Best hike from Dolly Copp area

[ADK4Life]

Is there any advice a hardened White Mountain barfly give for a great trail in this area, I would prefer 15 miles or less. Scrambling is a must.

So far ascending the Great Gulf Trail or Six Husbands to the top of the ridge and making my way to Madison and back down looks good.

Any info would be great.


James

 

[David Metsky]

From Dolly Copp you can go up the Daniel Webster Scout trail which starts right in the campgound. That'll take you up to Osgood Ridge and then to Madison. You can loop over Adams, down Buttress, and up Osgood Ridge back to the Scout trail.

If you are going to drive, a loop up Great Gulf trail to Sphinx or Six Husbands, then loop all the way back along the ridge and down Osgood to GG and your car, or Osgood to Scout and your tent.

After finishing up with the Great Gulf side of things you should drive around to the other side of the mountain and park at Appalachia on Rt 2. Go up the King Ravine trail to the summit of Adams, loop over to Jefferson, and down via the Randolph Path.

-dave-

 

[el-bagr]

If you'd rather walk a few more easy miles than drive, why not take the Great Gulf (Link? Trail?) right out of Dolly Copp to Osgood down low or to Great Gulf, then do one of the loops Dave suggests. They're all good. I'd recommend 6 Husbands up and Osgood Ridge down as my personal pick for scrambling. I think that loop is close to your mileage goal; better check, though.

 

[bobandgeri]

Huntington Ravine to the summit of Washington would give you good scrambling. From there you could hed over to Madison and down to Dolly Copp via the Scout trail or down to Dolly Copp via the Great Gulf Wilderness.

 

[ADK4Life]

Huntington is by far my favorite ascent route but I have been up it too many times

 

[jfb]

Another option from Dolly Copp is up GG trail to Six Husbands, over Jefferson to Adams, down Star Lake trail and Madison Gulf trail back to GG trail. This route would also give you some scrambling in the downhill direction.

 

[David Metsky]

If you want a fun hike that is off the beaten path but has great scrambles, try the Ice Gulch loop, just north of Rt 2 near the Dolly Copp road. It's a great loop with very fun terrain, but not as long as you want. You could combine that with some other hike in the Cressant range. Explore those RMC trails!

-dave-

 

[ADK4Life]

What is the RT on King Ravine?

 

[jfb]

After finishing up with the Great Gulf side of things you should drive around to the other side of the mountain and park at Appalachia on Rt 2. Go up the King Ravine trail to the summit of Adams, loop over to Jefferson, and down via the Randolph Path.

-dave-

I did this last fall, except came down the Israel Ridge trail to the Randolph Path. It was about 10 miles.

 

[David Metsky]

What is the RT on King Ravine?

Depends on your route down. Up KR down Airline is probably around 9 miles. If you go over to Jefferson figure more like 12. No maps with me, so those are WAGs.

-dave-

 

[Brownie]

I know what ADK4life is looking for.
You want really scrambly routes and a day trip loop from somewhere on NE range of Pressis!
Some good suggestions already.

Here are some thoughts about particular challenges:
Great Gulf Headwall is typical of a Class 3 (or very near to one) loose scree scramble with some interesting larger rocks at the top out. Overall rise is quite high, maybe a 1K from ravine bowl. Excellent open exposure.

Madison Gulf Headwall is more solid slab and larger rock scramble about half way up the headwall. Some exposure, but not much.

Six Husbands Knee is a challenge in few places for rock scramble on ledges, but many obstacles are set with ladders. Its steep, but assisted.

King Ravine is more of a challenge when you include the Subway and Ice Caves but the ascent from there becomes a steep slide route with not too many overhand "problems".

Starr Lake Trail up from Madison col is challenge near the very top with a short section of slab problem below the summit.

I have on my "Top Ten Toughest Trails in NH Whites" list, still to do the Great Gully Trail off King Ravine.
2 weeks ago on a Kings R trip, I got a decent look at it from Airline Knife Edge, along with a climber who had done it.
It looks like a loose talus scramble at the bottom, then need to negotiate a more serious ledge, then trail moves off gully onto a small ridge line, quite steep, all the way to top out. I'll bet this is a doosie!

The other ravine to mention is Jefferson.
Dave Metsky (?) just led a trip through there with AMC, not a well traveled route but full of cool stuff according to report!
(EDIT) Opps, I made a mistake, Castle Ravine was the Metsky route, Not Jefferson Ravine which has no trail ascent. (EDIT)

So, tie the tough spots together with a loop and you got some fun!
The Great Gulf Headwall may be longer than your milage.
The Madison Gulf/Starr Lake trip would be cool.
Both from Dolly Copp.
The other challanges need Appalachia trailhead parking.

I hope you won't be disapointed judging your well known Huntington's experiences.
That route is by far much more difficult over slab, then all of the above mentioned.

Brownie