Jay H
New member
Well, my pictures are online so I thought I'd write a report from this fabulous weekend for a great cause!
Guy and I got up around 3am and found most people somewhat moseying out of bed, either getting ready for an early start at Appalachia or Howker Ridge. Guy and I got to the trailhead around 4:15 to find a few hikers seemingly camping at the trailhead. Soon enough, Woody48, Alan, Gojeb, and 4000'er showed up. We all left the trailhead at 4:30 at the early signs of dawn. I never needed my headlamp cause it was just getting visible. The trail up Howker ridge is beautiful, follows a stream with some falls and then heads up the various "howks" at which you are offered fantastic views of Madison and views around the northern side of the Presidentials. Jim and I took a bunch of pictures while ascending. After getting a bit of elevation, we eventually somewhat pulled ahead of 4000'er but at the junction with the Pine Link, we could see 4000'er and Gojeb down below. We lost Woood48 and Dave after the falls and didn't see them til camp that night.
In any case, after that, it was mostly just Guy and I until we ran into MtnPa on Adams. A quick summit on Madison in almost exactly 3 hours saw us running into the motley group who came up Valley Way, this included Paradox (zippy and Chips), Kea, Spongebob, Abster, Daxs, and Bubba. They were just below the summit while Guy and I were descending. Pictures and explicatives were exchanged (at least between Spongebob and I) and then we continued on our merry way. Guy and I could spot Team Sherpa down below and sure enough ran into them on their ascent of Madison.
Guy and I stopped very quickly in Madison hut just to refill our water bottles. I carried 1lt of Gatorade which I was saving til the hot afternoon but drank up water so I could refill it. Off to Adams! We took some weird trail to Star Lake when we realized that Air Line was the other way so we simply bushwacked up towards Adams til we ran into the Air Line. Saw some people take the GulfSide trail and then make Adams an out and back, but I'd rather not reuse the same trails so this was good. Ran into MtnPa on Adams and we basically hiked towards Jefferson and Edmunds Col.
The climb to Jefferson reminded me a lot from Guy and I (and others) attempt at Jefferson in Mid December in a good winter storm. Climbing past the various chutes until you get to the Jefferson Loop, we turned around not too long afterwards due to the lack of visibility and bad weather conditions and wind. Anyway, ran into Mike P at the summit of Jefferson and then Some members of Team Sherpa. A short break was had and then on to Clay.
Clay was fine, could start to see runners silhouetted against the sky running up the auto road.. Wondered if we could see Artex! Chatted a bit with MtnMagic, SilentCal, and SonicBoom there..
Anyway, got to Washington around 12 noon, which was pretty much the same time I got there last year. I think our pace was a bit faster than my solo pace. Weather was alot better though this year, the footing wasn't as bad on the ridge. Didn't stop too long at washington, neither guy and I bought any food, we refilled water and kind of ate some food. I ate my bagel that I carried and then we eventually ran into Artex so I had the pleasure of meeting him there for a bit before he left to go down.
The skip down to Lake of Clouds was fun, more rock hopping, ran into Frytz eating lunch on the way and dipped my head into the lake by the hut. I bet every hiker dipped their heads in on such a hot day. Ran into Bob and Gerri and also MichaelJ at the hut where we sat for a bit. I think we sat for a little too long, legs were REALLLYYY stiff going up Monroe, but it was kind of a race as Guy and I were going up Monroe/Little Monroe while Bob, Gerri, and Michael J, and Frytz were going around.... Then Guy almost skipped Franklin and we had to go back a short bit to do that spur trail...
Eventually, we dusted those guys off and headed towards Eisenhower. However, we could see them on our heels during the climb to Eisenhower, and we could see that Washington was in the clouds!!! I wonder if it rained up there but glad we were off that peak. At least the breeze was keeping the heat in check.
Eisenhower was a nice summit, didn't stay long, trying to catch up to Tuco which we did just south of Eisenhower. Ran into some small groups of other hikers too.
Passed Tuco and summited Pierce and then dooooowwwwwwnnnnn to Mizpah hut. After mizpah, back uuuuuppp through wet trails and recently worked on log bridges (Thanks!). Ran into a guy and girl not far past Mizpah and the lady was looking in real sorry shape, bickering with the guy and asking how far the hut was...
Got to Jackson, starting to really feel the feet here. Had to remove a rock in my shoe at Mizpah and hot spots were developing in my right foot. The trail here is a lot tougher due to the roots and wetness.... But we percevered and hit Webster which is a boring summit! But this perhaps was foreshadowing the Webster/Jackson trail which is not what you want to see after 19 or so miles... Reminded me of how the Devil's Path in the catskills is... Anyway, after passing Silver Cascades, we looked at this horrendous short steep climb like it was Everest. Guy actually got out the map and made sure the trail actually went that way!!!
Well, after slaving up the hill, the trail just goes on and on and on... seems like the longest 1.4 miles I have hiked but it just paralleled 302 and throughs of simply bushwacking down to 302 and walking north crossed my mind!
Eventually the trail finally turns west and steeply down and sure enough you hit 302. You can hear the cars pretty much the entire trail which plays with your mind at that time of day. Hit the road at 6;30pm and then faced with about 1000ft walk up 302 to the highland center.
14 hours, which is a nice time, doing Howker Ridge and mingling around for a short bit. An awesome day with great friends, old and new. And finally, I get my views in the Whites. I've added 1 mountain to my NH4ks, which is Jackson but more importantly, felt good doing so and raising money for TBS is icing on the cake.
Pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/album/551545208nPNlsc
Thanks to all the volunteers and hikers who made this event a success!
jay
Guy and I got up around 3am and found most people somewhat moseying out of bed, either getting ready for an early start at Appalachia or Howker Ridge. Guy and I got to the trailhead around 4:15 to find a few hikers seemingly camping at the trailhead. Soon enough, Woody48, Alan, Gojeb, and 4000'er showed up. We all left the trailhead at 4:30 at the early signs of dawn. I never needed my headlamp cause it was just getting visible. The trail up Howker ridge is beautiful, follows a stream with some falls and then heads up the various "howks" at which you are offered fantastic views of Madison and views around the northern side of the Presidentials. Jim and I took a bunch of pictures while ascending. After getting a bit of elevation, we eventually somewhat pulled ahead of 4000'er but at the junction with the Pine Link, we could see 4000'er and Gojeb down below. We lost Woood48 and Dave after the falls and didn't see them til camp that night.
In any case, after that, it was mostly just Guy and I until we ran into MtnPa on Adams. A quick summit on Madison in almost exactly 3 hours saw us running into the motley group who came up Valley Way, this included Paradox (zippy and Chips), Kea, Spongebob, Abster, Daxs, and Bubba. They were just below the summit while Guy and I were descending. Pictures and explicatives were exchanged (at least between Spongebob and I) and then we continued on our merry way. Guy and I could spot Team Sherpa down below and sure enough ran into them on their ascent of Madison.
Guy and I stopped very quickly in Madison hut just to refill our water bottles. I carried 1lt of Gatorade which I was saving til the hot afternoon but drank up water so I could refill it. Off to Adams! We took some weird trail to Star Lake when we realized that Air Line was the other way so we simply bushwacked up towards Adams til we ran into the Air Line. Saw some people take the GulfSide trail and then make Adams an out and back, but I'd rather not reuse the same trails so this was good. Ran into MtnPa on Adams and we basically hiked towards Jefferson and Edmunds Col.
The climb to Jefferson reminded me a lot from Guy and I (and others) attempt at Jefferson in Mid December in a good winter storm. Climbing past the various chutes until you get to the Jefferson Loop, we turned around not too long afterwards due to the lack of visibility and bad weather conditions and wind. Anyway, ran into Mike P at the summit of Jefferson and then Some members of Team Sherpa. A short break was had and then on to Clay.
Clay was fine, could start to see runners silhouetted against the sky running up the auto road.. Wondered if we could see Artex! Chatted a bit with MtnMagic, SilentCal, and SonicBoom there..
Anyway, got to Washington around 12 noon, which was pretty much the same time I got there last year. I think our pace was a bit faster than my solo pace. Weather was alot better though this year, the footing wasn't as bad on the ridge. Didn't stop too long at washington, neither guy and I bought any food, we refilled water and kind of ate some food. I ate my bagel that I carried and then we eventually ran into Artex so I had the pleasure of meeting him there for a bit before he left to go down.
The skip down to Lake of Clouds was fun, more rock hopping, ran into Frytz eating lunch on the way and dipped my head into the lake by the hut. I bet every hiker dipped their heads in on such a hot day. Ran into Bob and Gerri and also MichaelJ at the hut where we sat for a bit. I think we sat for a little too long, legs were REALLLYYY stiff going up Monroe, but it was kind of a race as Guy and I were going up Monroe/Little Monroe while Bob, Gerri, and Michael J, and Frytz were going around.... Then Guy almost skipped Franklin and we had to go back a short bit to do that spur trail...
Eventually, we dusted those guys off
and headed towards Eisenhower. However, we could see them on our heels during the climb to Eisenhower, and we could see that Washington was in the clouds!!! I wonder if it rained up there but glad we were off that peak. At least the breeze was keeping the heat in check. Eisenhower was a nice summit, didn't stay long, trying to catch up to Tuco which we did just south of Eisenhower. Ran into some small groups of other hikers too.
Passed Tuco and summited Pierce and then dooooowwwwwwnnnnn to Mizpah hut. After mizpah, back uuuuuppp through wet trails and recently worked on log bridges (Thanks!). Ran into a guy and girl not far past Mizpah and the lady was looking in real sorry shape, bickering with the guy and asking how far the hut was...
Got to Jackson, starting to really feel the feet here. Had to remove a rock in my shoe at Mizpah and hot spots were developing in my right foot. The trail here is a lot tougher due to the roots and wetness.... But we percevered and hit Webster which is a boring summit! But this perhaps was foreshadowing the Webster/Jackson trail which is not what you want to see after 19 or so miles... Reminded me of how the Devil's Path in the catskills is... Anyway, after passing Silver Cascades, we looked at this horrendous short steep climb like it was Everest. Guy actually got out the map and made sure the trail actually went that way!!!
Well, after slaving up the hill, the trail just goes on and on and on... seems like the longest 1.4 miles I have hiked but it just paralleled 302 and throughs of simply bushwacking down to 302 and walking north crossed my mind!
Eventually the trail finally turns west and steeply down and sure enough you hit 302. You can hear the cars pretty much the entire trail which plays with your mind at that time of day. Hit the road at 6;30pm and then faced with about 1000ft walk up 302 to the highland center.
14 hours, which is a nice time, doing Howker Ridge and mingling around for a short bit. An awesome day with great friends, old and new. And finally, I get my views in the Whites. I've added 1 mountain to my NH4ks, which is Jackson but more importantly, felt good doing so and raising money for TBS is icing on the cake.
Pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/album/551545208nPNlsc
Thanks to all the volunteers and hikers who made this event a success!
jay
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