Post- Hike Notes

The Cohos Trail is a rugged and tough hike through New Hampshire's wild northern backcountry.  If you are from out-of-state and only have experience hiking western trails, or if you have never hiked mountainous territory in New England, then please understand that these trails are not graded for horses/mules, that New Hampshire doesn't believe in switchbacks, and that weather here can and often does turn on the drop of a dime.  This is one of the most difficult areas to hike in the USA.  Our trails are full of boulders and roots, and the path is sometimes only as wide as your foot.  We have ticks, thorns, snakes, mosquitoes, spiders, and blackflies everywhere on the trail.  If you're really lucky, you'll find ground wasps too.  (Yes, we also have moose and bear, but moose and bear really aren't a concern unless you decide to use your food sack as a pillow.  Leave them alone and give them space, and they'll return the favor).

Given the above, you will need to carry appropriate layers for all types of weather, plus of course a sleeping bag, sleeping pads, and a tent/tarp/shelter.

Most of what you need to know can be found in the Databook, so I won't reinvent the wheel here.  Buy the Databook -- seriously, I wouldn't try this trail without both that and the map.  I have two things to add to what the Databook already states.

Resupply/food options:

(High Peaks Route Only) -- Lakes of the Clouds Hut (summer only).  You cannot do a true resupply here!  Just a place to grab soup, power bars, candy bars, and whatever baked goods they're selling.

Route 3 -- Fabyans gas station/convenience store -- lots of variety, plus sandwiches, pizza slices, etc.

Applebrook Bed and Breakfast on Route 115A -- you can leave a resupply box here.  Plus, it's an excellent place to treat yourself for an evening's stay.

Old Corner Store gas station/convenience store on Route 2, half a mile north of Applebrook's -- typical gas station/convenience store food.  Good for a day's worth of food but I wouldn't buy a few days' supply here.

Stark Village Inn -- Nancy Spaulding will hold a resupply box for you . Her Inn is three miles off the trail, so consider spending a night here -- good lodging, great breakfast, and Nancy will drive you back to the trail the next day.

Coleman State Park -- the ranger will hold a resupply box for you at the main office.  Note their hours of operation on the day you want to arrive.  Also a good place to spend a night or take a zero.  There is also food available at the park, but truly not much...don't depend on what they have to feed you for a day.

Young's Store at Happy Corners in Pittsburgh -- Little grocery store that has everything you want.

Cell reception

I have Verizon.  Places I had decent cell reception included: Mt. Eisenhower, Route 302 from Mt. Washington Hotel to Fabyans, Applebrook B&B, Terrace Mountain, Mt. Cabot, Stark Village Inn, Baldface Lean-To, Panorama Shelter, Young's Store/Happy Corners.  That being said, never count on cell reception anywhere as a general rule.  

Significant places where you will have NO RECEPTION -- Likely everywhere not mentioned above, plus -- on the trails before and between shelters north of Stark, and everywhere north of Pittsburgh, including the Canadian border.  If you have someone picking you up at the border, they need to know that if either you or they have a sudden change of plans, there is no way to communicate those plans....so make sure your ride is rock solid or you might get stuck at the border, which is over 20 miles from Pittsburgh.  

If you are a New Englander who loves to backpack, then this trail is for you.  Far more rugged than any of the other thru-hikes or long sections of trails we've done (Camino, JMT, China's Great Wall, and Iceland's Laugevegur Trek).

Hope this blog has been of use.  Happy Hiking!