by Talal Khan
Date: September 5th, 2025
Our newest adventure planned months ago was to take place in Gorham, New Hampshire. Attending this trip were 8 crazy members of the group, I will give a brief recap of who they are
- Zubair Kareem, one of the wisest men you will ever meet, Neurologist, Philosopher, writer
- The Benjamin Brothers, Shahid, Hamid and Zahid Habib. Serial Entrepreneur, Go Getters, Lahoris, Life of the party
- Fahim Kazi, known as a Cycling God, Self Described news junkie, Sarcastic humor, Hyderabad Don
- Atif Gul, Athlete, Proud Pathan, Fahim’s fellow cycling partner
- Masih Farooqui: Golfer, Oncologist, Silent philanthropy champion, Steady Hiker
- Mohammad Attique, Self made Business owner, Easy going, Owner of Monster truck, Outdoor enthusiast
- Talal Khan, Group lead, self-described white man from Alabama in a brown man’s body, Mountain lover, leader of brown MAGA movement
All of us decided to meet at Glen House. I arrived at Zubair Bhais home in early afternoon where Attique, myself and Zubair Bhai rode in his monster truck. Attiq should charge us for the chauffeur driven experience to Gorham in his comfortable truck. The ride is four hours and beautiful as the road transcends and snakes through beautiful mountains and hills in Vermont and New Hampshire. We stopped for tea, coffee and desert at Cappadocia café in white river junction. This is an amazing café with a Turkish vibe, flat breads, savoring pastries and ma favorite, Turkish tea.
Cappadochia Cafe Treats
We were the first to reach Glen House, our home for the night and I checked everyone in to make it easy for the group. Glen House is strategically located from several trailheads and is a cozy lodge perched at the base of Mount Washington, offering panoramic views of the Presidential Range and a perfect mix of comfort and adventure. We had an amazing dinner at Notch Grille and some late-night banter by the fireplace before retiring to our comfortable beds.
Next morning we got up bright and early and after taking some customary pictures, we decided to drive to the trailhead where we all gathered with full gear and heavyset backpacks. Our goal was to summit Mount Adams and Mount Madison, two giants of the Presidential Range — a rugged spine of peaks named after U.S. presidents and other historic figures. This alpine corridor includes the tallest mountains in New England and is notorious for its unpredictable weather, steep terrain, and jaw-dropping views. These trails are not for the faint of heart, but they reward hikers with a sense of accomplishment that few other places can offer.
Mr Cool with Zubair Bhai
Our route started at short line trail and took us deep into the wilds of the King Ravine, a glacial cirque known for its sheer rock walls, mossy boulder fields, and an almost otherworldly silence. Within this ravine lies a true gem of White Mountains hiking — the Chemin des Dames, a narrow, exposed scramble up a steep rock ridge on the ravine’s headwall. French for “Ladies’ Path,” the name Chemin des Dames is thought to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to the historic World War I battlefield in France, known for its brutal fighting and treacherous terrain. While the trail has no direct connection to the war, the name likely reflects the same stark, rugged character and perhaps a bit of dark hiker humor.
The trail itself is short but intense: hands-and-feet climbing, narrow ledges, and sweeping drop-offs that will test your nerves as much as your legs. It’s not an official AMC-maintained trail, but it’s well-worn and beloved by those who seek adventure. For us, it was one of the most thrilling parts of the hike,exposed, exciting, and unforgettable. One of our members got sick while on this trail with some exhaustion and cramps. He was brave enough to continue and reach the Madison hut despite getting cramps.
Survived Chemin Des Dames
From the top of Chemin des Dames, we connected with the Airline Trail to reach the node in the trail where you can see both Mount Adams (5,799 ft), and Mount Madison (5,367 ft). Also visible between the two peaks lies the historic Madison Spring Hut, perched high in the clouds at around 4,800 feet. First built in 1888, it’s the oldest of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s backcountry huts. Though rebuilt several times due to fire and the harsh alpine environment, it remains a vital stop for hikers tackling the Presidential Traverse, offering bunk beds, warm meals, and a rustic sense of community in the mountains
Most of us decided to summit Mount Adams. The heavy backpacks and the climb was physically taxing on all of us and it took a lot of willpower and determination to continue towards the summit rather than the warm comfort of the hut.
Field Marshall Shahid Habib
Shahid was the fearless leader of the group leading the hike and was given the rank of Field Marshall by the group, a playful jab at the current COAS of Pakistan. Shahid did remind us that he was not a Hafiz e Quran and does not technically qualify for the rank.
Reaching the summit was a surreal experience, a sense of triumph rushes through your body elevating your mood and giving you the contentment, only a serial hiker can feel. After taking some pictures we descended down to the hut. We made it in good time despite Fahim’s cautious approach on descents and were just in time for dinner.
One of the most impressive parts of the experience was seeing the work of the Madison Spring Hut crew, known affectionately as the “croo.” These are seasonal volunteers and staff from the Appalachian Mountain Club who live and work at the hut during the hiking season. Their responsibilities go far beyond just cooking meals and welcoming guests. Several times a week, they hike up and down the mountain with massive “packboards” strapped to their backs, hauling supplies ranging from food and fuel to linens and waste, often carrying 40 to 80 pounds or more on rugged, rocky trails. It’s a physically grueling job, but one done with genuine enthusiasm and deep respect for the mountain environment. Their energy, friendliness, and hard work add a unique and human touch to the high alpine experience, reminding us that even in remote and rugged places, hospitality and community are very much alive. One of our “croo” members was 105 pounds, just completed the Appalachian trail in early August before volunteering to host at the summit.
We were served a 5 course warm meal comprising of pea soup, warm bread, kale salad, sweet corn, southern chicken and some dessert. But dinner isn’t just dinner, it’s a show. Before each course, the croo gathers everyone for announcements, trail updates, and a hilarious round of puns, campy skits, or inside-joke-laced humor that’s become a signature part of the AMC hut experience. We shared the table with a sibling family from New Jersey. Tired and weary, we shared laughter and the warm meal. Right after some of us joined the sunset walk with educational lecture on Alpine plants and the rest went to bed in hostel style bunk beds. I stayed up and read some of the books in the library before calling it a night, dreaming about seeing the sunrise next morning at Mount Madison.
The night was surprisingly peaceful. I woke up as usual around 5 am and motivated Zubair Bhai and Atiq to join in my quest to do the peak of Mount Madison. Our goal was to do it in an hour and be back for breakfast. We left without our backpacks and water and made our way up running up almost to reach the summit.
Mount Madison Summit
Mount Madison Sunrise
It was cloudy with 360 degrees view of the valley. It was amazing to see clouds woven by Allah as cotton floating around announcing His magnificence as the Creator. Exercising some God consciousness, I marveled at the views. The wind was gushing so hard that it felt like it would take me as a rag doll flying down from the summit. Spending some time, we descended quickly and made it in time for scrambled eggs, coffee and a hearty breakfast. We took some pictures, gathered our things and started going down on valley way trail towards the parking.
On our way down we saw the “croo” taking down the load as if they had no care in the world, gliding over the rocks where some of us felt like every step, would lead to a fall. We also met a seven year old girl that had done the 48 four thousand footers in New Hampshire. Maybe she will be a part of the croo one day.
As we neared the end, we came upon a small, icy-cold alpine pond, crystal-clear and fed by mountain springs. After miles of hiking under the sun, dipping our hands (and some brave feet) into the fresh water felt like nature’s version of a cold plunge. It was the perfect final touch to a day full of high peaks, exposed ridges, and the kind of camaraderie only mountain trails can create.
Rolling up to the parking lot, after making lifelong memories, we took off our hiking shoes, as I personally wore my ofos sleepers which are a God send for tired feed. We drove down to Cappadocia café where we had some flat bread and Turkish rea before heading home. As I got into my car, I felt blessed to have been able to do this with this group of guys, especially with my spiritual guide and life coach, my elder brother, Zubair Kareem.
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