3,340 ft | Sandwich Range | 0 routes
Feels like 69°F
~4°F drop per 1,000ft
Best Hiking Window
Friday is the clear choice — dry conditions, mild temps, and light winds make for an ideal hike. Saturday carries a 45% chance of rain and Sunday is wetter still at 58%, with cooler temperatures making those days notably less pleasant.
Trail: Champney Falls Trail, Piper Trail, Middle Sister Trail, Champney Falls Cutoff
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Wet trails/stone ledges, especially at switchbacks. Somewhat slippery, be alert. Poles came in handy. No spikes needed. Some snow/ice to see in the woods.”
Trail: Champney Falls Trail
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Spring Snow
“Micros early worked well through the falls loop Snowshoes back on the main trail. Above falls was a laborious post hole mess, very tedious especially on the return. Very happy to run into a group of young people in snowshoes going up as I was descending, made the last couple of miles much better.”
Trail: Piper Trail, Middle Sister Trail, Carter Ledge Trail, Nickerson Ledge Trail
Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes
“Party of 4 up Chocorua via Piper, across the Sisters & down via Carter & Nickerson Ledge. Piper was moderately packed but the base was soft and there was minor drifting and postholing through it; we started in spikes but switched to snowshoes within 0.5mi. Passed other hikers barebooting and two folks coming down part of Piper in fat tire bikes. The summit cone slabs were a mix of ice, hardpack, drifts of varying depth, postholes through drifts. Ice wasn't bad except on the last scramble before the summit --crampons and/or an ax wouldn't be overkill on that sketchy spot (although I made it up in snowshoes and down in spikes). Middle Sister Trail, Carter Ledge, and Nickerson weren't broken out--any previous work there was thoroughly drifted in but there was a noticeable trough in some places. Some of the drifts on the sisters and upper Carter were mighty. Snow was alternately powder and sastrugi. All of the ledges were deep snow ramps which we butt-slid down or skied down on our snowshoes. No exposed ice. Despite our work, I wouldn't call it "broken out" given the snow depth and loose powder conditions, and wouldn't advise ascending via Carter Ledge unless you enjoy two steps forward- one step back shuffle. Nickerson steeps were sun-crusted and not as deep as Carter. Snow squalls all day with no accumulation. Where was the predicted sun?”
Conditions synthesized from: NWS Higher Summits Forecast, NOAA Open-Meteo, Mount Washington Observatory, NETC Trip Reports, NOHRSC Snow Depth, Mt. Washington Avalanche Center, USGS Stream Levels, OpenWeather Air Quality.
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
No routes available for this peak.
Tucked within the Sandwich Range of central New Hampshire, this 3,340-foot summit offers a rewarding but demanding outing that earns its Very Difficult rating. The route to the top involves steep, rugged terrain with significant elevation gain and technical footing that will challenge even experienced hikers. As part of the 52 With a View (52 WAV) peak list, the mountain delivers on its scenic promise, with viewpoints that reward the effort with sweeping perspectives across the Sandwich Range and toward the higher peaks of the White Mountains. Some exposed sections near the summit provide above-treeline character that adds to the alpine feel despite the modest elevation. The trail character tends toward wild and less-maintained compared to more popular White Mountain destinations, giving hikers a sense of true backcountry exploration. Its combination of difficulty, views, and relative solitude makes it a satisfying objective for peak-baggers pursuing the 52 WAV list.
Elevation
3,340 ft
Range
Sandwich Range
Difficulty
Very Difficult
Coordinates
43.9648, -71.2702
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