One hallmark of the Kingswood Trips Program is that all trips must be director tested and approved. Intimate knowledge of the trails, viewpoints, and campsites allows us to:

• Only offer trips with real “wow” elements – beautiful trails, stunning views, and awesome campsites
• Counsel campers on which trips would be the best match for their abilities and interests
• Prepare trip leaders for tricky trail junctions, river crossings, and routes of retreat in case of inclement weather.

So it should come as no surprise that when Mike came up to visit Rob at camp this fall, hiking and exploring were near the top of the to-do list!

Initially we were going to search for potential new campsites on Mount Piermont (the current campsite is gorgeous – a number of tent pads and trails surrounded by high ferns – but can be wet and buggy), but with it being bowhunting season, we decided it wasn’t the greatest decision to do a lot of deep woods exploring.

So we opted for another local option – finding a view from Mount Mist. We had seen on Instagram that such a view existed, and since we stare at Mount Mist every single day, we were determined to find it. Fortunately, with a little GPS help and some good guess work, we found it pretty easily (about three minutes off the trail). It provides a great view down on Wachipauka Pond and towards Mt. Moosilauke.

Since we were already out on the trails, we decided to keep going. We discovered some potential campsites along the shore of Wachipauka Pond – perhaps in 2022 we could do a hiking / fishing trip…

Then we summited Webster Cliff, which has stunning views down to Wachipauka Pond and a very private campsite. And with a little effort, it also provides views back towards Lake Tarleton and Kingswood!

The next day we traveled down to Newfound Lake to check out the campsites on Belle Island and Cliff Island. Both islands are magical – Cliff Island has two campsites that are protected by a canopy of hemlocks and is highlighted by a towering, 50 foot cliff overlooking the water. Belle Island, which is just 50 yards away, has a mixture of tree species and is covered with blueberry bushes with little trails connecting the open rocks along the shoreline. Both are reserved exclusively for camp groups, so we quickly reserved some dates for 2022, and we can’t wait to send fishing trips there next summer! Unfortunately, since we forgot to bring a waterproof bag, we opted to leave our phones (and therefore our cameras) in the car. So you will have to wait till next summer for pictures!

Our third and final outing took us to the Kinsman Range (the range between Mt.Moosilauke and the Franconia Range), which Mike had never hiked before. The ascent up the Fishing Jimmy Trail was wet, rugged, and a really good workout. And the fall colors did not disappoint!

The views from the summit were excellent, especially from North Kinsman.

We took a different trail down – one that neither of us had hiked – to visit Bald Knob, a great lookout on the northwest side of Kinsman. The trail was totally different – mostly dry and much more gradual…a great beginner hike!

As always, it was great to spend several days in the White Mountains. We explored, we talked, we pushed our bodies…and we had an absolute blast!