Winter Hiking in the Whites: What to Wear
It’s 7 a.m., the thermometer outside reads negative one, and the trees are swaying with ominous winds. While other vacationers to New Hampshire’s White Mountains are tapping the snooze button, hikers are hitting the trails, braving deep snow, frozen river crossings, and subzero wind chills. Some may think us...
Cheers to the 1st of the 48
By Shannon Grossman There is this part of my essence with the sole-purpose of seeking out adventures. The more unusual the experience, the more appropriate it corresponds with my life. So, it is only natural that I climb my first 4000-foot peak in New Hampshire with winter-like conditions. (Lila,...
Top 5 breakfast joints near the Notch
Written by Notch staff member Stephanie Robinson, based on her personal experience living and breakfast dining in Lincoln, NH. After having spent most of my childhood summers in Lincoln, I’ve eaten at just about every restaurant in the area. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day (after all, it’s...
The Birth of a White Mountains Hostel
Rarely does a day go by that we are not asked, “What made you want to start a hostel?” While the answer contains some common threads, it varies from one telling to the next. This personal blog post is about the genesis of the Notch Hostel – the newest...
The Notch Hostel and its Many Adventures
Posted on October 11, 2015 by Ashley Lader on vinyasarunner.com; re-posted here with permission. Below is a blog post written by hostel guest Ashley Lader about her adventures at the Notch! She kindly allowed us to re-post it here. Be sure to check out her other blog posts at vinyasarunner.com! A couple of weeks ago...
Le petit road trip: En francais
Parlez-vous Francais? Below is a blog post written in French by one of our guests, Maryse of Quebec, Canada, about her White Mountains road trip and her experience at the Notch Hostel. Original post: http://marysecleronobrega.com/2015/07/26/mini-road-trip/ Reposted with permission from Maryse. MINI ROAD TRIP Publié par mcnphotographie le 26 juillet 2015...
Kinsmans via Mt. Kinsman Trail: Trip Report
Today I headed up the Mt. Kinsman Trail from Rt. 116 to North and South Kinsman, two of NH’s 4000-footers. The drive itself is incredible — look closely at the granite along the road, for it contains garnet and is unique to Kinsman Notch. When you’re done hiking, stop by the...
Story of the Notch Logo
The story of the Notch Hostel logo begins, naturally, with a hike. Last year, Justin and I embarked on a late fall backpacking trip over Mts. Waumbek and Cabot, the two northernmost of New Hampshire’s 4000-foot peaks. We had recently bought the property that is now the Notch Hostel, and...
Welch and Dickey Loop: Trip Report
The loop over Welch and Dickey Mountains is one of my favorite hikes, and is great for days when I want something quick and rewarding. It offers outstanding views of the surrounding mountain ranges, exposed summits, and many open ledges and rock outcrops along the trail. The entire loop is only...
Lonesome Lake: Trip Report
It’s springtime at the Notch, and nothing illustrates the season better than the gushing waterfalls. Today I set out for a hike up to Lonesome Lake via the Basin-Cascades trail and the Cascade Brook trail, eager to check out the sparkling cascades and waterfalls along the brook. From the...