3-1-09: Day hike in the Whites (madison and beyond)

[hikes-with-him]

Hi all...

Planning a day hike to bag Madison (to avenge our being turned back so CLOSE to the top last week)...and want to make a day of it. Here is our plan:

Valley way to the Madison Spring hut
Osgood to the summit of Madison and back to the hut
Parapet from Star Lake to Osgood junction...
Up and over the top of Madison (yes, again) back to the hut
back to the car...via Valley way...

What do you all think? Are these trails ok for Winter hiking...are there any other possibilities so we can fill up the day (I don't mind getting back to the car a little after dark...as long as we are close before dark)...

Thanks...you all seem very knowledgable of the area so I know you'll have some great suggestions.

 

[--M.]

We've done the Parapet in June: very brushy, rooty, challenging to negotiate, thick scrub & krumholz in yer face. Not sure how it would look with a couple feet of snow on it. Tilted, perhaps?

 

[AndyF]

There was snow up at the Madison Gulf/Parapet junction in June last year when there was little elswhere. So I imagine the snow really piles up that side of Madison.

 

[Mike P.]

My .02; Parapet, not a great idea. Snow until June would indicate a likely snowfield for wind deposited snow off of Madison, likely tilted, a slip on tilted hard pack sends you where? (run out to ?) For extra fun, head up Adams if conditions allow.

 

[hikes-with-him]

Ok...so, nix the parapet...we want to hit star lake...

Other suggestions to fill the day?

I know...with all the snow...it might take some time to just get TO the summit of Madison. But, just in case some wonderful soul(s) break the trail for us...where else can we go? We are not spotting a car so we need to return via the Valley Way

 

[Mike P.]

You could return via Airline & Scar to Valley Way

 

[MichaelJ]

And if the snow is melted ... the Parapet Trail is "most unpleasant" with pretty terrible rock and root footing. Good choice to avoid it.

 

[hikes-with-him]

You could return via Airline & Scar to Valley Way

I think we are going up Airline...to Scar (and Scar Loop) to Valley way...to the hut...

Then down all the way by Valley way?

Is the Scar Loop trail something doable in the winter?

 

[wardsgirl]

Scar Trail was pretty overgrown the last time I was there. It would definitely be better to descend than ascend. You can always decide when you get there.

 

[DougPaul]

I think we are going up Airline...to Scar (and Scar Loop) to Valley way...to the hut...

Then down all the way by Valley way?

Is the Scar Loop trail something doable in the winter?

Back in my outing club days, up Scar to Airline, Adams, Madison, and down Valley Way was a nice (and favorite) loop. Probably still is...

Doug

 

[hikes-with-him]

Back in my outing club days, up Scar to Airline, Adams, Madison, and down Valley Way was a nice (and favorite) loop. Probably still is...

Doug

Up Airline...in the winter? Isn't there a pretty decent knife's edge? How would that be in the winter?

 

[carole]

Up Airline...in the winter? Isn't there a pretty decent knife's edge? How would that be in the winter?

Though called 'knife's edge' there is never a real narrow, fall off, area. It can be quite nice in winter as long as the winds out of King Ravine let you continue.

 

[AndyF]

Airline and Valley way all return to Appalachia (as do many other trails) so skip less used Scar Tr altogether.

 

[DougPaul]

Airline and Valley way all return to Appalachia (as do many other trails) so skip less used Scar Tr altogether.

We used to prefer Scar Tr because it routes one around a steep section on Airline. Either should work.

Doug

 

[DougPaul]

Up Airline...in the winter? Isn't there a pretty decent knife's edge? How would that be in the winter?

Though called 'knife's edge' there is never a real narrow, fall off, area. It can be quite nice in winter as long as the winds out of King Ravine let you continue.

Bare knife edge/narrow ridges (eg the Knife Edge in Baxter, the northern part of Franconia Ridge) have the advantage that snow is often (generally in the case of the two examples) blown off them and the way can be relatively clear.

As Carole notes, Airline is not scary. It gives nice views and makes a nice loop with Valley Way.

Doug