Ahhhh yes peak bagging! For those that are not now, nor ever have been afflicted with the illness I'll help you out a bit. Peak bagging is most commonly defined as climbing a peak or peaks for the primary purpose of checking that peak off a list of some sort that the hiker is "working on." Many feel that this is anathema to the very idea of what hiking is all about! Some feel that "the list" is the motivation to get them out enjoying the outdoors in the first place. In other words the very mention of peak bagging can stir quite a controversy!

      As to what I think? I think the important thing is that everyone "hikes their own hike." Personally I feel that the forest is sufficiently large that it can readily handle us all no matter how diverse our hiking philosophy is. And yes, I have participated in it to the extent that I have completed the AMC's NH 4000 footer list and at present am slowly working on giving it another round, in winter. I didn't start out to do it but one day it occcured to me that I had only had a few peaks left to have completed the list.

      After saying all that, let me say, some of my best friends are chronic peak baggers, beyond all hope of redemption. Therefore I feel it necessary to provide them and anyone else so afflicted, a variety of lists to calm their addiction.

      A couple of notes before the lists. Each of these lists are some individual's or groups compilation of peaks. Each one has their own criteria for their list. So before you start working on a list you would be best if you contacted the list compiler and verified exactly what is required to be "officially" considered as a completer of the list. Anyway, below are a few of the lists that are available. If none suit you, simply put together your own or search for one of the many other lists that are available for the New England area, but above all, it should be enjoyable. When you no longer enjoy working on the list it's time to find another or as I chose to do, give up hiking by a list and just go for a walk in the woods!

      Lastly, let me point any of you hardcore peak baggers to the very best site that I have found on the topic. It's titled simply Peakbagging the New England 4000 Footers and can't be beat for the shear amount of information available.

The Lists

• The AMC's White Mountain 4000 Footers
• The AMC's New England 4000 Footers
• The AMC's Hundred Highest
• The Trailwrights NH list

      And for one more list from the AMC why not expand it to cover the one hundred highest peaks in the aforementioned three state area. Obviously to do this they had to include summits that are less than 4000 feet. But as before, remember that the list excludes many peaks that do not meet their specified criteria.