We will turn Alex's design into a patch.
Many thanks to all the folks at VFTT for their advice and suggestions!
This list includes slides, rock scrambles and boulder caves that can be found along maintained trails within the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
No one but us may want to do this list, but that's okay...our primary objective is to do the kinds of hikes we like best.
Sage came up with the name -- The Terrifying Twenty-Five (she wanted to make it seem especially grandiose, hence the word "terrifying").
Alex drew the design for the patch.
I went through Daniell and Smith's White Mountain Guide, 28th Edition and, based on the trail descriptions, came up with a list of trails. I then asked the community at Views From the Top (VFTT) to post their advice.
Since there is no one definite measure of what constitutes frightening, extremely difficult, or very interesting, I created two sections of this list. The first section consists of required trails, ones that most agreed were especially tricky, scrambly, and/or just plain fun. The second section consists of elective trails, trails that some found frightening but others found tame. One can choose any five trails from that section, based on what the individual hiker wishes to experience (ladders, a wee bit of scrambling, boulders, etc.) On Monday I hope to post a short description of each trail; I'll take the descriptions from Daniell and Smith's White Mountain Guide (and credit the authors accordingly).
NOTE: I will eventually add a short reason why each trail is included on the list ("ladders," "scrambling, "caves," etc.) For detailed, thorough descriptions, one should refer to Daniell and Smith's White Mountain Guide, 28th Edition.
Required trails:
Baldface Circle Trail (southern portion, from South Baldface Shelter to the summit of South Baldface)
Caps Ridge Trail
Castle Ravine Trail
Castle Trail
Chemin des Dames
Eagle Cliff Trail (to viewpoint)
Flume Slide Trail
Great Gulf Trail
Great Gully Trail
Huntington Ravine Trail
Ice Gulch Path
Madison Gulf Trail
Mount Percival Trail (boulder cave route)
North Slide, N. Tripyramid
Six Husbands Trail
South Slide, S. Tripyramid
Sphinx Trail
Subway (King Ravine Trail)
Table Rock Trail (from eastern trailhead, to ledge)
Zeacliff Trail (note: I might replace this with Percy Peaks Trail)
In addition to the twenty required trails, one must hike any five of the following:
Airline Trail
Algonquin Trail
Beaver Brook Trail
Brook Trail
Blueberry Ledge Trail
Desolation Trail
Devil's Hopyard
Goodrich Rock Trail
Hi-Cannon Trail
Osseo Trail
Percy Peaks Trail (note: I might replace this with Zeacliff Trail)
Piper Trail
Walden Trail
Wildcat Ridge Trail from route 16 to E peak
Willey Range (ladder section up Mt. Willey)
If anyone besides us has any interest in doing this list, here are our rules:
Get to the trailhead however you like.
Given the nature of the trails, no special winter patch will ever be created.
One must hike the entire trail on your own two feet.
Above all -- hike at your own risk. We are not liable for any injuries or accidents. These are tough trails and should not be attempted by the inexperienced or the cavalier.
If you take on this list, then let us know when you finish and we'll send you a patch -- though please note if the number of finishers/applicants ends up being more than we expected, then we may have to start charging for the patch (just expenses, no profits).
Your application should be sent via email to: patriciaellisherr@post.harvard.edu.
Type the following in the body of your email (I will not open attachments):
Your name, mailing address, names of the trails and the date you hiked each. Comments and links to trip reports would be nice, but they're not required. You're on the honor system. Karma will eventually get you if you lie.
See you out there!
