Peak: Zealand Mountain, NH, 4,260 ft.

Date: July 6, 2006

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: Though mom and Jake declined the scramble to the obscured summit, they completed this 4000-footer as well. Not so bad a climb from the Guyout side, but the descent, though scenic, was pretty tough on mom's knees.

Peak: Mount Guyot, NH, 4,560 ft.

Date: July 6, 2006

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: Passed this one on a march toward Zealand and forgot to stop for a photo! None the less, we scaled it!

Peak: South Twin Mountain, NH, 4,902 ft.

Date: July 6, 2006

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: A pretty challenging climb up from the Galehead hut, we were pretty happy to be at the top of this one. A rare day on the summits - we could see about forever in all directions!

Peak: Galehead Mountain, NH, 4,024 ft.

Date: July 5, 2006

Who: Joshua and John.

Comments: Mom and Jake rested at Galehead Hut where we'd spend the night while we climbed this 4000-footer. Fantastic overlook just below the summit!

Peak: Mount Lafayette, NH, 5,260 ft.

Date: September 4, 2005

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, and Jacob.

Comments: Crossed the ridge from Lincoln with only sporadic glimpses into the valleys below passing lots of hikers, many speaking French, traveling in both directions. Windy and foggy, the summit was a short stay before we descended to Greenleaf Hut for the evening - only to see the summits completely clear by evening!

Peak: Mount Lincoln, NH, 5,089 ft.

Date: September 4, 2005

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, and Jacob.

Comments: We got confused on the peaks and thought we'd reached this one before we did. But we found our way through the fog and bagged the first official 4000-footer of our hike along with a woman carrying a palm trip and a crowd of others staring off into the clouds.

Peak: Little Haystack Mountain, NH, 4,840 ft.

Date: September 4, 2005

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, and Jacob.

Comments: Hiked from Lafayette Place campground via the Falling Water trail. Enjoyed great waterfall along the way but, although the fog was lifting, all we saw were clouds on the summit. There was a crowd on the trails for a holiday weekend - including dogs with backpacks and a heard of resting hikers on this summit.

Peak: Mount Sunapee, NH, 2,743 ft.

Date: August 19, 2004

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, and Jacob.

Comments: Beginning at the lodge, we trudged directly up the ski slopes this time. We learned that, unlike "hiking" trails that have dips and flat spots, ski slopes are pretty much a continuous climb! We celebrated Shawn's birthday with this nice hike in muggy, hazy conditions. Stopped to check on the Mt. Sunapee Geocache before returning on the intermediate slopes.

Peak: Kinsman Mountain, South Peak, NH, 4,358 ft.

Date: July 31, 2004

Who: Joshua, Jacob and John.

Comments: From the North Peak, it was only a short hike south to the second summit of the day and the third 4000-footer of our trip. Though slightly higher than the North, our view here was fully obscured and we spent only a moment in the chilly, wet cloud before beginning the return trip. Joshua and Jacob were goat-like on the final ascents - we passed several groups of older hikers!

Peak: Kinsman Mountain, North Peak, NH, 4,293 ft.

Date: July 31, 2004

Who: Joshua, Jacob and John.

Comments: We left Shawn feeling under the weather at Lonesome Lake Hut and climbed under darkening skies on the Fishin' Jimmy trail. From the Kinsman Shelter, we caught just glimpses of the North Peak and had only limited views as we crossed it southward. On the return trip and second ascent, however, we had some great glimpses down toward Lonesome Lake and into the valley.

Peak: Cannon Mountain, NH, 4,200 ft.

Date: July 30, 2004

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: We dropped our overnight gear at the Lonesome Lake Hut, we approached the summit on the Hi-Cannon trail - one of the more difficult trails we've ever tried. The views into Franconia Notch were outstanding and a little dizzying at times! The 360 vistas from the lookout tower were amazing! We came back down on the Kinsman Ridge Trail, still steep but a bit easier for the shorter legs in out group!

Peak: Mount Munroe, NH, 5,384 ft.

Date: August 15, 2003

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: We were in the thick of it on this, our third 4000-footer of the day! Visibility was 50 feet or so, the rain was starting, and the winds were wiping! We hunkered down in the rocks for only a moment before searching for the trail to Lakes of the Clouds and refuge from the storm. The heavens opened when we were five minutes form the hut and the thunder, lightening, pea-sized hail, and 70 mph gusts were only a few hours behind - fortunately, we enjoyed them over a cup of hot cocoa in the hut's dining room!

Date: August 15, 2003

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: The winds were howling and the views were limited on this open summit! We enjoyed the "Red Rock Scramble" coming up from the Crawford Path and had fun climbing the summit rock pile to the peak of our second 4000-footer of the day! We leaned into the wind and scrambled off and down the ridge!

Date: August 15, 2003

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: A relatively short but steep hike from our home the night before at Mizpah Spring Hut got us to the top of this 4000-footer. The views would prove to be our best of the day though Washington was already obscured by clouds.

Date: July 10, 2003

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: Visited this State Park for a brief hike in the woods. Took our time exploring winding trails and following back tracks. Enjoyed the coastal views from the summit and the swings in the park at the base!

Date: November 9, 2002

Who: Joshua, Jacob and John.

Comments: Not suspecting the 4 - 6" of snow we found on the trail, we suffered cold, wet feet that turned orange from our hiking boots!! Still, we out-hiked the group of women that had started up the trail before us (and who thanked us for leading them up a trail they thought they'd otherwise have surely lost!!) and were the first to leave tracks in the snow on the scenic summit!

Date: August 31, 2002

Who: Joshua, Jacob and John.

Comments: We hiked out of cool sunshine into wet fog and clouds at the summit on this hike that was shorter and easier than we expected. We'd like to go back again sometime so we can see what the view is like! At least we got ice cream on the way home and we saw two Dalmatians!

Date: August 10, 2002

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn and John.

Comments: We spent the nights before and after at the Zealand Falls hut which allowed us to take a leisurely hike up the "muddy-mushroom-spider web-broken bridge" Lend-A-Hand trail to bag Jacob's first and Joshua's second 4000-footer!

Peak: North Uncanoonuc, NH, 1,329 ft.

Date: April 27, 2002

Who: John, Joshua, Jacob, and Rosie.

Comments: We hiked the "white circle" trail from Mountain Road before we learned that this was once a ski area! The trail was steep but short and we enjoyed the warm spring day with a pleasant lunch and romp on the open summit.

Peak: South Pawtuckaway, NH, 908 ft.

Date: September 15, 2001

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, and Jacob.

Comments: We camped at Pawtuckaway State Park the nights before and after. A long flat approach to the final steep ascent made this peak feel taller than its nine hundred feet! We enjoyed great views from the firetower with a friendly ranger who pointed out all the landmarks for us!

Peak: Mount Monadnock, NH, 3,165 ft.

Date: September 3, 2001

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, and Jacob.

Comments: We climbed the somewhat less crowded but steeper "M" blazed Marlboro Trail on a gorgeous Labor Day. Joshua and Jacob were goats! We didn't see much wildlife but we saw lots of people on the summit! We flew our kite in the stiff breezes of the high ridge and brought home sunburns to remember our day. Poor Rosie - had to spend the day sleeping in the van!

Peak: Mount Sunapee, NH, 2,743 ft.

Date: July 18, 2001

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, Jacob and Cousin Sarah.

Comments: We chose the south side Andrew Brook trail (which we renamed the Muddy Toad trail due to the abundance of both) over the shorter ski slopes. The 6.4 roundtrip miles taxed the shortest legs in our group but the gorgeous sunny day, enjoyable scenic rest stops at Lake Solitude and White Ledges, and the planting of the Mt. Sunapee Geocache kept us going to the ski lodge and back!

Peak: Mount Osceola , NH, 4,315 ft.

Date: June 16, 2001

Who: Joshua and John with Nancy and Kjartan

Comments: Though ravenous black flies carried off much of our flesh, Joshua bagged his first 4000-footer on this hot humid day. The three mile trail was crowded with hot sweaty hikers but the summit's zephyrs and grand vistas together with the post-hike Russell Pond swim made this hike wonderful! Jacob, stricken with the flu, had to stay home with mom.

Peak: Mount Major , NH, 1,786 ft.

Date: May 20, 2001

Who: Joshua, Jacob, Shawn, John and Rosie

Comments: A gorgeous day! We hiked up the steep front face on the "Main Trail" (1.4 miles) and descended on the longer (2.2 miles) but more gradual "Brook Trail". The views on the summit were panoramic and breathtaking! We think there must have been a dog party someplace because we saw a lot of dogs.

Peak: Crotched Mountain, NH, 2,066 ft.

Date: October 21, 2000

Who: Joshua, Jacob and John

Comments: A gorgeous October day! The backside Bennington trail was a good challenge for us with a nice sunny lunch on the rocks just below the summit. We saw three snakes!

Peak: Blue Job Mountain, NH, 1,356 ft.

Date: October 7, 2000

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, Jacob and Rosie

Comments: An easy hike for us but the colors were beautiful and the 360 degree views from the summit tower were great!

Peak: Wachusett Mountain, MA, 2,006 ft.

Date: May 27, 2000

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, Jacob and Rosie

Comments: A steep, rocky trail left us scraped, battered, and bugged but the clear spring day made the summit views impressive when we met the challenge!

Peak: Mount Watatic, MA, 1,832 ft.

Date: April 1, 2000

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, and Jacob with Melissa, Noah, and Dylan

Comments: Fantastic spring day provided three-state views including the Boston skyline. Our most challenging hike yet - Joshua and Jacob were master climbers. We endured countless April Fools jokes.

Peak: Little Monadnock, NH, 1,883 ft.

Date: October 16, 1999

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, Jacob, and Rosie

Comments: The treed summit was disappointing but we enjoyed great views of Manadnock from just below.

Peak: Great Blue, MA, 635 ft.

Date: October 11, 1999

Who: John, Joshua, and Jacob with Melissa, Gary, Noah, and Dylan

Comments: Parking lot overflow. Crowded trails. Gorgeous day.

Peak: Mount Kearsarge, NH, 2,937 ft.

Date: August 5, 1999

Who: Shawn, John, Joshua, Jacob, and Rosie

Comments: We hiked just about a mile from south side parking. Vast open summit.