Reaching For 100

The New England Hundred Highest List is a collection of mountains in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. The list is administered by the Appalachian Mountain Club’s 4000 Footers Club.

Hiking the NEHH was already on my mind during the final months of completion of the New England 67. I was already almost 70 peaks in. What would be the harm in hiking 30 more?

There are some subtle differences that make this list more challenging. The mountains are spread over a large area, from the White Mountains in Hew Hampshire to the Canadian border. In fact one called “Boundary Peak” is located on the swath of open space that is cleared in the rugged woods on that boundary line. Many of the remote peaks are located on rough logging roads, often impassable in winter and washed out in spring. Getting there is going to be half the battle.

Into The Bush

While I had been spoiled by hiking official trails on many of the 67, quite a few of the 100 will be bushwacks. There with be no marked trail to the summits. There are certainly herd paths in many cases, and previous hikers post navigation materials to the web for guidance. The days of easily following in another’s footsteps are over. Arriving at the summit is usually simply marked with a sign and a canister. You may leave you name and date for posterity in the notepad inside.

Alone Far From Home

Flying solo on these hikes in rugged wilderness gives a person pause. In several instances, I’ve run into other solo hikers with the same goal, but it’s going to be less busy than the mobbed trails of the Whites.

On the date of this post, I’ve 21 left to hike. The list is currently lower on my goals to accomplish, with section hikes of Vermont’s Long Trail and peaks in the Catskills taking some precedence. I do hope to finish it, before I also reach 100!