West Hill Dam with Koop

Mix it up with Trent

Trahan Family Backpacking Firsts

Central Mass Rail Trail

New Bike Day Round Monadnock

Ridgelines, Notches and Alpine for days! 

This route features four of the major traverses in the White Mountains on the Appalachian Trail. I chose to do it as a 3 night, 4 day Fastpack northbound on the bubble of AT thru hikers. There were moments I wished not to be there many times, everday.  Uplifting and inspirational surprise after surprise kept me going too many to write home about. My knees, my feet my body were shattered, yet every single day I got up and got back on that trail. 

Logistics: With Good Wife Astrid and kiddos visiting the family in Sweden. I had a window of opportunity I could not let pass. 

Had to rally the days prior literally on the heels of returning from the recent 8 day venture in Sawtooth National Forest on the Grand Loop with Uncle Robert. This year is the first time in all my experience in backpacking I have my gear check-listed to account for most all the variables a mountain pursuit one will face. First, the balance between a comfort weight and stupid light, weather forecast and micro climates, terrain, nutrition and hydration.  I stash an ample amount of freeze dried meals if boiling water, non-perishable foods to prepare my cold soak dinners, beef sticks, jerky, tuna and chicken packets, crackers, granola, oatmeal, dehydrated fruits, breakfast and meal replacement bars and shit ton variety of snacks in my bins. Trail mix is my go to when I’m in despair on trail and need a pick me up. At home I can eat a whole bag of trail mix if I’m not careful when sitting on the couch, watching Netflix. I ration 3-4oz per day depending on planned distance and calorie needs. The only two items I need to supplement from a store pickup is sharp cheddar cheese and tortilla wraps. 

Two days prior to leaving I focused on food preparation and assembling the majority of the checklist in gear. Wednesday evening with my gear and food triple checked and packed up tightly. I left for New Hampshire at Midnight arriving at the trailhead at 4 o’clock in the morning. I stashed my gear bin, securing my pack in triple bags and a dry bag with my entire worn clothing kit and trail shoes. I then drove 90 minutes to Gorham, NH dropping my car at the Rattle River TH where I would finish some four days later. Jumped on my bike a short time after arriving around 5:45 AM. The sun was just coming up and I made my way 77 miles 4000 vertical gain back to my cache in Glencliff, NH. The ride was 80% road 20% gravel and dirt. I had no idea what to expect but it was incredibly scenic and passing through cute towns, nestled into the surrounding rolling landscape. I stayed in my lower chain ring the entire time and concentrated on low heart rate zone 2 and high cadence to not put a lot of strain on my quads.  There were a lot of climbs most of them coming in the first 20 miles. I did not choose a gravel bike and opted for my road bike with 28 mm gator skin tires to provide the most efficiency as major majority of the ride was on road however a sense of risk on gravel/dirt keeping an eye on terrain as to not blow a tire or wash out. Everything worked out great and after a less than five hour ride, I arrived in Glencliff at approximately 10:45 AM. I gobbled up a meal replacement bar and inhaled three egg fritas that had more than defrosted in my jersey pocket washing it all down with 1 liter of tailwind. My bike kit and body were covered in grime as it lightly rained all through the night. Humidity was 92% and only a slight breeze. I was soaked in sweat.  A damp hand towel and washed myself up as best I could before throwing on my hiking kit on and started at 11:45 AM. I could not believe where I was and what I was doing. 

Rejuvenated and refreshed, my spirits were good knowing full well I would be challenged by sleep deprivation at some point. I just had to take those first steps and be mindful of my pacing and ever mindful of my foot placement sure not to take any falls out there. 


Day 1; ~14 miles, 7000 vertical, 8.5 hours. Nice warmup along the Town Line Trai coming out of Glencliff. It was hot 80+ degrees with heavy, humid air and completely soaked in sweat. Managing electorlytes might become problematic if I did not proactively add them to my hydration plan early and often. I was concerned I did not bring enough, 500mg per day with 1000mg emergency. Starting mid-day I very quickly started to see thru hikers mostly Southbound, a slackpacker staying at the hostel in Glencliff and one couple heading Northbound. It was mid-afternoon prior to the first big climb up Moosilauke where AT thru hikers are welcomed into the Whites and the first of 14 4000 footers and combined 38,000 vertical in the ~90 miles section before reaching Gorham. The White's are a demanding zone and likely the hardest single 100 mile stretch in all the AT.  However, what might hurt the body frees the mind. Repeated vistas, rolling ridgelines, treeless summits and alpine exposure keeps things fresh and new than the "Green Tunnel" hiking through the decisdious forests most communly travelled town to town, state to state. 

A spur path to South Peak did not disappoint and then then scurryed along the shoulder into the Alpine and over the summit. A breeze was just enough to enjoy though far from strong enough to dry out damp clothing. Going down Beaver Brook was downright slow. The water there cascades down the entire trail making it shine with moss and algae on every thing it can cling too. Crossing Kinsnan Notch heading back up I immediately took a fall on a loose rock and my first bruise and bleeder of the trip. It wouldn’t be the last.  Fatigue slowly crept in and dozing off on trail for the better 2 hours didn’t help progress. Poor  time management awake for 36 hours after a 77 mile bike shuttle left me completely depleted physically and mentally.  Sheltered the first night at Elisa Brook. I was already 6 miles behind schedule on the first day. Disheartening, Deflated, Done. However, in that shelter that night I was chitchatting a thru hiker named Giddyup. He was a cool 24 years young guy out there, living it up and then I come to find out he knows my good friend Karen Fehser Thibodeau aka “Trinity” who started the Appalachian Trail the same day he did on April 1. It was the perfect coincidence that gave me a sense of I was supposed to be there that day to lift my spirits when they were checked out. Knowing I was behind, I would need to grab the bull by the horns the next day. I needed to ensure a proper recovery that would allow me to go the distance required, making the next make before break move. I slept for eight hours..

Day 2: ~29 miles, 13000 vertical, 19 hours. The big decision knowing I’d need to push into the night. A massive pursuit, committed to a push over the Kinsman’s, Franconia Ridge and Pemi. I made good time through the Kinsman’s and was in good spirits after such a great recovery. Cascade Brook was quick footed snd efficient into Franconia Notch. Crossed Int 93 and paced myself up Liberty Springs Trail. There was very little water flowing out there. The entire wilderness was dry, A mere trickle at Liberty Tentsite where people were waiting in a queue to get their water. Thru hikers Giddyup and Trash Dog caught up with me there. I went up to tag Liberty and quickly caught up with them for an awesome social across Franconia Ridge. We even had lunch with a contingent of Amish folks from Indiana who all just finished their Thru at Katahdin two days earlier. They came back to Franconia Ridge because it was socked in the clouds during their traverse and they wanted to see the way it should be experienced. I highly recommend everyone put this hike on your list of things to do. It’s one of a kind. Taking leave of a very social crossing in gorgeous weather, it was time to get back to business along Garfield ridge. I met Greystone here wild camping. Some old ass thru hiker wild camping. He is in the middle of his calendar year Triple Crown….at 70! He says, “I’m not fast. I just wake up early.” Hahaha. I told him that’s my problem!  Galehead was spectacular break. The stillness of the night. I snacked. Bagged Galehead properly and headed for the Twinway. On the Twinway, some crazy dude Austin Black comes by with practically no gear. He was on the same route I was heading Southbound for the FKT. Who are you people!?!?  (Update: Well, as luck would have it. He accomplished this goal in ~34 hours. Mind boggling after having endured this variation of the same route) Running into him was a welcomed pick me up to see someone so deep into such a hard venture. I was so hungry at Midnight. I prepared my cold soak dinner on Guyot under the cover of a starry lit sky and no wind whatsoever. It might be the quietest night ever in the Alpine in the history of Alpine. You could hear your heartbeat.  Temperatures were perfect. I was standing on one of the windiest exposed central Wild zones in the Whites. It was just perfect. Bagged West Bond. Same story. Tranquility. For a moment, I was lost into what felt like the vacuum of space and I stood there frozen in time. I had to quickly succumb from this trance state and get moving. I realized very quickly on the path to Zealand that West Bond had smashed me. Upon reaching the wooded summit of Zealand, there were beautiful wild sites in every dark nook and cranny. I would’ve stayed right there on the summit of Zealand but the water situation… I opted for that cold soaked meal in my pocket on the Summit of Zealand. Delicious. I made the final push. I needed to get to Zealand Falls and stealth camped down river at a time on 4am. I slept for three hours.

Day 3: ~26 miles, 9000 vertical 17 hours. I had a nice warm-up down through Ethan Pond, then made my push over the Presidential’s. I was hurting from the lack of sleep yet again and the ascent from lower Crawford notch up and over Webster Cliffs and over Mt Jackson just shattered me. I brushed my teeth at Mizpah Hut. A band of merry ultra runners were finishing their day in the Southern Pres. One of them happened to be my Bud Jonathan McInerney. Just awesome and uplifting my broken spirit. I ate a late lunch at Lake of the Clouds while the stewards were giving their big Q&A to all the guests patiently waiting to get their dinner served. Made it to Mount Washington just before Sunset. I crossed Clay in a blaze of glory. It was magical. By the time I reached Washington I had already gone 17 miles with 7000 vertical and still have to cross the Northern Presidentials with the light of my torch. Navigating an alpine landscape weaving in between the prominent peaks is out of this world freeing. Everything in all directions looks the same. The weather window was all time perfect. A light breeze starry night and alpine temperatures in the 60s. Anything worse than that would’ve been hell. Once again, I cold soaked and had my dinner at Madison Hut. This time I had to let it soak for 30 minutes because I wasn’t quite prepared so I rolled out my sit pad laid on the deck and watched the stars until I fell asleep and woke some 15-20 minutes later in a slight shiver. I gobbled up my meal, delicious and headed over the summit of Madison and down the Osgood. Getting down into the Great Gulf was the only chance I had to finish on the fourth day. Crossing Jefferson Adams, Madison Summit, and all the way down into the Great Gulf by torch where I crossed the Peabody River and route find my way to old Jackson Road. Located a very primitive wild camp and plopped down at 2am. I slept for five hours.

Wildlife Sightings of note: River Otter on the Saco filtering water, crazy to see a Fox on Adams Five, Massive Alpine Toads everywhere. One nearly tripped me when we mistakenly collided. 

Day 4: ~20 miles 8000 vertical. I took old Jackson Road to Pinkham notch in record time took a 25 minute break to brush my teeth eat up some breakfast get my water carry and electrolytes for the day prepared. When I crossed Route 16 I had embarked on my final stage of this mission. The Wildcat Carter Moriah traverse. I crushed to Carter Notch in three hours flat. I came up and got my water carry ready. The rain was moving in fast and this would be the first time I’d be challenged by weather in three full days. By the time I got up to Carter Dome, that’s when my fourth day changed. For the worse…. The temperature dropped. The winds picked up and it began to rain and for the next four hours I’d be challenged by very slick slippery slab boulders and scrambles up and down the entire Carter Ridgeline. During my descent from Mt Hight, I met Eli Burakian on his FKT of the WM Triple Infinity Loop. Insane. He was on his last day. I was on my last day. Our mileage and vertical were all too similar with when normalized. That was pretty cool and gave me some lifted spirit to see a fellow section hiker killing it out there. Pushing on and on and on over countless exposed heights of land at the mercy of the relentless smattering of wind and pelting rain. Every time I tried to pickup the pace I’d slip, trip, slide and sometimes fall. I was almost done and I couldn’t move any faster than the conditions would allow. Some of the scrambles and double fall line slabs were downright scary.  One bad fall ass over tea kettle, say goodbye to the brains. Safely arrived back to my car in Gorham at ~11:50 PM  ~84 hours later and ~90 hours since I left my car for the bike shuttle. I will sleep for days.

My base weight for the trip was ~8.5 lbs. with ~2.5lbs in the fanny pack. 8lbs food and my constant water supply consisting of 2x20oz soft flasks is ~2.5lbs.  Starting pack weight 16.5lbs ending pack weight with remaining water was ~9.5. My additional water carry of 28 ounces for another 1.5 pounds of weight. 

Note to self: ALL the way from Glencliff to Mizpah I filtered ALL my water or lack thereof in seasonal dried up conditions. I was about to break at Mizpah Hut. I had to fill my reservoirs. I must have lost over an hour just filtering Water near Lonsome Lake. and a full filtered water carry from the trickle at Garfield Shelter to Galehead…. No wonder I was running low on Guyot. Then instead of filling up at Zealand Falls I could have just used the tap at the hut. So much time to camel up too. I’m glad I came to my senses. Why do I always have to make things harder on myself?

Likewise, my nutrition and hydration plan breakfast lunch and supper near almost perfect. I brought 2 pounds of food per day close to 4000 cal per day and I came home with 1000 calories less than 10% total food weight. Almost all my food went down. I think over the years you tend to figure out the balance and I really dialed it in over the last 10 years of backpacking. Cold soaking is a game changer. Having a variety of sweet, spicy salty.  I sip water after I eat to help digest those nutrients and in between snack. I alternate to the electrolytes when I’m not eating going back-and-forth the entire time. I also employed a new strategy to eat dinner on the trail on long days going into the night as well as make quick work of a breakfast bar plus carnation iced cappuccino shake (600 total calories fast!) and look forward to that hearty 700 calorie breakfast after the 2 hours on trail. 

Long Term Approach: I’ve been doing this stuff since I was 11 . I was always the littlest guy with the biggest pack. Gear was heavy and expensive. I always chose one item so crazy heavy that the Troop 46 leaders and fellow scouts thought it was hilarious when I pulled the 6v powered lantern, 4D flashlight or Coleman liquid fuel stove out of my pack. Sometimes ALL three!   Now I have a light pack and the right gear, tested and ready. 

Last year, coming off another wild on 5 day tramp through the “Vildmark” in Sweden 🇸🇪 last August 2024 planted the seed. I want to be in the wild more. It’s the freedom of the hills, immersed by nature, at its mercy and the people you meet along the way.  I immediately wanted to get back out there. Which I did in November 2024 on my 3 day Pemi Plus in shoulder season facing a 36 hour cold front with plunging raw temps into the low teens, snow, ice and wind chills with short light. It was awesome. This is the trip I decided to, instead of getting another gravel bike as an upgrade, rather invest in 10-25 year old backpacking gear. That effort took about 3-4 solid months of researching every blog, You Tubers, Reddit and general reviews. I scrutinized every detail based on the big three features;  comfort, cost and weight. 98% of the time you can only have 2 of these. Choose wisely. Then comes durability and looking through the eye’s of other people’s experiences with respect to my general needs. It was a long process and I came out of it with 7 checklists with the ability to mix and match kits and a solid nutrition plan that would allow me 3000-4000 calories per day (about 1.5-2lbs) per day weight of food. Not bad! 

Conditioning: In 2025 I began to test and shakedown my gear real time in a series of overnight missions. Stating off with 3 back to back to back ~4 hour day missions in Acadia. Each day was a recovery from the previous yet had the ability to go back to the hotel and reset. I used my Fastpack to simultaneous simulate how this style of pack carries weight. Success! Tully Lake Loop, Monadnock to Massachusetts and back, AT section Hanover to Glencliff. All 25-40+ miles with 3k-10k vertical. Then came the 24 Hour Maine Adventure Race. During the middle stage trek, the team went bushwhacking into the wild Mahousic Lands and emerged some 10 hours, 26 miles, 5k vertical later. Collectively running ~600 miles in 2025 through July rounded out the base training. 

All the above each piece of the puzzle together, gear tested, nutrition plan perfected and exercised the mind, body connection to nature. Having just returned from the Sawtooths. I was ready as I would ever be this year.

This might be the most foolish mission I’ve ever undertaken yet in all the years prior I would never have given myself the confidence to even consider the attempt.  There is much more to see, to soak in these wild places. I can breathe easy knowing I’m still loving living life active in the outdoors. Until next time!

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Mark Trahan

AT Section Hike: WM100

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