13 Before 13: Morgan and Percival

13 Before 13

I created a hiking list called 13 Before 13. This list is composed of 13 hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and only children under 13 qualify to earn anything on completion of the list, hence the title. The hikes are split into sections of four with Easy, Medium, Hard, and one last hike of Little Haystack. Each of the first 3 sections contains a hike with views, a hike with scrambles, and a hike with waterfalls. The last of the 4 hikes is one that the children choose themselves. On completing each of the 3 sections before Little Haystack, the kid receives a sticker.

On finishing the whole list, the child earns a patch.

The goal of 13 Before 13 is to give young people a project that is not too intimidating. I want them to feel like this list was made for them...because it was! Ideally, this list would introduce children to hiking and motivate them to move on to more difficult lists after they finish 13 Before 13. The stickers, besides being motivational, are there for if a child doesn't finish the whole list but he/she completes one or more of the sections.

If you finish all or at least one section of this list, email aherr@hamilton.edu to receive your sticker or patch.

Note: All trail descriptions, directions to trails, and information about surrounding areas can be found in Steve Smith's White Mountain Guide. This guide has full descriptions of not only these trails, but of all the trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is very useful for planning a hiking trip; there are many helpful and accurate details. This book is a necessity if you want to hike in the Whites! I use it all the time. If you get a chance, visit Steve's bookstore, The Mountain Wanderer, in Lincoln, NH.

Easy:
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Views: Bald Mountain in Franconia Notch 0.8 miles round-trip
252 feet of elevation gain
Artists’ Bluff Loop Trail

Scrambles: Goodrich Rock Trail in Waterville Valley 3.9 miles round-trip
741 feet of elevation gain
Greeley Ponds Trail

Waterfalls: Ripley Falls in Hart’s Location 1.1 miles round-trip
308 feet of elevation gain
Ripley Falls Trail

Choose your own: any hike you feel is easy -- can be near your home or anywhere you like

Medium:
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Views: North and/or Middle Sugarloaf near Twin Mountain 2.6 miles round-trip
800 feet of elevation gain
Sugarloaf Trail

Scrambles: Morgan and Percival in Center Sandwich 5.4 miles loop hike
1600 feet of elevation gain
Mt. Morgan, Morse, Mt. Percival, Crawford-Ridgepole Trails

Waterfalls: Arethusa Falls in Crawford Notch 3.0 miles round-trip
900 feet of elevation gain
Arethusa Falls Trail

Choose your own: any hike you feel is "medium" -- can be near your home or anywhere you like

Hard:
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Views: Mt. Chocorua in Albany 8.5 miles
2982 feet of elevation gain
Mount Chocorua Loop Trail (the way up is hikers’ choice)

Scrambles: Caps Ridge Trail (to the Upper Cap) near Twin Mountain 3.8 miles round-trip
1800 feet of elevation gain

Waterfalls: Zealand Falls (by Zealand Falls Hut) in Bethlehem 5.4 miles round-trip
575 feet of elevation gain
Zealand Trail and the Twinway

Choose your own: any hike you feel is difficult -- can be near your home or anywhere you like

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The 13th hike -- ADVANCED -- Little Haystack in Grafton County 6.4 miles round-trip
3050 feet of elevation gain
Falling Waters Trail

Morgan and Percival

5.4 miles loop hike

1600 feet of elevation gain

In 2012, we hiked Morgan and Percival. It's a fun hike with ladders and caves! I still remember it well today even though we hiked it so long ago. Definitely do this one! Here are some pictures to give you an idea:

https://www.trishalexsage.com/2012/05/tuesday-trip-report-morgan-and-percival.html

By the way, leave the dog at home on this one! Max, our border terrier, did not appreciate being carried up ladders and having to navigate caves with large boulders and sharp rocks. He was not happy on this hike. We do not recommend this hike for dogs.

The trail begins flat and charming as shown below.

After a while, you'll arrive at the ladders. As long as you watch where you're going, you should be okay! Take it slower with the little ones, though, and spot them wherever you can.