Summit of Mount Avalon in the White Mountains

Trail:  
The hike to Mount Avalon is completely on the Avalon Trail.  About 0.1 miles from the train tracks, you will come to another large trail sign and the offshoot on the left to Mt Willard.  Continue straight on Avalon Trail.  The trail goes through beautiful hardwood forest and fairly soon has a water crossing.  On our hiking day, the water was high and wide, and we had to walk upstream to safely cross.  The stream was beautiful and had rolling cascades. 

After the stream crossing, the trail continues to climb and soon you will have to cross the stream again.  Due to high water, were forced to go up stream about 50 feet and cross and a narrower patch.  It was a beautiful brook - with more cascades. 

The trail reaches the junction for the A-Z trail.  Turn left to stay on the Avalon Trail.  It will start to climb and the forest transitions into more evergreen and boreal type forest. The trail got steeper (and icier) as we approached the summit. Eventually the trail levels out a bit as you approach the junction for the Mt Avalon summit.  Take the spur to the left and you'll reach Mt Avalon's summit.  There's not much room on the top - a small rock slab and a few trails to overlooks. 

Unfortunately, for the second time in a row, I got a snow storm at the summit and didn't get a view.  We turned around and returned the same way we came up.  For more hiking, you can pair this with other peaks in the Wiley Range.

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard

Distance: 3.4 miles out and back
cascades along avalon trail
Beautiful cascades along the Avalon trail

Recommendations:

- The Highland Center can be used for bathroom access and overnight accommodations. 

- For winter hiking, dress in multiple non-cotton warm layers, bring gloves, scarves, and hats.  Pack first aid, water, food, and extra clothing.

- In winter, you will need traction to do this hike.  Although there was little snow on the trail, I needed my microspikes for almost the entire hike.  Trekking poles were also really helpful for the descent over icy trail.

- This is a dog friendly trail.

- Parking at the Crawford Depot and Highland Center is charged in the high season hiking months but didn't seem to be charging when we went in December.

Skunked for a view again

Even though I didn't get to enjoy the Mt Avalon view again, I still enjoyed this hike and walking through the snow.  It just means, I'll get to revisit it again!

See more photos and adventure on my INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Mt Avalon in winter
Mount Avalon in Winter, White Mountains, NH

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