Early April Jefferson day hikes?

[hikes-with-him]

Ok...so...the week of April 6th...hubby and I are hopeing to go to Jefferson...

Sounds like we are going to do Lowe's to Gulfside. We are thinking to catch Isreal ridge from the gulfside to Randolphs path to the Cornice to Castle to the summit.

OR...from the Gulfside to almost Edmands col to the castle ravine trail to the cornice, etc.

Which would be best...and how would the trails be in April...?

Also...how does Carter via 19 mile brook to carter dome up Mt. Height to the notch sound?

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Since it's still wintery, the best way to do Jefferson is probably via the Jewell Trail to Gulfside to Sphinx Col and then the summit.

Am not quite clear which Carter you're interested in. For any of them, I usually take 19 Mile and then head for Zeta Pass. If it's all 3, then I do Middle & South first (although it really doesn't matter), then back to Zeta Pass and over to Carter Dome. I usually do Hight after Carter Dome.

Back at Zeta for the 2nd time, I head down the same way. If you drop down from the Dome to the hut, you have a upclimb on the way back. It's not a big upclimb, but at the end of a long day ...

 

[hikes-with-him]

The route you sugggested (jewell, col, gulfside, summit)

Does that cross the area that so many state really should have an ice ax for? We do not have this (yet) nor the skill to use one.

 

[andrewb]

For Jefferson, I would personally avoid the Cornice at all costs. I do not enjoy sidehill hikes and with ice I would imagine it's not a very safe route.I'd go Lowe's to Adams then take Gulfsde to Jefferson Loop to J.. then go out the same way since its winter conditions still.

I think you mean just hiking Carter Dome and Hight only, then the Notch. The loop as described is the way to go. If I were to tack on the other Carters (but drop the hut) I'd go up C-M to all the way North peak then back to the NCarter Tr to Imp (south) to (old road to) Camp Dodge .. then the roadhike at the end's only 0.4 back to 19M TH.

 

[NeoAkela]

Jefferson from the Cog Railway Base Station via the Jewell trail was easily done with only microspikes a few weeks ago. Not sure how the recent rain has coated the trail with ice, but there weren't any places on the trail where it sloped off over an edge, and I was fairly comfortable even on the icy spots.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

The route you sugggested (jewell, col, gulfside, summit)

Does that cross the area that so many state really should have an ice ax for? We do not have this (yet) nor the skill to use one.

No, an ice axe is not necessary on that route.

There are few of the most commonly used trails in the Whites which require an ice axe. Personally, the only one I've used one on is the winter Lion's Head trail and then only occasionally.

 

[Tim Seaver]

For Jefferson, I would personally avoid the Cornice at all costs. I do not enjoy sidehill hikes and with ice I would imagine it's not a very safe route.

I was just on the Cornice two days ago - it's not bad at all, nice small snowfields smoothing out what in summer is quite the rocky course - in the late afternoon this trail gets a good amount of sun, unlike the Gulfside, and if you are headed to the summit of Jefferson from Edmands Col, you can avoid the steep chute on that route (the Gulfside) which can be quite a bit more perilous than anything on the Cornice trail. It's a bit longer this way.

 

[Bob Kittredge]

I've signed up to do Jefferson on April 4 with Joe Comuzzi. Don't know what route he has planned yet. I'll try to post route and conditions that night.

 

[andrewb]

you can avoid the steep chute on that route (the Gulfside) which can be quite a bit more perilous than anything on the Cornice trail. It's a bit longer this way.

Good point, I am always looking to trade more distance for a better route. I guess one bad experience on the Cornice may be steering me away from it unnecessarily. I should spend more time in that area and try all the possible approaches.

 

[bryan]

i would agree that hiking jefferson from the jewell trail is the easiest way to go in these conditions. i can't speak for the cornice, but if heading up from edmands col you do get a bit of exposure on the gulfside below the loop junction. the snowfield is steep, but crampons and good foot placement are all that are needed. have carried an ice axe there, but never used it. did the lowes, randolph route a while back and the worst section for me was the sidehilling on randolph below treeline while ducking branches. that is where the ice axe was definitely no help.....
have fun.

bryan

 

[RoySwkr]

I was just on the Cornice two days ago - it's not bad at all, nice small snowfields smoothing out what in summer is quite the rocky course ... you can avoid the steep chute on that route (the Gulfside) which can be quite a bit more perilous than anything on the Cornice trail. It's a bit longer this way.

I agree that rock-hopping on the Cornice can be a pain in summer, but apparently like many trails it is actually better in deep snow

And yes, there is a steep snowfield on the Gulfside on the Jefferson side of Edmands Col which can still be several feet deep on Memorial Day (wonder where all the snow blown off the summit goes and might not be a bad place for an ice axe or real crampons

So using Cornice instead of Gulfside in present conditions might be reasonable

 

[giggy]

castle trail is a cool way up.

if coming up via edmunds col - the snowfield roy talks about should (stress should) be well beaten in with a boot path - but being april, your going to have spikes with you anyway if you need them.

poles would be fine - but don't fall, or your getting a nice express ride into jefferson ravine


IMHO - coming up from route 2 is more fun and better views than from the cog. But coming from the cog is probably easier.

 

[Tuco]

And yes, there is a steep snowfield on the Gulfside on the Jefferson side of Edmands Col which can still be several feet deep on Memorial Day (wonder where all the snow blown off the summit goes and might not be a bad place for an ice axe or real crampons

A few years ago Sapblatt and I were doing a Presi Traverse (attempting anyhow) on June 10 and this snowfield was still going strong. Upon cominig up to it there was a guy with a shovel making a path since he heard about a couple of people who were hurt after sliding down this spot. Not hurt too badly thank goodness. Any of the previous recommendations about traction, or poles , etc are well founded here. Of course as giggy points out a path could be cut through it.

 

[Tim Seaver]

That chute can also be bypassed by climbing straight up into the rocks, and then hooking a left to rejoin the trail near or above the loop trail junction. This area is in the shadows in the late afternoon, so it can be icier than the Cornice.

 

[Mike P.]

I'd go up the Jewell, much easier. Fair amount of above tree line exposure, not to be don in bad weather.

The other fairly common winter approach is the Randolph Path. This brings you to Edmands col vs. Lowe's which brings you to Gulfside at T-Storm Jnuction, a good place if you are doing Adams also but out of the way to do just Jefferson.

Other routes you mention, Cornice, Castle Ravine Trail (especially CRT) & the Castle trail aren't used too often expect by the experienced. (Giggy & Tim are real trail tested veterans)