13 Before 13

13 Before 13

I created a hiking list called 13 Before 13.  This list is composed of 13 hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and only children under 13 qualify to earn anything on completion of the list, hence the title.  The hikes are split into sections of four with Easy, Medium, Hard, and one last hike of Little Haystack.  Each of the first 3 sections contains a hike with views, a hike with scrambles, and a hike with waterfalls.  The last of the 4 hikes is one that the children choose themselves.  On completing each of the 3 sections before Little Haystack, the kid receives a sticker. 

On finishing the whole list, the child earns a patch.

The goal of 13 Before 13 is to give young people a project that is not too intimidating.  I want them to feel like this list was made for them...because it was!  Ideally, this list would introduce children to hiking and motivate them to move on to more difficult lists after they finish 13 Before 13.  The stickers, besides being motivational, are there for if a child doesn't finish the whole list but he/she completes one or more of the sections.

I am a Girl Scout, and one of the requirements for this project of mine is that I hike and interact with children.  Therefore, if you and your child are interested in pursuing 13 Before 13 and would be open to hiking one of the hikes with me, please send me an email at aherr@hamilton.edu.  It would be great to hike with a young person and hear how he or she feels about the hike and the list in general.  Thank you!

Note:  All trail descriptions, directions to trails, and information about surrounding areas can be found in Steve Smith's White Mountain Guide.  This guide has full descriptions of not only these trails, but of all the trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  It is very useful for planning a hiking trip; there are many helpful and accurate details.  This book is a necessity if you want to hike in the Whites!  I use it all the time.  If you get a chance, visit Steve's bookstore, The Mountain Wanderer, in Lincoln, NH.  

Easy:
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Views: Bald Mountain in Franconia Notch 0.8 miles round-trip
252 feet of elevation gain
Artists’ Bluff Loop Trail


Scrambles: Goodrich Rock Trail in Waterville Valley 3.9 miles round-trip
741 feet of elevation gain
Greeley Ponds Trail


Waterfalls: Ripley Falls in Hart’s Location 1.1 miles round-trip
308 feet of elevation gain
Ripley Falls Trail


Choose your own: any hike you feel is easy -- can be near your home or anywhere you like


Medium:
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Views: North and/or Middle Sugarloaf near Twin Mountain 2.6 miles round-trip
800 feet of elevation gain
Sugarloaf Trail


Scrambles: Morgan and Percival in Center Sandwich 5.4 miles loop hike
1600 feet of elevation gain
Mt. Morgan, Morse, Mt. Percival, Crawford-Ridgepole Trails


Waterfalls: Arethusa Falls in Crawford Notch 3.0 miles round-trip
900 feet of elevation gain
Arethusa Falls Trail


Choose your own: any hike you feel is "medium" -- can be near your home or anywhere you like


Hard:
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Views: Mt. Chocorua in Albany 8.5 miles
2982 feet of elevation gain
Mount Chocorua Loop Trail (the way up is hikers’ choice)


Scrambles: Caps Ridge Trail (to the Upper Cap) near Twin Mountain 3.8 miles round-trip
1800 feet of elevation gain


Waterfalls: Zealand Falls (by Zealand Falls Hut) in Bethlehem 5.4 miles round-trip
575 feet of elevation gain
Zealand Trail and the Twinway


Choose your own: any hike you feel is difficult -- can be near your home or anywhere you like


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The 13th hike -- ADVANCED -- Little Haystack in Grafton County 6.4 miles round-trip
3050 feet of elevation gain
Falling Waters Trail

North and/or Middle Sugarloaf near Twin Mountain - Medium Section "Views"

North and/or Middle Sugarloaf near Twin Mountain
Sugarloaf Trail

3.4 miles round-trip for both peaks

Around 1,100 feet of elevation gain

You will follow a snowmobile trail and a logging road until the hike steepens, going up gradually. You will pass some large boulders on your way. Later, the trail branches off to the left and right. If you go to the left, you will walk along the ridge and then go along a route to Middle Sugarloaf. In the last ledgy section of the hike up to Middle Sugarloaf, it is very steep and there is a ladder to climb. Going to the right, on the other hand, leads you to North Sugarloaf.

The following pictures were taken by Lyndsey Vaillancourt and they are a compilation of two different hikes she went on with her daughter, Aubrey.

Have fun!

Mt. Chocorua - Hard Section "Views"

Chocorua

via

Champney Falls Trail

7.6 miles round-trip

2,250 feet of elevation gain 

This is one way to reach the summit -- for the list, the hiker may choose whichever trail they like.

After leaving the parking area, turn right at a junction and follow an old logging road until you get to Champney Brook. Then, go right on Champney Falls Trail and keep following the path. After 1.4 miles, swing left on the Champney Falls loop path to see the base of Champney Falls and Pitcher Falls. Continue following the loop trail until it rejoins Champney Falls Trail. Continue hiking until you reach the intersection with Piper Trail, at which point you should follow Piper Trail for 0.6 miles to arrive at the summit of Chocorua.

I obtained the information I include above from the White Mountain Guide, written by Steven Smith. I recommend purchasing this book and using it to navigate on hikes.

Check out some pictures from Jillian Harris who hiked Chocorua with her daughters on July 6th, 2017.