This past year our family really got into hiking. We began in May 1999 with a hike to our local Deer Leap where we failed to see any deer, leaping or not. But there were plenty of rock outcroppings for climbing. We then did Blue Job, a small mountain with a neat fire tower.

In June, we spent a weekend at Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, NH, where of course we had to climb Eagle Mountain. The huge waterfall at Jackson felt great afterwards.

Susan accompanied Cynthia's class on their camping to trip to Gunstock, NH which included a hike up Mount Major. The view overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee was spectacular.

Steve and Susan took some time off in July, 1999 to climb Mt Eisenhower (4761 feet, just down the ridge from Mt Washington) with hangovers no less.

In August we returned to Jackson for week. All four of us trouped up North Doublehead Mountain and hiked the Basin. One long day we visited Artesia Falls plus Frankenstein Cliffs (overlooking Crawford Notch). Most of us (Susan excepted) found nothing scary about the cliffs except maybe aching legs the next day.

Our most difficult climb as a family was Glen Bolder Trail which goes part way up Mt Washington. A sudden summer storm (with hail) and a bit of ledge scrambling to get below the tree line meant a trip to the local Emergency Room when Steve dislocated a finger. We all decided that was not our favorite hike. But all was well that ended well. Besides, it made a wonderful excuse for being late for dinner at the Christmas Farm Inn. Lest you think we have turned into slave drivers on the trail, we also covered Story Land, Heritage USA, and lots of time in the pool.

The last hike of the millennium was in the fall up Mt Sunapee, NH just before deer hunting season. Views from ski slopes are always great without the trees and you can sometimes take a chairlift down (as we did then).

Winter 2000 was spend skiing, mostly at Waterville Valley, NH. Stephanie went from not being able to stand on skis to an intermediate and Cynthia moved up to an advanced skier. Both Cynthia and Susan tried the some double black diamond runs for the first time. But Steve, who ended up in this part of the country mostly because he came here as a ski bum in 1976, is still best.

In July 2000, all four of us climbed Mount Monadnock, NH (3164 feet, also called Grand Monadnock). This is the highest local peak south of the White Mountains and the above tree line view is great. Stephanie, our five-year-old, was maybe the youngest on the mountain and still led the way up!

In 2001 we found less time for hiking, but climbed some more impressive peaks. The whole family hiked the three tallest peaks in New Hampshire's Franconia Notch: Little Haystack, Mt Lincoln and Mt Lafayette, ranging from 4840 to 5260 feet. Stephanie, then six years old, was probably the youngest one on the mountain that day, at least at the top! Steve also solo hiked Mt Tecumseh, another 4000 footer and the site of the Waterville Valley ski area we most often visit in the winter.

Here are some sites about hiking in New Hampshire: Appalachian Mountain Club and Hike-NH.com.