FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM 2014: JANUARY THROUGH JUNE

I'm thankful I was able to enjoy another fine year on and off the trails. Here's a selection of photos from treks during the first half of 2014. Thanks for reading!

Harry and Barb Cunningham snowshoe across well-frozen Beaver Pond in Kinsman Notch.

 Carol takes in the view of the Blue Ridge from Elbow Pond.

Chokecherry Hill, a southern spur of Mt. Moosilauke, rises above a beaver pond on Merrill Brook.

A chance meeting with neighbor Dennis Lynch near the top of Moosilauke's Gorge Brook Trail.

Wachipauka Pond, the Benton Range and Mt. Moosilauke from an off-trail ledge on Mt. Mist.

Kinsman Notch and Lost River valley from a cliff above Beaver Pond.

Looking into Kinsman Notch from a ledge on a spur of Kinsman Ridge.

Deer Lake Bog in the high col between Mt. Blue and Mt. Moosilauke.

Cairns on the north ridge of Mt. Moosilauke.

Beaver pond in Jobildunk Ravine.

Chris Whiton and John Compton admire the ice cliffs on the headwall of Jobildunk Ravine.

The "Luck of the Irish" ice cliffs in  Kinsman Notch. 

Looking west to the Signal Mountain Range and Camel's Hump from the South Peak of Mt. Moosilauke.

A western outlook along the Cross-Rivendell Trail on Mt. Cube.

Carol at the icy amphitheater of Bridal Veil Falls.

My brother Drew at Mud Pond in Tunnel Brook Notch.

A beaver pond in the Kilkenny, with Unknown Pond Ridge beyond.

Deep winter in the Kilkenny birches.

Pam Bales enjoys the view from the north ledge of Dickey Mountain. 

A bushwhack to the eastern edge of Carter Dome's north ridge reveals a sweeping view of the Wild River Wilderness.

Looking north along the Carter Range from the late winter open snow ridge on Carter Dome.

The "enhanced" open summit of Mt. Tecumseh.

Hanging out on the East Ledges of Hedgehog Mountain, gazing up at mighty Mt. Passaconaway.

Mt. Moosilauke and the East Branch of the Pemigewasset from the Loon Mountain bridge.

Looking into the heart of the Sandwich Range from Potash Mountain.

Looking west across the Sandwich Range from a ledge on the NW ridge of Mt. Chocorua.

"You had best be movin' on!" - an aggressive territorial Spruce Grouse on the First Sister.

Mt. Passaconaway from a beaver bog in the Oliverian Brook valley.

The view north from the slide on Nanamocomuck Peak, just off the Square Ledge Trail.

Communing with Frank Bolles on a bushwhack up Stony Brook to "The Heart of the Mountain" on Mt. Chocorua.

View south from the SW cliffs (off-trail) of Twin Mountain in the Devil's Path range, Catskill Mountains.

 The three peaks of the Blackhead Range from a ledge on Burnt Knob along the Escarpment Trail.

A steep open hardwood bushwhack up Halcott Mountain, one of the Catskill 3500-ft. peaks.

Scenic Alder Lake in the western Catskills.

Carol relaxes at a beaver meadow along the Mill Brook Ridge Trail in a quiet, peaceful corner of the Catskills.

View north across Lake Winnipesaukee from Mt. Klem in the Belknap Range.

Beautiful open hardwoods on Bald Hill, a low, trailless southern spur of Mt. Moosilauke. Dutchman's Breeches were blooming here.

A pitch pine-clad ledge on Oak Hill in Loudon, NH.

Spring greens wash up the flank of Mt. Passaconaway as seen from the summit of Hedgehog Mountain.

Allen Koop tests the Balanced Rock on Ragged Mountain, along the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway.

An early 1900s peavey head spotted in the woods of Kinsman Notch.

Wachipauka Pond and Mt. Moosilauke on a warm June day.

A happy peakbagger on the summit of Vermont's Camel's Hump.

Looking south to the Ethan Allen Range from Camel's Hump.

Wandering along the Long Trail on the open ridge of Mt. Mansfield.

Looking north from the summit of Mt. Mansfield.

Beaver pond and cliffs in Nebraska Notch, south of Mt. Mansfield.

Carol enjoys her first hike on Mt. Monadnock.

A scramble on the Smith Summit Trail, one of many "away from the crowds" routes on Monadnock.