New Hampshire
This Trail in White Mountain National Forest is Worth the Climb
When considering a hike, many often look at the payoff. For photographers, this may be the views along the way, especially at a summit. Those looking to use a hike as a way to fulfill their daily exercise goal look for the length and difficulty of a trail. Some merely look for a flat, easy trail so they can pop on some headphones and zone out for a few hours. Others want a trail with some history and/or excitement along the way.
In truth, there are fewer people than one might expect who view hiking as a hobby and not as a means to an end. These people are actually surprisingly easy to spot, because these are the people who take those hard hikes that aren’t famous on social media and remain off the beaten path. The Hancock Trail in New Hampshire, as it happens, is a great example of such a hike that hobbyist hikers choose for the love of the activity.
The trail is located in the White Mountain National Forest, an area that was once one of the most remote in New Hampshire before a highway system was established. This remote status means that parking is free, but note that there are no bathrooms. It also means that the area is popular for camping and seasonal activities such as snowshoeing, so you may be surprised by how many locals and tourists visit the trail/area. Taking just over nine miles to complete, this loop hike is not for the faint of heart. Although when considering the trail as a whole, one could find it to be of moderate difficulty, the truth is that many miles of it are flat, but other parts are so steep that scrambling is required, and the hike does require 2,600 feet in elevation gain.
Hikers recommend doing this hike in a clockwise fashion. During the trek, which takes about six hours, you’ll walk through forests, pass over rivers, and scramble up mountains to reach two summits with pleasant views of the surrounding mountains before you loop back around to the parking lot. Although, as mentioned, good amounts of the trail are flat and other parts can be dangerous—especially on the South Mountain, where the rocks are known to be loose. To get up safely, it’s recommended to use the protruding roots as handholds if you find yourself in a particularly steep area. You can also bring hiking poles and, of course, wear sturdy footwear.
For those looking for pictures, the two summits offer lovely views, especially during fall foliage season. For those looking for a great workout, you’ve certainly got one. For those looking for an easy trail to listen to music and zone out on, well, it’s not an easy trail, but you could certainly still use your headphones. Finally, for those looking for excitement, this trail may be a bit long for you, but the steep sections are certainly a thrill in and of themselves. Then, for those hikers using this trail for the love of the hobby (perhaps looking for a bit of everything), it’ll be easy to enjoy the variety of experiences that the Hancock Trail and the surrounding White Mountain National Forest offer!
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An Alton man is dead after a snowmobile crash in New Hampshire’s North Country Thursday afternoon.
The New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game says 63-year-old Bradford Jones was attempting to negotiate a left hand turn on Corridor Trail 5 in Colebrook when he lost control of his snowmobile, struck multiple trees off the side of the trail and was thrown from the vehicle shortly before 3:30 p.m.
Jones was riding with another snowmobiler, who was in the lead at the time of the crash, according to the agency. Once the other man realized Jones was no longer behind him, he turned around and traveled back where he found Jones significantly injured, lying off the trail beside his damaged snowmobile.
The man immediately rendered aid to Jones and called 911 for assistance, NH Fish and Game said. The Colebrook Fire Department used their rescue tracked all terrain vehicle and a specialized off road machine to transport first responders across about a mile of trail to the crash scene.
Once there, a conservation officer and 45th Parallel EMS staff attempted lifesaving measures for approximately an hour, but Jones ultimately died from his injuries at the scene of the crash, officials said.
The crash remains under investigation, but conservation officers are considering speed for the existing trail conditions to have been a primary factor in this deadly incident.
Recently, I met with a husband who had been caring for his wife since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Her needs were escalating quickly — appointments, medications, meals, personal care — and he was determined to keep her at home. But the cost to his own wellbeing was undeniable. He was sleep‑deprived, depressed, and beginning to experience cognitive decline himself.
As director of the Referral Education Assistance & Prevention (REAP) program at Seacoast Mental Health Center, which supports older adults and caregivers across New Hampshire in partnership with the CMHC’s across the state, I hear stories like his every week. And his experience is far from unique.
Across the country, 24% of adults are family caregivers. Here in New Hampshire, 281,000 adults provide this essential care, often with little preparation or support. Only 11% receive any formal training to manage personal care tasks — yet they are the backbone of our long‑term care system, helping aging parents, spouses, and loved ones remain safely at home. (AARP, 2025)
REAP provides short‑term counseling, education, and support for older adults, caregivers, and the professionals who support them. We address concerns around mental health, substance use and cognitive functioning. After 21 years working with caregivers, I have seen how inadequate support directly harms families. Caregiving takes a serious toll — emotionally, physically, socially and financially. Many experience depression, chronic stress, and increased risk of alcohol or medication misuse.
In REAP’s own data from 2024:
- 50% of caregivers reported moderate to severe depression
- 29% reported suicidal ideation in the past two weeks
- 25% screened positive for at‑risk drinking
Their responsibilities go far beyond tasks like medication management and meal preparation. They interpret moods, manage behavioral changes, ease emotional triggers, and create meaningful engagement for the person they love. Their world revolves around the care recipient — often leading to isolation, loss of identity, guilt, and ongoing grief.
The statistics reflect what I see every week. Nearly one in four caregivers feels socially isolated. Forty‑three percent experience moderate to high emotional stress. And 31% receive no outside help at all.
Compare that to healthcare workers, who work in teams, receive breaks, have coworkers who step in when overwhelmed, and are trained and compensated for their work. Even with these supports, burnout is common. Caregivers receive none of these protections yet are expected to shoulder the same level of responsibility — alone, unpaid, and unrecognized.
Senate Bill 608 in New Hampshire would finally begin to fill these gaps. The bill provides access to counseling, peer support, training, and caregiver assessment for family caregivers of individuals enrolled in two Medicaid waiver programs: Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) and Choices for Independence (CFI). These services would address the very needs I see daily.
Professional counseling helps caregivers process the complex emotions of watching a loved one decline or manage the stress that comes with it. Peer support connects them with others navigating similar challenges. Caregiver assessment identifies individual needs before families reach crisis.
When caregivers receive the right support, everyone benefits. The care recipient receives safer, more compassionate care. The caregiver’s health stabilizes instead of deteriorating from chronic stress and neglect. And costly options, which many older adults want to avoid, are delayed or prevented.
There is a direct and measurable link between caregiver training and caregiver wellbeing. The spouse I mentioned earlier is proof. Through REAP, he received education about his wife’s diagnosis, guidance on communication and behavior, and strategies to manage his own stress. Within weeks, his depression decreased from moderate to mild without medication. He was sleeping through the night and thinking more clearly. His frustration with his wife dropped significantly because he finally understood what she was experiencing and how to respond compassionately.
The real question before lawmakers is not whether we can afford SB 608. It is whether we can afford to continue ignoring the needs of those who hold our care system together. In 1970, we had 31 caregivers for every one person needing care. By 2010, that ratio dropped to 7:1. By 2030, it is projected to be 4:1. Our caregiver supply is shrinking while needs continue to grow. Without meaningful support, our systems — healthcare, long‑term care, and community supports — cannot function. (AARP, 2013)
Caregivers don’t ask for much. They want to keep their loved ones safe, comfortable, and at home. They want to stay healthy enough to continue providing care. SB 608 gives them the tools to do exactly that.
I urge New Hampshire lawmakers to support SB 608 and stand with the 281,000 residents who are quietly holding our care system together. We cannot keep waiting until caregivers collapse to offer help. We must provide the support they need now — before the burden becomes too heavy to bear.
Anne Marie Sirrine, LICSW, CDP is a staff therapist and the director of the REAP (Referral Education Assistance & Prevention) program at Seacoast Mental Health Center.
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