Hough (pronounced Huff) and I have a history.  First off, when I did it in the summer of 2020, it was #45 for me on my way to finishing on Dix, and I was riding that hikers high at knowing you're almost done with the big challenge, and also on fumes since I camped out the night before, it rained, and another 2 tents popped up around 1 in the morning.

I next attempted Hough in Jan 2023.  We started at the ungodly hour of 4 in the morning going up Macomb, over to Grace, then down to the col between South and Hough.  We were 0.2 away from the peak but both decided we had it, and we were dead when we got back to our cars.

I last attempted Hough a couple weeks ago when I did Dix.  Once I got to the top of Dix, I knew I was done for the day.  The rest of the group went on and got Hough, and also came out to the trailhead at 1 in the morning while I was out just after 5... they added only 3 miles to the hike.

Since that hike we've had at least a foot if not 2 or 3 fall.  We've had heightened avalanche awareness posts because someone in NH was caught in one.  Avalanches are not common in the north east, less so on the hiking trails, but it is still something to keep in mind.  Avoiding the trails that go up slides is the biggest thing to think about since if there was a slide, there was at least once an avalanche (snow or mud) and it is more likely to happen there again.  The risk does goes down the longer you wait after a significant snow fall, generally drastically reduced risk after 3 days.  

The other concern comes in the form of spruce traps.  This is where you're feet above the ground and walk over an evergreen tree, generally a spruce or fir as that is the kind of tree we have that can form these traps.  You unknowingly walk over one of these trees and break through.  If you're lucky, it's just your foot that goes in.  If you're unlucky, your entire body falls in and you're stuck.  With a multi-foot base up high, this becomes a big concern.  I've stepped into a few of these this winter, but only one foot and only as deep as my hip.  The worst being on the narrow trail on the top of Dix.

So, I am going to do Hough this weekend, and I'm not sure I'm going to make it to the top.  (planning considerations are here) It's just about 15 miles, but only 2700 feet.  5 of those miles are road walk which is relatively easy, and also where I broke a link on my first set of microspikes.  I don't expect to have any issues until I turn off to go up Lillian Brook, and event that, the first mile is a moderate climb at around 10%, it shouldn't be too bad as long as I can find the likely path.  That lat mile up though I know will be tough.  It gets to 50% steepness at one point which along with trail breaking will be difficult to navigate.  Unlike a lot of the bushwack/herd path routes I've done, this one goes up the valley, not up the spine or ridge of a mountain.  That means I'm more likely to see deeper snow than elsewhere.  If I make it to the col between South and Hough, it will be a steep 1500 feet, and based on pictures from 2 weekends ago, the sign (a yellow disk with Hough written on it in sharpie) may not even be visible.

It's going to be a long day, but I am determined to get this peak that's eluded me twice before.