Mark Duval of Goffstown made his first 4,000-foot mountain climb in 1994, when a friend invited him along on a hike up Mount Moosilauke. Already an avid climber, Duval and his wife, Nina, had climbed Mount Washington several times, and after climbing “Moose Hillock” he began to make two or three serious climbs a year.

“After a while, I was starting to make a dent in the (Four- Thousand Peak) list,” he said. “It became a goal. I met a couple more avid hikers and this gave me a good pool of people to hike with and they shared their experiences.”

The 4,000 Foot Club was formed in 1957 to introduce hikers to some of the less well-known sections of the White Mountains. Currently a volunteer organization run by the American Mountain Club (AMC) Four Thousand Footer Committee, the New Hampshire club encourages and recognizes hikers that climb all of the White Mountain Region’s 48 4,000-foot peaks.

Duval has completed 40 successful climbs and doesn’t have too many more mountains left in New Hampshire. Now his hiking has become a family affair, as his daughter joins him to complete his list.

Preparations for each hike begin the night before, packing backpacks full of trail mix, clothes, and “miscellaneous stuff.”

“The most important thing is good hiking footwear. Foul weather gear and warm clothes are a must,” said Duval. “Bring plenty of water, five or six bottles. First-aid kit, flashlight and a good pack that distributes the weight. Don’t forget your trail maps and/or GPS.”

You will also want to bring your wallet, because there’s a $3 honor-system fee for parking at the trail heads.

Duval pointed out that these hikes are not for someone with a fear of heights.

“Some trails are very steep and come very close to some sharp drop-offs,” said Duval. Although he has yet to meet any bears, his wife advises caution to be on the safe side.

One late-fall trip in 2000 started out pleasantly enough, with warm weather and clear skies. However, the days are much shorter in November, and Duval and his companion found themselves still coming down Mount Passaconaway at 8 p.m., stumbling around in dense woods and grateful to finally find an old logging trail out to the highway.

If you are looking for the best views during your climb, Duval suggests the Tuckerman Ravine area. People who are just starting to climb might consider Mount Tecumseh, Mount Osceola and Mount Monadnock.

“The most difficult climb was the Flume Slide Trail. This one was very steep on very slippery rocks, and we were huffing and puffing when we got to the top.”

The Flume peak is smack dab in the middle of the Four- Thousand Peak list, at 4,328 feet.

The “shortest” peak on the list is Mount Tecumseh, at 4,003 feet. Duval’s first Four-Thousand Footer Mountain, back in 1994, happened to be in the top 10 out of the 48 mountains on the list, coming in at more than 4,800 feet. This year, his priority is to finish Mount Jefferson, which is 5,712 feet.