Clothing (Minimum of two complete changes):

• T-shirts (Short and/or Long sleeve)
• Pants (Jeans/Khaki/Cords)
• Shorts
• Sweatshirt / Sweatpants
• Socks
• Underwear
• Bathing suit / Beach Towel / Water shoes / Goggles (if planning to swim)
• Hiking boots
• Sneakers / Sandals / Comfortable shoes

For bedtime (before & after):

• Sleeping bag or blankets and sheets
• Pillow
• Travel Clock / Alarm / Watch
• Pajamas / Slippers
• Toilet kit (toothpaste & brush, floss, soap, etc…)
• Comb/Hairbrush
• Wash cloth
• Towel
• Flashlight / Batteries (test them at home)
• Teddy bear or equivalent sleeping buddy (if desired)

For your quiet time / amusement:

• Bible / Book / Magazines / Coloring books / Life or Trip Diary
• Playing cards / Cribbage board /Travel Games /Crosswords / Sudoku
• Pens / Pencils / Crayons / Markers
• Musical instrument / Music Books

Medicinal:

• Prescription medicine / Vitamins / Pain relievers (Advil, Tylenol, aspirin)
• Band aids, antibiotic ointment

Spare plastic bags (for dirty clothing, trash, wet items, etc…)

• Water – At least a couple of  quarts. Preferably three-four. “Camelback” type water bladders work well.
• Map – A guidebook and/or topo map. At a minimum, a Xerox of the applicable portions. (I’ll bring some and hand them out at the hike start.)
• First Aid Kit – At least some band aids for blisters. Antibiotic ointments, an ace bandage, etc. are good ideas.
• Knife – The ultimate survival tool and cheese slicer.
• Light – A small flashlight is adequate. A headlamp is great.
• Food – Your lunch and then some. You can pack sandwiches or, lighter in weight and more durable, you can pack “trail foods” for lunch and spares – gorp, energy bars, dried fruit, etc. You should have at least another meal beyond your lunch.
• Clothes – A fleece jacket (better than cotton, repels water, lightweight and it’s often cold up high) and a rain poncho (the disposable $2 ones are fine, they double as a survival shelter) at a minimum.
• Compass – Even a basic one is better than nothing. Know how to use it to orient a map and find the direction towards a target. If you don’t, ask me to show you!
• Flame – Matches in a waterproof container or a lighter.
• Whistle – An essential “getting found” tool. (This sort of thing covers the last three items and is well worth a few bucks at REI or Wal-Mart.)

Other optional but desirable items might include:

• Toilet paper. Or not. There are NO facilities on the trail. A useful book excerpt entitled “Crapping in the Woods” explains the basics.
• Sun block.
• A walking stick – I have an aluminum one I like. Finding one along the way is possible too.
• Cap or hat.
• Sunglasses.
• “Breathable” clothing. You’ll sweat climbing up and then be cold on the summit. Cotton clothing is the worst – it absorbs the sweat and stays wet. I love zip-off shorts. I can zip the legs off for hiking and reattach them on the chilly summit.
• Bandanna – Useful as sweat band, bandage, survival tool, etc.
• Bug repellent.
• Camera.
• Cell Phone – While it might help in an emergency, the unreliable service in the mountains means only a fool would rely on it as a primary tool of survival.

Some more tips are available here.

Pine Mountain, Gorham, NH 03581

The total mileage from the Union Congregational Church, North Reading to the Horton Center  is 163.3 miles, about 3 hrs driving with no stops.

Please watch out for moose!

Section 0:  Rt. 93 to the NH border, 17.3 miles

Section 1:   Rt. 93 North, 112 miles, $1.00 Toll

From the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border take Route 93 North a total of 112 miles.  Beware of, and watch out for, the highway splits that are North and South of the city of Manchester.  Stay on Route 93 North.  Go through Franconia Notch; pay your respects to the memory of the ‘Old Man of the Mountains’, then take exit 35 onto Rt. 3 (near mile marker 112).

Section 2:   Rt. 3 North, 12.2 miles

After taking exit 35 you will be on Route 3 North. Drive through the small town of Twin Mountain.  Go straight across the one traffic light you encounter.  After 12.2 miles on Route 3 North, take a right onto Route 115 North.

Section 3:   Rt. 115 North, 9.7 miles

Continue on Route 115 North a total of 9.7 miles to the end.  Take a right onto Route 2 East.

Section 4:   Rt. 2 East, 8.2 miles

Take Route 2 East through the towns of Jefferson and Randolph.  At approximately 8.2 miles there will be a small road called “The Pinkham B Road” on your right.  Take a right onto the Pinkham B Road.

Section 5:   Pinkham B Road, 2.6 miles

The Pinkham B Road becomes a dirt road further up.  At 2.6 miles look for the small sign and entrance to the Horton Center on the left.  Take a left into the Horton Center Driveway.

Section 6:  Horton Center:  1.3 miles

It is a windy 1.3 mile drive to the top of Pine Mountain and the Horton Center.  Enjoy!

If you didn’t make the luncheon, you can download the registration form here!

• Interstate 93 North to Exit 35 (Follow 125 mi from Rt. 62)
• Right onto Route 3 Twin Mountain (Follow 12.5 mi)
• Right onto Route 115 in Carroll (Follow Follow 9.7 mi)
• Right onto US Route 2 Presidential Highway going East (Follow 8 mi)
• Right onto Pinkham B Road just after Appalachia (Road name changes quickly to Dolly Copp Rd, Follow 2.5 mi)
• Pine Mountain Road on left to Horton Center

Expect 3 Hours of driving each way. DRIVE SLOWLY!

For those seeking a more “relaxing” experience, there are some short hikes available as well…