Each day I get somewhat bit stronger and my respiration will get somewhat bit simpler. However getting Covid in December actually kicked my ass. Even worse was the Covid cough that adopted, setting me again a month or two by way of winter conditioning.
However there’s just one strategy to get again in form and that’s to hike. So, I’m out getting again my momentum, bagging a 4 thousand footer each different day or two, and relishing the chilly, winter air. It pains me as a result of I used to be in all probability in the very best mountain climbing form of the previous 5 years once I contracted Covid, however I can see myself enhancing day by day, so I’m hopeful that I’ll catch as much as my outdated self in a month or two.
My purpose this month, no less than certainly one of them, is to complete my ninth full spherical of the 48 White Mountain 4000 Footers. North Twin was one of many final three mountains that I wanted to summit to complete that purpose, so I used to be motivated to climb it as quickly as an honest climate day offered itself.
North Twin is further difficult to climb in winter as a result of the forest service street resulting in the North Twin Path Tralhead is seasonal and gated closed. You may nonetheless hike the path, but it surely’s one other one-and-a-half miles of mountain climbing simply to get to it and three miles when you do an out and again. For instructions, see The Winter Path to the North Twin Path Trailhead.
There’s additionally no less than one probably high-consequence river crossing (the third): the opposite two are avoidable by following a well-established herd path alongside the east financial institution of the Little River described in The White Mountain Information. Though, there’s additionally a log that spans the narrowest a part of the river simply above the third crossing, which simplifies issues this winter. There’s no assure that it gained’t be washed downriver after the subsequent huge rainstorm or spring thaw, although.
North Twin is often climbed with South Twin and infrequently with Galehead Mountain to kind a giant loop ofmsorts, though the beginning and finish factors require a shuttle on the finish. I’ve already hiked South Twin and Galehead 9 occasions beforehand, so I solely wanted to climb North Twin on this hike. With an elevation of 4759′, it’s nonetheless a major climb.
I drove as much as Twin Mountain and parked on the Seven Dwarfs Motel to park which expenses hikers $10/automobile to park as a result of parking wherever alongside the street out to the motel is against the law and enforced. The Seven Dwarfs is celebrating its fiftieth yr of operation in 2023 and when you’ve ever visited the place, it exhibits. The place is in a time warp. However I take it, they nonetheless get a daily clientele. The motel grounds are located alongside a really good stretch of the Little River, which is a pleasant river to fly fish for brook trout.
I adopted the winter path to the common 3-season trailhead, earlier than heading up the North Twin Path correct. The path had some water working down the center together with patches of ice and snow, earlier than turning to all powder about 1/2 a mile in. I adopted it to the primary river crossing and continued previous it alongside an institutionalized herd path that continues up the east aspect of the river, passing the turn-off to the Fireplace Wardens Path (a decommissioned path nonetheless in use) which climbs to Mt Hale.
I handed the purpose of the second stream crossing and continued to the third, passing it by about 25 yards to a spot the place there may be speculated to be a log spanning the river that you may cross on. It wasn’t as giant as I’d been anticipating…only a log throughout a slim channel…but it surely was fairly safe and simply crossed. In any case, I’d introduced a pair of Wiggy’s Waders with me in case the log had disappeared or was too sketchy to make use of.
I crossed to the opposite financial institution and placed on my light-weight Atlas Helium Path snowshoes. It was borderline path crampons or snowshoes, though I do suppose snowshoes supplied higher traction than path crampons, particularly with the televators deployed. These are metallic helps that slot below your heels and lift them a number of inches as a way to cut back stress in your calves when climbing up steep hills.
I need to say, this climb was in all probability so much simpler for me with snowshoes than climbing North Twin with path crampons. I did use the path crampons coming down although the place a pointy chunk into the ice under the snow was essential to keep away from an uncontrolled slide on the powdery floor of the path.
The final time I’d climbed North Twin has been with my buddies Ken and Wanda, throughout my first winter of gridding final yr. That had been a troublesome climb for me, early in winter, particularly since Ken and Wanda are a lot sooner on the uphills than me (I’m sooner on the downhills). We additionally went all the way in which to South Twin which is shut to three miles extra distance. Now a yr later, I made a lot better time, climbing steadily, till I used to be on the summit viewpoint. It’s been some time since I’ve had to make use of snowshoes although and I might really feel the distinction with regards to the muscle mass being taxed with every step. In different phrases, far more hip flexor, and far much less gluteal.
The bushes received shorter and shorted as I gained elevation till the path led into the well-defined lane working alongside the summit ridge of North Twin. This part of path, bordered by dwarf bushes, typically fills in with deep snow in winter and snowshoes actually assist to preserve your power and protect the path for others as an alternative of creating the path a post-holed mess.
There’s a aspect spur path to a pleasant viewpoint on the North Twin summit and I adopted that once I reached the highest. There’s an incredible view of Franconia Ridge and the Pemigewasset Wilderness from the south.
I took a number of pictures, circled, and hiked again out the precise route I’d hiked in on, solely sooner on the downhill, making it again to my automobile at nightfall. This had been a fairly exhilarating solo climb and descent and I used to be feeling fairly good after getting one other huge hike below my belt. There’s nonetheless a whole lot of January left for some powerful above-treeline mountain climbing and I believe I’m making an excellent restoration at this price.
Beneficial Guidebooks and Maps:
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We independently analysis, take a look at, and price the very best merchandise. We solely become profitable if you buy a product by our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear evaluations, newbie FAQs, and free mountain climbing guides.