In July of 2018, I got it in my head to hike, and specifically the 48 4000-footers of New Hampshire. (Read that blog post here if you like.) On July 11, 2018, I hiked my first 4000-footer, Mt. Tecumseh, the shortest mountain on the list. Just over five years later, on August 26, 2023, I summited Mt. Washington, completing the list.

What is the list? From the official site:

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Four Thousand Footer Club was formed in 1957 to introduce hikers to some of the lesser-known sections of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. At that time, peaks such as Hancock, Owl’s Head, and West Bond were trail-less and rarely climbed. The problems of overuse were unknown, except along the heavily visited Presidential Range and Franconia Ridge.

The creation of “the list” provided a reason for hikers to explore new areas, and in turn lessen the concentrated use of the aforementioned areas.

Today, the Club is composed of active hikers whose travels in the mountains keep us informed with the changing conditions of the White Mountain backcountry. Each year, individuals, friends, and families, take up the pastime of hiking. Somewhere along the way they get hooked on the pursuit of hiking the four thousand footers. For some it is done as a physical challenge. For others it’s an opportunity to pursue a shared goal. For families, it’s a way to build bonds that will last a lifetime. It is the hope of the Club that these experiences will keep our members working for the preservation and wise use of wild country.

4000-footers completed by year:

• 2018: 9 – Tecumseh, Waumbek, Jackson, Hale, Field, Tom, Osceola, Liberty, Flume
• 2019: 7 – Pierce, Moosilauke, Cabot, Garfield, Eisenhower, Cannon, Wiley
• 2020: 3 – S Hancock, Hancock, Zealand
• 2021: 6 – Carrigain, Passaconaway, Whiteface, Galehead, Lincoln, Lafayette
• 2022: 7 – Monroe, North Twin, South Twin, N Kinsman, S Kinsman, M Tripyramid, N Tripyramid
• 2023: 16! – Bondcliff, Mt Bond, West Bond, Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Middle Carter, Carter Dome, South Carter, Moriah, Wildcat A, Wildcat D, Isolation, Owls Head, E Osceola

A lot has happened in the last five years…

I started out a solo hiker. As I got more into hiking (aka obsessed) I joined a women’s hiking Facebook group. From there, I met other hikers. Eventually hiking many of my hikes with some wonderful ladies that I met through the group and I now consider close friends.

I was 44 years old when I began. I started hiking in order to get in shape. Then I wanted to get in better shape so I could hike. I joined a gym, which has brought me friends and the mental attitude of an athlete. I lost 20 pounds. I’ve gained a ton of physical strength and am in the best shape of my life. Especially in the last few months (big push to complete the 48), I’ve gained so much confidence in my hiking abilities.

I’ve gone through menopause in the last five years. Maybe you don’t see how that matters, but trust me hot flashes, chills, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, weight gain and slowed metabolism can definitely affect your hikes. Add to that increased migraines in my case.

Of course, we all went through a pandemic during the last five years. The AMC wasn’t “counting” hikes completed during the lock down period of the pandemic. Then there was the boom in hiking by people looking to get outside. You’ll note above I only completed three 4000-footers in 2020.

I grew up in California, not full hippy, but definitely some granola tendencies. My mom instilled in me a love of nature and it’s preservation. As I became obsessed with hiking, I read about rescues and tragedies in the Whites, which lead me to becoming a trailhead steward volunteer with the White Mountain National Forest.

2023 was a rough year to finish given the weather. We’ve had a summer full of rain. My hikes were in the rain, and if it wasn’t raining, the trails were covered with water or mud. If things had gone to plan, it would have been five backpacking trips and one day hike. We made plans, booked hotel rooms, reserved hut stays. With the weather, things did not go to plan. Reservations for the finale meant I had to “make up” missed or bailed on hikes. With time running out, I had no choice but to hike in the rain. While some hikes are fine in the rain, most aren’t much fun. Having a deadline took a lot of the fun out of hiking.

Many people advise not saving the hard ones for last, however, I think I did well with the order I hiked them. I learned something new on each hike. I could never have completed the northern Presis at the start.

One final bit of context, I’m afraid of heights. A terrible trait for someone who hikes.

All of this to say, just like anyone else striving to hike the 48, I faced many challenges.

The stats and tidbits below include every hike I’ve taken in pursuit of the 48. Meaning, a few of the summits I did more than once and the stats also include the “attempts”.

• Number of hikes: 43
• Number of solo peaks: 21
• Miles hiked: 312
• Elevation gain: 110,716 feet
• Equivalent Number of Empire State Buildings climbed: 76
• Number of Hours: 339
• Backpacking trips: 7
• Hut stays: 5
• Winter conditions (aka snow/ice): 8
• Number of “attempts” (aka conditions/abilities meant we had to bail before the summit): 3
• Amount of money spent on gear: I refuse to calculate it, but it’s a lot
• Miles driven back and forth: another one I don’t want to think about, but it’s a lot
• My favorite hike: Lincoln/Lafayette loop, it was a PERFECT day
• The worst hike: Probably descending into Carter Notch as that was the closest I’ve come to hitting the SOS button on my Garmin

I learned a lot. I grew in so many ways. I gained friends. I gained strength and skills and confidence. I went to parts of the state I never would have seen. I saw amazing views. I saw countless mushrooms, flowers, and wildlife. I learned that I can do hard things.