“Twenty feet shy of the summit, was twenty feet shy of the truth.”
-from 4000s by 40
This page shows pictures from the experiences in Chapter 27 of 4000s by 40—the day Mount Isolation told me, “Nice try.” It’s a very long climb and the first time I hiked Isolation, I thought I passed over the summit. Turns out, I did not. If you’re exploring the White Mountains—or going on any mountain adventure for that matter—and want to get a laugh along the way, you can read more misadventures [here]. And to go along with the photos below, I’ve also added a quick retelling of events, along with quotes, to give you a small sense of what you’ll find in the book. Enjoy!
Hiking the Glen Boulder Trail
After a month hiatus from climbing the 4000-footers, I was ready to get back out there. I still had a few long climbs to complete the list of 48, and I thought Isolation would be a good one to try next. I also heard that most people finish their 48 on Mount Isolation and I wanted to see if I could end up finishing somewhere else. How foolish of me.
I chose to hike up the Glen Boulder route because it’s unique. Besides the beautiful view you get of Pinkham Notch when you reach the boulder, the boulder itself is a target destination unlike any other landmark in the 4000-footers. A glacial erratic, it beckons you to hurry up and meet it along the trail. When you arrive, you are rewarded with an incredible panorama of the notch—it’s an ideal place for a rest.
My arrival at the boulder had me feeling so good, I decided to go on a side quest for the Boot Spur, which is a subpeak of Mount Washington. It was a fool’s errand, spurred on by nothing but greed, and I would pay a price for my avarice.
Glen Boulder looking like something out of the treasure hunt in Romancing the Stone
Mount Isolation’s Summit?
After summiting the Boot Spur, I was all too glad to descend the Davis Path to the summit of Mount Isolation. The Boot Spur, like Washington, Jefferson, and Adams, is relatively barren, with an overwhelming number of rocks and sparse vegetation. Turning around, the earth was greener and more welcoming, and I found myself smiling again. But I was tired. Really tired. I hadn’t done anything like this in a long time and my body was not prepared. The exhaustion led to a lack of awareness and a summit failure.
To ascend Isolation, you actually have to descend the Davis Path, and when I arrived at a wooded area with a sign that said Mount Isolation, I didn’t compute that it was pointing to a spur trail. I didn’t know what it was pointing to, so I pulled out my ViewRanger App to pinpoint my location. As I walked along the path, head down looking at my phone, ViewRanger indicated that I was standing on the summit. Too tired to contemplate an alternative, that was good enough for me. I wanted out. So, without giving it another thought, I took off to head down one of the worst trails I’ve ever had the privilege to hike: The Rocky Branch.
The David Path down to Isolation
ViewRanger said this was the summit! What the heck?!
The Worst Trail Ever: The Rocky Branch
Of all the trails in New Hampshire I’ve hiked, the Rocky Branch might be my least favorite. It’s rocky. It’s branchy. And more than a little buggy. I got stuck in mud, tripped on roots, and scraped myself on fallen branches. It’s been a long time since I’ve checked it out, but at the time I hiked it, you would think someone sabotaged it on purpose. It was a mess.
But, I thought, I only have to climb this once. Little did I know that when I got home that evening, it would finally occur to me that what I thought was the summit of Mount Isolation wasn’t the summit at all. I had missed the spur trail and needed to go another twenty vertical feet to actually lay claim to it.
Hitchhiking Again
After descending the Rocky Branch trail, bruised and battered, I needed to trek 3.5 miles down the road to get back to the truck. Fortunately, about halfway along I got picked up by a guy in a Volvo, who told me that someone bailed him out with a ride the previous week, and he wanted to return the karma. Now inappropriately at ease with hitchhiking in New Hampshire’s northern regions, I accepted his offer without reservations.
It was a very long day, but I was feeling proud that I had knocked this mountain off my list. When I was back in my truck and started regaining some of my energy, I sensed something was off about the day, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I didn’t figure it out until later that night, when I should have been dead asleep.
“I never stood at the summit at all? A flurry of swears escaped me as I sat straight up in bed, startling Liz awake.”
Book: 4000s by 40
If you like reading about the mountains, the 4000-footers, and the ups and downs of getting “out there,” check out 4000s by 40.
Looking for photos of more 4000-footers? Head back to the 4000s by 40 Visual Companion to explore the other peaks.
The Boot Spur — or, as I like to think of it, the Fool’s Errand.
🥾 Ascent Details: Glen Boulder → Boot Spur → Davis Path → Mount Isolation → Rocky Branch Trail
- Total Distance: ~15.5 to 16.5 miles
- Total Elevation Gain: ~5,000–5,300 feet
- Trail Type: Point-to-point or loop (requires road walk or car spot between trailheads)
- Duration: 8–12 hours depending on pace and breaks
⛰️ Segment Breakdown
1. Glen Boulder Trail to Boot Spur
- Distance: ~3.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~3,000 ft
- Highlights:
- Steep and exposed early
- Passes the Glen Boulder (a massive glacial erratic)
- Incredible views above treeline
- Wind-prone, often foggy
2. Boot Spur to Davis Path Junction
- Distance: ~1.0 mile
- Rolling ridgeline with rocky footing
- Spectacular alpine views with Mount Washington nearby
3. Davis Path to Mount Isolation
- Distance: ~3.6 miles one way
- Moderate ups and downs, but long and can be slow going
- Trail becomes more wooded and isolated (true to the name)
- Summit: 4,004 ft, with limited views from the actual summit but some good lookouts nearby
4. Descent via Isolation Trail → Rocky Branch Trail
- Distance: ~6.5–7.0 miles (including spur from Isolation summit)
- Conditions:
- Rocky Branch Trail is notorious: muddy, eroded, buggy, overgrown in spots
- Multiple water crossings—can be tricky in high water
- Very gradual, but feels long and rough underfoot
🚗 Logistics
- Start: Glen Ellis Falls parking lot (Route 16)
- End: Rocky Branch Trailhead (Jericho Road)
→ Or loop it by walking 3.5 miles on Route 16 back to your car (adds ~1 hour)
🧭 Tips
- Boot Spur detour is optional, but it adds scenic value and elevation.
- Water can be sparse after Glen Boulder; refill before Isolation if possible.
- Navigation: Use GPS or a map—Davis Path is remote and lightly traveled.
- Avoid Rocky Branch after heavy rain due to poor drainage and crossings.
- Bring bug spray and long sleeves—blackflies and ticks love the Rocky Branch.
The road home.