Presidential Range and Appalachian Trail Section Hiking

The Presidential Range is a series of peaks named after United States presidents on the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The hike was planned for late September and early October, when fall colors were at their peak. Accommodation was booked in Appalachian Mountain Club huts. From the trailhead, the ascent to the first hut near Mount Madison rose more than 1,000 meters. A wrong trail choice led to backtracking late in the afternoon. As light faded, the decision was whether to find natural shelter or push on toward the hut. Brian wanted to continue, motivated at least in part by the hot meal awaiting there. By torchlight, the hut lights were finally seen and dinner was reached in time. The rest of the hike gave magnificent mountain-top views above the tree line, looking down on the fall foliage below.

Presidential Range, White Mountains, New Hampshire, United States