Ed'n Lauky
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- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
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It is possible to climb Mt. Washington without being in a crowd. Yesterday as groups of as many as twenty mingled around at the Pinkam Notch trail head waiting to go up Tuckerman Ravine, Lauky and I slipped discretely off up the Old Jackson road. After an hour we reached the Nelson Crag trail and headed up. To my great surprise we actually met one other person. It was the first time in at least six trips up that trail that we ever saw anyone before reaching the Alpine garden. If you like solitude when hiking, this may be the route of choice up Washington.
The Old Jackson Road is in good condition. All the streams except the last one before reaching Nelson Crag were dry. There is one nasty blowdown on this road. It is located right after the swing to the left and the steps up the hill. A pretty good herd path has formed around it.
The Nelson Crag trail is in good shape although it could use a bit of brushing in one spot in the area where you get your first views for the mountain higher up. The ledges above the point where you meet the auto road are all dry. The fog was thick from the Alpine Garden up. There was just enough visiblity to see from one cairn to the next.
The summit was fogged in but strangely warm. The Flag was firmly attached to the summit sign surrounded by a number of VFTTers and ROTers.
The descent down Tuckerman was straighforward. The trail was dry except for the long section along the waterfall on the headwall. Especially going down, care needs to be taken not to slip. From the basin floor on down the trail is totally dry.
The road down from HoJo's is very rocky and rough but you can still make pretty good time.
Special equipment: A pole and a dog--What more do you need.
[email protected]
The Old Jackson Road is in good condition. All the streams except the last one before reaching Nelson Crag were dry. There is one nasty blowdown on this road. It is located right after the swing to the left and the steps up the hill. A pretty good herd path has formed around it.
The Nelson Crag trail is in good shape although it could use a bit of brushing in one spot in the area where you get your first views for the mountain higher up. The ledges above the point where you meet the auto road are all dry. The fog was thick from the Alpine Garden up. There was just enough visiblity to see from one cairn to the next.
The summit was fogged in but strangely warm. The Flag was firmly attached to the summit sign surrounded by a number of VFTTers and ROTers.
The descent down Tuckerman was straighforward. The trail was dry except for the long section along the waterfall on the headwall. Especially going down, care needs to be taken not to slip. From the basin floor on down the trail is totally dry.
The road down from HoJo's is very rocky and rough but you can still make pretty good time.
Special equipment: A pole and a dog--What more do you need.
[email protected]
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