Mouth of the River

*[x/48] = # of NH 4,000-footers complete 

     I‘ve been walking for two hours up steep rocky terrain, and my body doesn’t want to move anymore. I’m near giving up when I take a step and suddenly feel the harsh wind tearing at my hair. I look up and am embraced with the panoramic view of mountains stretching on for as far as I can see. I take a deep breath and keep walking.  

     I’ve been hiking for as long as I can remember *[38/48]; one of my oldest memories is of   five-year-old me running around the dirt parking lot after a ten-mile hike while my parents watched in disbelief at the amount of energy I still had.   

     I’ve learned a lot about myself through hiking and have gained many new experiences. Some of my most prominent hiking stories include getting caught in a hailstorm at a summit, and helping hitchhike a lost, backpack-less ex-marine who was carrying a 50-pound log, to his mom’s birthday party. Everyone who hikes will pick up wild stories such as these, and I wanted to hear other Oyster River hikers’ experiences.  

     The first hiker I spoke with was Alja Forcey-Rodriguez (‘24) [20/48], who has been hiking her whole life. “I was hiking Mount Washington with my dad and there was a moose on the trail. There was also this park ranger guy who was on the trail at the same time as us […] we kind of made fun of the people who were taking photos with the moose and the park ranger guy was like ‘they could die.’”   

     From the moose-selfie taking tourists to the Appalachian Trail thru hikers, part of the fun of hiking is that you can find almost every genre of person. I’ve seen people taking on some of the more difficult trails in flip-flops.  

     Many of these tales picked up along the trail have brought friends closer together. “One thing about hiking is anybody you’re with, you just get to know them so much more as a person and as a friend,” said Eli Stuart (‘24) [39/48], who’s been hiking since he could walk. 

     Building that sense of connection can be one of the reasons someone takes on the challenge of hiking. “We’re all on a freaking mountain for fun, in the rain in the cold. So that right there creates a camaraderie, and it makes really meaningful connections,” said Jahrie Houle (‘26) [40/48].  

     The closest bonds are often formed through pain, and being aware of that can help you along the way. “Realize it’s going to suck for a bit, but it’s so worth it,” said Stuart.  

     This pain and difficulty can also create memories to look back on. Olaf Woodall (‘24) [48/48] recalls a time when he got lost on the top of a mountain. “I was just thinking to myself, and I completely wondered off trail. I looked around like, ‘wow, I’m nowhere near a trail.’ So that was sort of nerve wracking. I knew there was a highway at the bottom of the valley, so I knew as long as I went straight, I would eventually hit the highway.”  

     Woodall and his family completed their first New Hampshire 4,000-footer when they moved to the area when he was around 10. They finished all 48 within four years. “My family’s goal right when we moved here was to hike all forty-eight 4000 footers.” Since completing the 48, he’s gone back to redo some of his favorites and relive the memories he’s made.  

     These memories aren’t always the view from the top, but also the process of getting there. Houle thinks that understanding this makes hiking more worthwhile. “Once I started to appreciate the journey a little bit more it became so much more fun and meaningful.”  

     For a while I was the type to groan and complain until the top, but I’ve discovered it’s so much more enjoyable to just live in the moments along the way. The conversations with your friends, the sounds of the birds and animals, and the little stream crossings every once in a while. If you’re too tired, you can also always stop for a snack!  

     One of the biggest debates among hikers is, ‘what is the best hiking snack?’ Most hikers are good with just trail mix, but some, like Forcey-Rodriguez, have upped their game. “I’ve started making bougie sandwiches. […] A baguette, and then put some mozzarella and prosciutto and then a little bit of pepper.”  

     You can’t go wrong with sandwiches, but sometimes basic is better, thinks Maryellen Moore (‘24) [13/48]. “You make a PB&J, put more peanut butter than jelly, and make sure it’s in saran wrap so it gets all squishy and kind of crushed.” I have to agree with this. It might sound nasty, but once you’re at the top of the mountain it’s the most divine thing to ever touch your tongue.  

     Houle prefers sticking to the fun snacks like gummy bears and has a hot take on the most popular hiking food. “I don’t really like trail mix. It’s controversial, but I think it’s terrible. […] I’d rather just eat straight cashews or just chocolate.”  

     My advice is to make your own trail mix with the ingredients you want, because that way it tastes exactly like you want.  

     Forcey-Rodriguez has advice of her own on how to first get in to hiking. She recommends starting with smaller mountains, like Mount Major, Rattlesnake Mountain, Blue Job, or Mount Agamenticus, before working your way up to the 4000 footers.  

     Moore suggests finding good hiking buddies who you feel safe with, and who would stop for you if you’re struggling.  

     My number one tip is to research, plan, and to check the weather before you leave for the hike, so you know what to pack and what you’re signing yourself up for.  

     Woodall has more conventional advice that may seem obvious, but who knows? “When I hiked Mount Adams, I had a bad stomach bug and I remember just having to barf the entire way up. Oh, that’s another tip! Don’t hike if you’re sick!”   

     There’s a lot that goes into hiking. Planning, packing, the snacks, the stories, the hike itself. These can all make for an amazing hike, but the best part really is the view from the top, and the crushed PB&J waiting in your backpack. 

My Top 5 NH Hikes:  

1. Presidential Traverse  

The hardest hike I’ve done, 23 miles, 11,000 feet of elevation, in 12 hours. I wrote my college essay about this hike!  

2. Franconia Ridge Loop  

One of the most gorgeous and accessible hikes in NH, this has you hiking along a panoramic ridge with 360-degree views for three miles  

3. Bond Cliff Loop  

This was the first hike I have any memories of. Difficult terrain but with a stunning view that is relatively underrated  

4. Garfield & Galehead  

I got lost in the woods during this hike and added an extra two miles. The view from Garfield will have you looking from the center of a horseshoe-shaped ridge that extends for miles  

5. Chocorua  

The only non-4,000-footer on my list. Chocorua may be one of the most picturesque peaks in NH. Its summit has been the subject of many artworks 

– Micah Bessette