“Days are days. You can’t wait for better ones, or warmer ones. If you let one day slide, it only gets easier to skip the next one—and before you know it, a heap load of time has passed and you are nowhere closer to reaching your goal.”
— from 4000s by 40
This page coincides with photos from Chapter 10 in 4000s by 40. Tecumseh is where I finally got to attempt skiing down a 4000-footer after climbing it. I’m not gonna lie—I was giddy about it. But there were a lot of previous mistakes that helped this climb go without a hitch. For more on those—and other lessons learned along the way—you can read the whole story [here]. And to go along with the photos below, I’ve also added a quick retelling of events, along with quotes from the book, to give a small sense of what you’ll find inside. Happy reading!
The Mount Tecumseh Trail
Failing to ski down Moosilauke had stuck with me, and I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I figured out a way to ski something. Tecumseh (aka Waterville Valley) looked like the best option to give it a try, and it worked out great. I loved the idea of sneaking onto Waterville Valley via the Tecumseh Mountain Trail, and when I eventually crossed over to the ski trails, I went completely undetected by staff and guests alike. And I got in some great turns!
I couldn’t believe that the day I picked to carry my skis up a mountain, it was actually snowing! Deep within my blood I could feel the call of a thousand Viking warriors shout, “to Valhalla!” Oh, this was going to be a good day.
Summiting Tecumseh
Even with skis on my back, at this point in the adventure I was starting to get in pretty good shape, and the ascent felt a lot easier than my other climbs. I set my pack down for a little break, and perhaps to admire it, but I didn’t linger long. I was too excited to collect my reward!
Look at that beauty.
Because of the speed with which I ascended, and the rapid descent on skis, I didn’t reflect much until the drive home. But it was starting to occur to me that with this adventure I was on, it was about more than just climbing a bunch of mountains. Midlife was prompting me to reexamine all of the steps I was taking, and it made me realize that my dream of being a writer had been put on hold for too long.
“How can I look my kids in the eyes and tell them to pursue their dreams if I never do it myself? How can I be of full service to anybody when I short-change myself?”
Exploring New Hampshire’s Mountains
📖 Curious about what it’s like to climb all 48 of NH’s 4000-footers? 4000s by 40 explores each peak, sharing stories of interesting characters and mishaps on the trail.
📸 Want to see photos of other 4000-footers? You can find more here: 4000s by 40 Visual Companion
Mount Tecumseh Ascent Details
- Route: Mount Tecumseh Trail – A relatively short but steady climb through the forest with moderate switchbacks and some rocky sections. This is one of the easier routes to a New Hampshire 4000-footer, making it a great option for hikers in all seasons. If you’re bringing your skis with you, once you cross the Sosman Trail over the ridgeline (.6 miles), you’ll pop out onto Waterville Valley’s ski trails. For my descent, I chose Tippecanoe, Lower Tippy, and then Lower Periphery.
- Elevation Gain: 2,163 Feet
- Miles to Summit: 2.5 miles
- Total Distance: 3.1 miles to get to the ski mountain
- Trailhead Location: Mount Tecumseh Trailhead at Waterville Valley Ski Area, located off Tripoli Road in Waterville Valley, NH.
Mount Tecumseh Hiking & Skiing Resources
If you’re planning to hike or ski Mount Tecumseh, these resources will help:
- 📍 Peakbagger.com – Mount Tecumseh – Track your 4000-footer progress, log summits, and check elevation data.
- 🎿 Waterville Valley Ski Resort – Official resort site for lift access, trail conditions, and skiing information. It also has a webcam showing the current conditions.
- 🌦 Weather & Trail Conditions – Mount Washington Observatory – Useful for checking forecasts and real-time conditions in the White Mountains.
- 🗺 AMC Trail Maps – It’s always a good idea to carry a reliable map, especially in winter.
