Another fall, another mid-semester break, amirite? Over the past weekend, the OC ranged far and wide, doing things like climbing in Yosemite, skiing in Norway, and biking in Vermont. The break was certainly a success for all, but let’s focus on one of the trips not yet mentioned: Hike-cation in the Whites!

Leaving Wednesday afternoon, a group of three OC leaders and five participants departed from the sidelawn of 58 Park for the glory of the White Mountains. 

The Whites, a mountain range located in northern New Hampshire, are home to some of the Northeast’s largest mountains. The range boasts 48 mountains over 4000 feet and all are criss-crossed with trails, shelters, and a sort of backcountry-hotel system provided by the Appalachian Mountain Club (eagle-eyed booters will notice similarities to the Adirondacks). 

Armed with good weather, great gear and even better attitudes, the octet drove into the night.

After spending the night in a friend’s backyard, the hikers hit the trails for the first of their three days in the wild. The route was to cover part of the Zeta Pass Trail, one that meanders among the crags and crevices of the Carter Ridge. 

That day, eight miles were covered as the group got after it and summited the scenic peak of Mt. Moriah. 

According to trip leader Piper Curtin ’22, the trail was “really slabby and scrambly,” but ultimately led to a shelter on top of Moriah. 

Classic backcountry burritos were prepared as the sun set over the Whites, bathing the leaves of the alpine trees in a golden light. It had been a successful, gorgeous day and everyone was ready for bed.

The next day had less milage but boasted a total of four peaks. “We got up in the morning and we smiled a lot,” recounts Curtin. 

Again, the hikers walked in full view of the Presidentials, enjoying each others’ company and the sublimity of their environment.  The trees were in “full foliage—100%,” says trip leader Natalie Muskin ’21, lending another dash of color to the White’s already impressive palette. 

Again, a breezy but breathtaking hike through some of North America’s most fascinating terrain followed by a quiet night. Saturday was an enjoyable descent through the mountains to a house filled with cheer, good food, and warm cider. By all accounts, hike-cation was a resounding success.

Backpacking is a different experience than hiking, often bringing one more in tune with the natural environment and surrounding people. 

For Muskin, backpacking is a key to a more zen happiness: “you get to know people better, and it’s really cool to carry what you need for a few days on your back.” 

Unlike many ways of interacting with the outdoors, backpacking can be very low-stress, allowing for a truer, stop-and-smell-the-roses interaction with the gods of the woods. “Because you’re living out there, you have to do so respectfully,” Muskin advises. The paths of the Whites were well-maintained, not just because of governmental trail crews and the work of the AMC, but also because of the care and personal philosophies of the hikers who walk these paths. It’s easy to be a respectful backpacker, says Curtin, all you need to do is “smile a lot and just keep walking.”action with the gods of the woods. “Because you’re living out there, you have to do so respectfully,” Muskin advises. The paths of the Whites were well-maintained, not just because of governmental trail crews and the work of the AMC, but also because of the care and personal philosophies of the hikers who walk these paths. It’s easy to be a respectful backpacker, says Curtin, all you need to do is “smile a lot and just keep walking.”