Camping

September 2015

2015 Camping

Early Autumn is our favorite time to go camping. The White Mountain area is a current favorite area to go camping. So September found us there again, at Dolly Copp campground. We put up the tarp and set up the tent.

Paul standing beside the picnic table under the large tarp at the Dolly Copp campsite, with the tent set up behind him

Our big hike this year was a combo, up Mount Adams and then over to Mount Madison. This is a very nice (although strenuous) hike. Here we each are on the ascent by the famous (and informative) "Turn back now if the weather is bad" sign.

Paul standing beside the White Mountain National Forest weather warning sign on the Mount Adams trail with a large backpack and trekking poles

Anne standing beside the White Mountain National Forest weather warning sign on the Mount Adams trail with trekking poles and a red backpack

The Airline trail up Mt Adams is a lovely trail with spectacular views. Here is a collage of 3 pictures that we took on the way up:

Three-photo stitched view from the Airline Trail looking out across rocky ledges, scrubby evergreens, and blue mountain ridges in the distance

A view back down the trail:

View back down the rocky Mount Adams trail toward a narrow ridge dropping into the valley below

Closer to the peak, the terrain changes a bit.

Paul standing on the rough upper section of the Mount Adams trail with steep rocky slopes rising behind him

and the last section is a bit of a bother. We need to put our poles away next time, I think. Or skip the peak. :)

Paul picking his way through the large summit boulders on Mount Adams

We had lunch at the top of Mount Adams, and had a nice view of Mt Washington.

Paul sitting on the rocky summit of Mount Adams at lunch with Mount Washington behind him

Here is a view towards Wildcat (3 pics stitched together)

Stitched summit view from Mount Adams toward Wildcat, with dark blue mountain ridges beyond foreground boulders

And yes, it really did look like that, blue mountains in the distance! Our trail next took us down to Madison Spring Hut, one of AMC's huts, and then up the peak on the other side to the top of Mount Madison.

Madison Spring Hut seen below from the ridge, with the trail climbing up toward Mount Adams behind it

Paul did a video from the top of Mount Madison

If you see a sign for the Watson Path on the top of Madison, turn the other way. This trail just wasn't that fun. Other trails are much nicer. I don't seem to have any pictures of our other hike for this trip, 19-Mile Brook Trail. That is a great, woodsy trail.

We drove to Crawford Notch. This is at the visitor's center there. In the distance is Mount Willard, a nice little hike (rated moderate) that we did in 2013.

Paul standing beside the road in Crawford Notch with Mount Willard rising behind him

And a pretty view of the Mount Washington Hotel.

Mount Washington Hotel with the Presidential Range behind it under drifting clouds

Updated April 2026