Mt. Eisenhower - NH 4,000'er Series #11 of 48

New Hampshire, USA has 48 mountains over 4,000' (1,200 m) high. Since 1957, the Appalachian Mountain Club has awarded just over 10,000 hikers admission to the AMC Four Thousand Footer Club for climbing all 48 peaks in a lifetime.

Mt. Eisenhower (4,780' or 1,457 m) is a prominent feature of NH's Presidential Range. These are the highest mountains in NH, and many are named for US Presidents. However, Mt. Eisenhower was originally known as Dome Mountain, Pleasant Mountain, or Pleasant Dome.  The peak-naming party in 1820 ran out of presidents after Madison, so Dome Mountain was named because of its appearance.  The current Mt. Washington Hotel is built on the site of the original Mt. Pleaant House, and it continues to run the Mt. Pleasant Golf Course.  In 1969, the mountain was renamed Mt. Eisenhower by the NH Legislature, with pressure from former governor Sherman Adams who had served as Eisenhower's chief of staff while he was president.  The mountain has beautiful 360 degree views, from towering Mt. Washington in the north, over the valleys to the east and west, and the rest of the White Mountains stretching to the south.

Mt. Eisenhower may climbed alone, or in combination with other Presidentials.  Mt. Eisenhower is most often climbed by the Edmands Path to the Mt. Eisenhower Loop Trail.  It is 6.6 miles with 2,750' of elevation gain.  The trail is never steep, and the footing is mostly good.  The only above-treeline exposure comes near the end of the hike.  Mt. Eisenhower can be combined with Mt. Monroe by using the Amonoosuc Ravine Trail, the Crawford Path, and the Edmands Path for a 9 mile hike with 3,350' of elevation gain.  A more frequent loop is over Mt. Eisenhower and Mt. Pierce going up the Edmands Path and down the Crawford Path for a hike of 8.1 miles with 3,100' of elevation gain.  Both loop hikes have extended distances above treeline.