East Stairs Peak

[Nate]

I might be visiting the summit of East Stairs in a few weeks, and I was wondering if I should be looking for a canister while up there. Considering some 2k peaks in the Whites do have registers, I just thought I'd check to see if this is one of them. Also, for those who've been there, how thick is the vegatation when coming up from the Stairs Col Trail?

 

[dms]

This is a "former" 3k peak. It was an "official" 3k peak on my original 1980 list. There has always been a register at the summit. The col and summit have some thick vegetation. There are also some interesting cliffs to the south, east and north.

 

[dms]

BTW, going up the "back stairs" is a fun bushwack as well.

 

[Nate]

That's good to know there's a canister. It's really easy to get lazy about finding the true high point when you're not looking for one. Also, if there are cliffs on the south side of East Stairs, do they come into play at all when bushwhacking up from the Stairs Col Trail?

 

[dms]

Nate, you want to go up in the col between East stairs and the "back stairs", once you hit the ridge there is a fairly steep scramble up to East Stairs, but you will avoid the really steep cliffs.