White Mountain Direttissima

I first attempted this route in 2016. While doing it in an unsupported style (carrying all my own food & gear), I did invite friends out to join me and also cached battery bricks so that I could document the effort. I finished in just under six days. I knew there was a lot of time for improvement but didn't feel the desire to return until last summer (2024). My 2024 effort would build on everything I had learned and experienced since 2016. I had better endurance, an intimate knowledge of the trails,  and gear has come a long way. Unfortunately I DNF'd halfway through due to anterior tibialis tendonitis. This year I made sure to fix my weakness and give the route an honest effort, shooting for five days. Here's how it went.

I woke up before my 3:30 AM alarm and started to gather my gear at home in Jackson, NH. It’s a little over an hour's drive to the Beaver Brook Trailhead, and I wanted to get an early start while still feeling rested. I’ve learned my lesson about squandering valuable daylight, so I woke Hilary up and let her know I was ready to go.

We arrived at 4:40 AM, and I was on trail by 4:49 AM. I dropped my pack and headed up the first peak of the day with fresh legs as the sky began to brighten. The climb was uneventful — I startled a white-tailed deer as I moved efficiently. It’s easy to get in your head on a route like this — so much trail ahead, and doubt creeps in. The summit was socked in, a theme for the morning. I touched the sign and turned around. Everything was going smoothly until I slipped on a greasy rock and fell hard on my tailbone. My lower back compressed and lit up my spine. I considered calling Hilary to come back and pick me up, thinking maybe I’d start tomorrow or next week. I took a handful of Advil and decided to press on. My back hurt the rest of the day.

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