After hiking the Appalachian Trail with my Scout Troop, I have a newfound appreciation for what adventurers do every day.
We also hiked a local trail for three hours. I felt pretty good about it, as the trail was challenging – there was even a rope-style ascent we had to use to climb up a steep hill – but it did little to prepare us for the actual hike to come.
Tuckerman Ravine, also known as "Tux" or "Tucks", is a glacial cirque on the southeast face of Mount Washington in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest. It's a popular destination for backcountry skiing. The trail is rocky and rugged, with a consistent grade that passes waterfalls and streams and leads to the Hermit Lake Shelter in under three miles. The trail is narrow but well-worn from the base to the top of the headwall. However, the descent can be difficult as gravity works against you. The ravine also has many different runs that can be as steep as 40–55 degrees.
We started at Pinkham Notch (2,000 feet above sea level), and hiked our way to our to the Hermit Lake Shelters (1,800 feet higher).
The White Mountains are unforgiving. There are no fires allowed, no running water, and no electricity on the mountain. While there are running toilets, the lack of sinks meant that water had to be rationed and used sparingly. Not camping with a campfire is certainly different, as our backpacking meals only required boiling water and a small gas stove. There was no fire to warm our bones or relax next to. It was a stark contrast to the camping I’m accustomed to.
But there was still daylight left, and the boys could clearly see snow on the mountains. Which of course meant they wanted to go on another hike, so they could play in the snow during the summer.
As we climbed, I began to feel the effects of altitude sickness. My head throbbed, and nausea set in, forcing me to stop midway. I sat on a rock, battling my own physical limitations and the relentless assault of blackflies. I had to wait to go down with a buddy (my son), so I let him go on ahead. You learn a lot about yourself alone on the mountainside. When he eventually returned, I crawled into the lean-to and slept for two hours. I felt much better after that.
For example, a character with a Strength score of 15 (a +2 modifier) might have a carrying capacity of 225 pounds (15 x 15). This capacity seems generous until you consider the weight of full plate armor (65 pounds), a longsword (3 pounds), a shield (6 pounds), and a backpack filled with rations, water, and other essentials. The physical toll of carrying such a load up mountainous terrain is immense, requiring not only physical strength but also endurance and mental fortitude.
Although I suffered from altitude sickness at around 4,000 feet, the core rules don’t consider this a problem until you’re over 10,000 feet: Each hour such a creature spends traveling at high altitude counts as 2 hours for the purpose of determining how long that creature can travel.
Movement isn’t fast either. The mountainous terrain was definitely difficult terrain (1/2 speed) plus each foot of movement costing an extra foot in difficult terrain because we were climbing. It’s 2.4 miles from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center to the Hermit Lodge Shelters and that took us three hours, slower than the Slow Travel pace that averages 2 miles per hour.
As for the scouts? They had a blast. And they got to brag to all their friends that they had a snowball fight in the middle of summer. I felt bad that I couldn’t join them, but I also learned a harsh lesson about my own limits and a newfound respect for my character’s hiking skills.
Meet Tuckerman’s Ravine
Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a dream for many outdoor enthusiasts, and the White Mountains, specifically Tuckerman's Ravine, are among the most revered sections. As part of a Boy Scout troop consisting of several adults and kids, including my son, an Eagle Scout—we embarked on an adventure that tested our limits and left me with newfound respect for anyone who dares to brave the mountain wilderness. I had no idea what I was in for.Preparing for the Trip
We packed for our trip as light as we could, with the goal being 20% of our body weight. I needed to keep my backpack weight under 30 lbs. This was easier said than done, as hydration packs, food, and our sleeping bags all added up. My son and I divided up our equipment as best we could – and we didn’t pack tents, knowing we’d be staying in lean-tos at the shelter.We also hiked a local trail for three hours. I felt pretty good about it, as the trail was challenging – there was even a rope-style ascent we had to use to climb up a steep hill – but it did little to prepare us for the actual hike to come.
Underestimating the Ravine
Our trip had us driving five hours through several states to reach Tuckerman’s Ravine in New Hampshire. We arrived on Friday night, stayed over in a hotel, and began the hike the next morning. Little did we know, Tuckerman’s Ravine is not for beginners.Tuckerman Ravine, also known as "Tux" or "Tucks", is a glacial cirque on the southeast face of Mount Washington in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest. It's a popular destination for backcountry skiing. The trail is rocky and rugged, with a consistent grade that passes waterfalls and streams and leads to the Hermit Lake Shelter in under three miles. The trail is narrow but well-worn from the base to the top of the headwall. However, the descent can be difficult as gravity works against you. The ravine also has many different runs that can be as steep as 40–55 degrees.
We started at Pinkham Notch (2,000 feet above sea level), and hiked our way to our to the Hermit Lake Shelters (1,800 feet higher).
The Ascent to the Shelter
The first thing that became clear was that I needed a walking stick. The trail is a “tactical hike” in that you have to watch every step you make, lest you slip and fall on the rocks. There is no flat terrain, so you never get to just walk and turn your brain off for a moment. Rests were critical, and there were a few bridges where we stopped to catch our breath. The younger scouts did amazingly well, and after several hours, we made it to Hermit Lake Shelter.The White Mountains are unforgiving. There are no fires allowed, no running water, and no electricity on the mountain. While there are running toilets, the lack of sinks meant that water had to be rationed and used sparingly. Not camping with a campfire is certainly different, as our backpacking meals only required boiling water and a small gas stove. There was no fire to warm our bones or relax next to. It was a stark contrast to the camping I’m accustomed to.
But there was still daylight left, and the boys could clearly see snow on the mountains. Which of course meant they wanted to go on another hike, so they could play in the snow during the summer.
Hiking is Hard
Hydration is key and my hydration pack was suited for the bigger backpack. I didn’t have a smaller one, so I climbed without any water. That was a mistake.As we climbed, I began to feel the effects of altitude sickness. My head throbbed, and nausea set in, forcing me to stop midway. I sat on a rock, battling my own physical limitations and the relentless assault of blackflies. I had to wait to go down with a buddy (my son), so I let him go on ahead. You learn a lot about yourself alone on the mountainside. When he eventually returned, I crawled into the lean-to and slept for two hours. I felt much better after that.
Now Do it Again with Armor & Weapons
In Dungeons & Dragons, characters often embark on treacherous journeys, carrying heavy packs filled with armor, weapons, and supplies. The recommended guidance for hiking suggests carrying no more than 20% of your body weight, a guideline that seems almost laughable when considering the typical loadout of a D&D adventurer.For example, a character with a Strength score of 15 (a +2 modifier) might have a carrying capacity of 225 pounds (15 x 15). This capacity seems generous until you consider the weight of full plate armor (65 pounds), a longsword (3 pounds), a shield (6 pounds), and a backpack filled with rations, water, and other essentials. The physical toll of carrying such a load up mountainous terrain is immense, requiring not only physical strength but also endurance and mental fortitude.
Although I suffered from altitude sickness at around 4,000 feet, the core rules don’t consider this a problem until you’re over 10,000 feet: Each hour such a creature spends traveling at high altitude counts as 2 hours for the purpose of determining how long that creature can travel.
Movement isn’t fast either. The mountainous terrain was definitely difficult terrain (1/2 speed) plus each foot of movement costing an extra foot in difficult terrain because we were climbing. It’s 2.4 miles from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center to the Hermit Lodge Shelters and that took us three hours, slower than the Slow Travel pace that averages 2 miles per hour.
A Newfound Respect
My hike through Tuckerman's Ravine was a humbling experience. It tested my physical and mental limits and gave me a deeper appreciation for the challenges faced by adventurers, both real and fictional. The mountains are a place of beauty and peril (there’s a running “death book” at the visitor center, with someone dying as recently as March of this year). The mountains are no joke.As for the scouts? They had a blast. And they got to brag to all their friends that they had a snowball fight in the middle of summer. I felt bad that I couldn’t join them, but I also learned a harsh lesson about my own limits and a newfound respect for my character’s hiking skills.
