Happy 2026!

Happy 2026! Per usual, I got behind on my blogging, but NOT on my journaling! I started a new system where I would still do my best to do the writing soon after an adventure, but I would pin the photos for when I had a rainy day, downtime, or just until after the fall daylight savings time. This system seemed to work well for me, because I was able to get the important work done first (the writing), and the photos went back to being leisurely (instead of feeling a pressure to get it done), which I liked and will likely be continuing in the new year.

I'm really proud of my adventures, both hiking and skiing in 2025, and I'm really looking forward to more! Of course the standouts are skiing both Black Mountain's and Jay Peak's closing days, which was my goal for the season, and finishing both my New Hampshire 48 and 52 With a View (plus the Vermont 5!). It was a good year for mountains (and patches), and I'm really looking forward to seeing what this year brings!

Now, checking up on the goals I had last year...

1. 100 hikes, 500 miles, 100,000 feet

I did it! I hit new records in all three categories. I did 135 hikes (up from 105, up from a record of 113), over 713.23 miles (up from 641.36, up from a record of 667.06) and 173,774 feet (up from last year's record of 147,720 feet). Really proud of these numbers! I think it would be fun to one day get to 1,000 miles or 200,000 feet, but I don't feel a need to make it a goal. I am happy with my 100/500/100,000.

2. 52 Hike Challenge

Complete! I still like doing this one just for compatibility. I wish I was better at November, but it is always hard.

3. Complete the 52 With a View + Delisted Peaks

Complete! That Shelburne Moriah hike will always be one of my favorites. I'm also glad I finished the delisted ones, too. I love exploring these mountains.

4. Complete the New Hampshire 48

Complete! Literally insane I finished them. I also love that Sarah and Emma were there, and that I was able to join Sarah for hers!

5. Complete the VT 5

Complete! I hiked Killington on a HOT summer day and Camel's Hump on a beautiful Labor Day weekend. I want to do these again in winter!

6. Hike Mt. Monadnock at least once more

Did it at least four more times! I actually finished the Monadnock Redliner for a second time.

7. Work towards the NYAT this summer

Technically, yes! I hit part of the NY AT near Bear Mountain, but I shifted to just logging as many miles and feet as I could in the Tourne.

I also had completed the Friends of the Wapack trails and the Harriman Shelter Challenges, which were on my original goals for the year. It's been a very successful year in tangible goal achievement, but also just in quality and quanity of adventures!

In total, I completed the following patch challenges:

- Great Blue Hill 50 Summits (No Patch)

- Friends of the Wapack (72.54 miles, 15,443 feet)

- Harriman Shelter Challenge (52.16 miles, 8,822 feet)

- Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge (Gold) (No Patch)

- Vermont 5 (36.37 miles, 11,216 feet)

- 52 With-a-View (352.85 miles, 113,733 feet)

- New Hamsphire 48 (318.02 miles, 97,824 feet)

- Monadnock Redliner (2x) (65.69 miles, 18,650 feet)

- 2025 52 Hike Challenge 

Again, it's been a really fantastic year of adventures. Some of my favorites are the sunrise at Pitcher Mountain, the late March hike of Carter Dome and the wildly stunning views, the big hike of Mt. Washington via Lion Head all the way to Mt. Isolation and down Glen Boulder, seeing the bear(s) in Worthington State Forest, getting back up Mt. Moosilauke, Franconia Ridge, and the Osceolas on my "Farewell Tour," hiking Camel's Hump with Emma (and her kidney infection), tackling the terrifying North Tripyramid and Flume slides, visiting my first Maine 4,000 Footer, Old Speck, finishing my 52 and 48 on the Moriah's, and being with sarah as she finished her 48 on Cannon!

Now, my goals for 2026...

1. 100 hikes, 500 miles, 100,000 feet.

2. 52 Hike Challenge

3. Hike at least two new trails in the Belknap Range.

4. Hike at least two new Terrifying 25 Trails.

5. Hike at least two Maine 4,000 Footers.

6. Hike at least two Downstate New York peaks.

7. Complete either the winter or 3-season map of the Blue Hills (again).

I'm noticiing the goals here are less completion-oriented, and I think that's becasue I've completed a lot of the patches that I have been closing in on, and I don't want to hyper-fixate on one patch/region. I think the "at least two" goals will be a good starting point, and when I hit my mid-year re-evaluation, I can see how it's going and adjust as necessary.

Ski Goals

Might as well include ski goals while I'm here, too! These are more subjective...

1. Keep having fun.

2. Actively think about turns 75% of the time.

3. Continue to challenge myself with steeps, bumps, trees, "thin cover," and "variable conditions."

4. Look better than I did last year on closing day(s).

5. Ski as many runs at Jay Peak as I humanly can.

Here's to a great year of adventures in the hills and mountains!