Zealand Falls – Ethan Pond Trail – Ethan Pond Shelter to Crawford Notch – Appalachian Trail NH

Alpha-Gal and M2 planned this as a 4 day hike from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch using the Hut system for overnights. Day 4 is from Zealand Falls and Hut, past Ethan Pond Shelter, and ends at the parking at Crawford notch. This was a much easier hike than previous days and we made better than expected time to the parking lot. We made a peaceful lunch stop at Ethan Pond Shelter and checked out Ethan Pond. There was some nice trail magic at the Crawford notch parking that “Peach”, “Barrel”, and a couple others had set up. This roving magic is known as “@ThePeachVortex” and some photos can be found over on Instagram.

Over the past couple years I’ve been using a trail guide put out by “Attroll” over at Whiteblaze.com called “WhiteBlaze Pages”. It’s a very informative and detailed guidebook that has community support. I like it a lot. It’s very affordable and can be found over at: https://www.whiteblazepages.com/store/
Go check it out!
WhiteBlaze Forums: https://whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php

Thank you “Attroll” for providing us a ride back to our vehicle at the end of this hike. That was very unexpected and definitely appreciated! 

Miles hiked for the day: 8.8
Total miles hiked for the weekend: 32.6

Day 1 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_baKye0GDnI
Day 2 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4vLxbHBB-4
Day 3 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5OipR2HlSk

Galehead Hut to Zealand Hut and Falls – Mount Guyot – Zealand Mountain – Appalachian Trail NH

Alpha-Gal and M2 planned this as a 4 day hike from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch using the Hut system for overnights. Day 3 is from Galehead Hut up South Twin Mountain, Mount Guyot, Zealand Mountain, and then down to Zealand Falls and Hut. Alpha-Gal and M2 made a quick stop for lunch at Zealand Mountain and Alpha-Gal bagged the peak. While eating, M2 made a new friend. This day was much easier than the others and we made good time to our destination. It was nice to soak our feet in the cool falls at the end of the day.

Miles hiked for the day: 7.1
Total miles hiked for the weekend: 32.6

Day 1 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_baKye0GDnI
Day 2 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4vLxbHBB-4
Day 4 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px4aLPiv-LU

Mount Garfield via Greenleaf Hut and Mount Lafayette – Galehead Hut – Appalachian Trail NH

Alpha-Gal and M2 planned this as a 4 day hike from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch using the Hut system for overnights. Day 2 is from the Greenleaf Hut back up Mount Lafayette and then down the backside to the North Peak of Mount Lafayette and down through a steep mossy area across Garfield Ridge before climbing back to Mount Garfield, The Garfield Ridge Shelter and Spring, ending at Galehead Hut. This hike passes over the summits of Mount Lafayette, the North Peak of Mount Lafayette, and Mount Garfield. Alpha-Gal and M2 made a quick stop for lunch near Garfield Pond at a nondescript log near a tent site at that location. The hike down off Franconia Ridge and several places up and down Mount Garfield are extraordinarily steep – much more so than we ever imagined. We proceeded very slowly. The last “flat” section before the hut is not really flat and is riddled with precarious boulders and mini scrambles, slowing us way down and eventually making us late for dinner.

As we descended down from Franconia Ridge, we met another section hiker named “Revisit”. We hiked together for the remainder of our section.

Day 1 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_baKye0GDnI
Day 3 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5OipR2HlSk
Day 4 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px4aLPiv-LU

Miles hiked for the day: 8.8
Total miles hiked for the weekend: 32.6

Franconia Ridge – Liberty Springs Trail – Greenleaf Hut – Mount Lafayette – Appalachian Trail NH

Alpha-Gal and M2 planned this as a 4 day hike from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch using the Hut system for overnights. Day 1 is from the Liberty Springs Trailhead up to the Franconia Ridge Trail and back down to Greenleaf Hut. This hike passes over the summits of Little Haystack Mountain, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette. Alpha-Gal and M2 made a quick stop for lunch at the Liberty Springs Tentsite and checked out the spring and privy and then proceeded the rest of the way up to the ridge. The climb up Little Haystack was more difficult than anticipated and took much longer than planned. After crossing the ridge, summiting Mount Lafayette, and descending down to Greenleaf Hut, Alpha-Gal and M2 enjoyed a good dinner. @17:24 I point out Mount Washington but labeled it as Garfield. It was so clear and it seemed so close.

At the start of the hike, micey, from Camp_micey YouTube channel, stopped by to see Alpha-Gal and M2 on their way off…she had just completed a longer section through the White Mountains, including this part.

Camp_micey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-h-DEwJwnY

Miles hiked for the day: 8.8
Total miles hiked for the weekend: 32.6

Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4vLxbHBB-4
Day 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5OipR2HlSk
Day 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px4aLPiv-LU

This was recorded using a Canon M50 and iPhone 6s.

Lovingston Spring Trail – Hog Camp Gap to Seely Woodworth Shelter – Appalachian Trail

My better half joins me out for a section hike to pick up some Appalachian Trail that I missed last time I was out this way. We also looked for the swing at Hog Camp Gap. Unfortunately, the swing appears to have gone missing… This is an easy loop on the Appalachian Trail from Hog Camp Gap to the Seely Woodworth Shelter (7.7 miles) and then return via a loop on the Lovingston Spring Trail (6.4 miles). The Lovingston Spring trail (2.7 miles) is a shortcut to the Seely Woodworth Shelter with a few springs along the way (Lovingston Spring and Twin Springs). There is a tricky turn when heading North on the Lovingston Spring trail near an old hunter camper – don’t miss the left turn immediately after the camper and accidentally stay on the forest road.     

Nerding for Nature – Last Grownup in the Woods:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuS52O9gRYXNZoLByaGNpjQ

Hiking Upward Description: https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/TarJacketRidge/

Grays Arch - Star Gap Arch - The Living Wall – Red River Gorge Arches Hike

This is part 2 of a two part video of a group hike in the Red River Gorge. Red River Gorge is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest near Slade Kentucky. I was kindly invited by local Kentucky hiker “Backpacking With Jason” to attend this YouTuber hike / meetup. On day 2, Saturday, we shuttled over to the Grays Arch parking area and hiked the roughly 5.6 mile loop. The parking was very crowded on Saturday. The loop was very interesting and traversed a short section of the Sheltowee Trace Trail, the Rush Ridge Trail, the Rough Trail, and the Grays Arch Trail. We took a side trail off to the east of the Rush Ridge Trail to see Corrosion Cove and then continued on to Grays Arch. After descending steeply down the Rough Trail, there was quite a bit of water and the forest was damp and had lots of hemlocks. Very different compared to the trails along the ridges. After visiting Grays Arch, we went back to the Auxier Ridge Trailhead and hiked off trail West to see the Star Gap arch and Living Wall. Hiked 11.7 miles on day 2.

Collaborators at the hike:
Backpacking With Jason: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCobwtnc4-EUkVZzo1RaaLrA
Dragon Roams: https://www.youtube.com/user/Don2realign
SkinnyGPanda: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrPTDQckVa4M5ekLU8nL7tg
Kurt Zitzelman Outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/user/KurtZitzelman
Hike Life: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHo3Kr0a4kYW4InE8ylbSGA

Grays Arch Trail Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd491194.pdf
Auxier Area Trail Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd491186.pdf
Trail Summary: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5276793.pdf
Guides and maps: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5389641
Red River Gorge Scenic Byway: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recarea/?recid=39552
Pass info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5294940.pdf
More Pass Info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5332558

2011 Ford Taurus Rear Wheel Hub and Bearings – Caliper Removal – Bearing Replacement (moderate)

This video shows how to change the Rear Wheel Hub and Bearing Assembly in a 2011 Ford Taurus SEL. To get the hub off, you need to remove the wheel, the brake caliper, the disc rotor, and then pull the bearing assembly using an axle puller. The job was not all that hard, but did require tools I did not have. Fortunately the local auto parts store has loaner axle pullers.
Jack, Jackstand, ½” Ratchet, ½” 3/4 Socket, ½” 15MM Socket, 15MM angled box end wrench, 3/8 Ratchet with adjustable angle head, 13mm Socket, 18mm Shallow Socket, 8mm Socket, ¼ Ratchet, ¼” Long Extension, ¼” 5/16 socket, Flat Screwdriver, ½” Torque Wrench, 3/8 drive #40 Torx, Anti-Seize, Brake Quiet, PB Blaster (penetrating oil), Wire Brush, Slide Hammer, Axle Puller, Hammer, Loctite Blue, Rod for hub block.

Detroit Axle Rear Wheel Hub and Bearing Assembly: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I44VZKI/

Watch my other Taurus 2011 Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfkEsaQ3XSo&list

Watch my other hiking videos and gear reviews:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdxYynz7DmRoLfGNWYRI5wsvPi-WJ_OIa

Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAEjJfJjG43FBo_nLIbZoA?sub_confirmation=1

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