Channel: sintax77

Category: People & Blogs

Tags: campingfinding a plane crashwhite mountains wintercamp cookingshelter campingwinter campingwhite mountainssolo winter campingplane crash sitemt success plane crashcamping foodwinter backpacking foodappalachian trail winterwhite mountains winter campingabandonednew hampshiresnowshoeingsintax77mt successhikinggentian pondmahoosuc rangesnowshoesplane crashexploringbackpackingsolo backpackingwinter backpackingbackpacking food

Description: Backpacking & Solo Winter Camping in search of a 1954 commercial airline crash near the summit of Mt Success in the White Mountains. For this 3 day, 2 night camping trip, I headed up to a lesser traveled corner of New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest for some snowshoeing, camp cooking, and bit of New England aviation history. My goal for this adventure was to find the resting place of Northeast Airlines Flight 792, which crashed on approach to Berlin Municipal Airport during inclement weather on November 30th, 1954. It made contact in the dense trees near the summit of Mt Success at an elevation of 3,390 feet. The 7 mile hike to get there would require a gross elevation gain of roughly 3,700 feet on potentially unbroken trail in deep snow. The final portion of the hike would be an unofficial bushwhack through dense trees and snow. For this reason, I chose to break up the approach up by setting up camp at roughly the halfway point along Gentian Pond and the nearby lean-to shelter with sweeping views of the Carter-Moriah mountain range. After camping for the night, I would head up to the top of Mt Success, the first peak of the Mahoosuc Range and the Appalachian Trail's gateway to Maine. After a few miles and a couple thousand feet of ascent with my snowshoes, I would leave the trail behind in search of the DC-3. For an easier read, more info & downloadable GPS data, check out my full blog post sintax77.com/winter-camping-mt-success-plane-crash teespring.com/stores/sintax77-official-merch-store Trailhead Used: Austin Brook Trailhead, 44°24'45.1"N 71°04'05.4"W North Rd, Shelburne, NH 03581 Trails Used, Day 1 North on Austin Brook Trail Camp at Gentian Pond Shelter This is a beautiful two level wooden lean-to with one of the best views from inside that I've ever seen in a backpacking shelter. There is a bear bin out back, a composting privy, and easily obtainable water available by the nearby pond. There are several tent platforms behind the shelter as well. Fires not permitted. Day 1 Mileage: 3.5 miles Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,582’ Trails Used, Day 2 Appalachian Trail Northbound Bushwhack towards the DC-3 plane crash site The ground was covered with snow when I was there, but in warmer months there should be a faint, but visible herd path going into the woods in the open area just before the summit of Mt Success. Once you're back in the woods, look out for yellow blazes indicating the AT boundary. The DC-3 is coincidentally right along the boundary. In my case, the snow on the trees and darkness limited my ability to follow these, but they should be more obvious in the daytime without fresh snow conditions. Appalachian Trail Southbound Return to camp at Gentian Pond Shelter Day 2 Mileage: 6.5 miles Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 3,018’ Trails Used, Day 3 South on Austin Brook Trail Return to the North Road parking lot. Day 3 Mileage: 3.5 miles Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 75’ Grand Total Mileage: 13.5 Miles Grand Total Gross Elevation Gain: 4,675’ Backpacking Gear Fjallraven Kajka 75 Backpack amzn.to/2Uj8Ew4 Hammock Gear Burrow 0 Top Quilt hammockgear.com/premium-burrow Amok Fjol XL Winterlight Sleeping Pad amokequipment.com/products/fjol-xl-winterlight Dutchware UP Booties dutchwaregear.com/product/up-booties Toaks 750ml Titanium Pot amzn.to/2GR7AJX Aeropress Go Portable Travel Coffee Press amzn.to/39ezaio Optimus Polaris Optifuel Stove amzn.to/2MoOno4 MSR Flex Skillet amzn.to/2L4B4IT Light My Fire Mini Fire Steel Striker amzn.to/30S3rxm Sea to Summit Long Handled Spork amzn.to/2uyl5GJ Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets with PA Plus amzn.to/2KNldif Outdoor Research MicroGravity AscentShell Jacket amzn.to/38P5IhA Military Fleece Jacket amzn.to/2YjWchv Outdoor Vitals Adventure Jacket, Loftek version bit.ly/2AbgmPP Outdoor Vitals Satu Adventure Pants bit.ly/36Hd85J Hardshell Pants – Military ECWCS Gen III Trousers amzn.to/2WzloP4 Solomon Toundro Pro CSWP Boot amzn.to/2KQDDyz Dutchware Folding Sit Pad dutchwaregear.com/product/folding-sit-pad Byer of Maine Trilite Camp Stool amzn.to/38xgTx1 Nitecore NU25 Headlamp amzn.to/2YVsp0A Casio ProTrek F30 Smartwatch amzn.to/3dtY7Xj Benchmade Bugout EDC Folding Knife amzn.to/2JVfBS5 Peak Refuel Backpacking Meals amzn.to/38CdYAV Spot Gen3 Messenger amzn.to/2EJLQhC GoPro Hero 8 Black amzn.to/2D8n6lL GoPro Shorty Tripod Grip amzn.to/2MPhGOM FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of my links. sintax77.com/free-stickers