Gulf of Slides Question

[cooperhill]

I'm staying at Pinkham Notch this weekend and looking for different options for hikes. I was interested in exploring the Gulf of Slides ski trail. Has anyone done this in any season other than winter? If I can make it to the top can I connect with any other hiking trails (Davis Path or Glen Boulder)? Thanks.

Chris

 

[dug]

I'm staying at Pinkham Notch this weekend and looking for different options for hikes. I was interested in exploring the Gulf of Slides ski trail. Has anyone done this in any season other than winter? If I can make it to the top can I connect with any other hiking trails (Davis Path or Glen Boulder)? Thanks.

Chris

It is really built for skiing, as it is muddy in the off-season. I haven't done it, but heard it is not too passable. Once you get onto the slides, I'm sure you could bushwack to the top relatively easily. Once you gain the ridge, getting to Glen Boulder Trail or Boott Spur I don't think would be terribly difficult.

 

[--M.]

If I can make it to the top can I connect with any other hiking trails (Davis Path or Glen Boulder)?

The scrub up there is pretty thick, and also undoubtedly contains those rare alpine plants & lichens that have lawyers at the ready if you step on them. Just kidding, but see the thread (http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13904) on above-treeline 'whackin' in this very neighborhood.

Rare plants aside, I think the scrub evergreens are so thick in the area that it would be tough to break through from the Gulf headwall to the Glen Boulder Trail. This must be the part where I say that ... your mileage may vary.

 

[forestgnome]

I hiked this on Monday, and I posted a few pics of a coyote I saw on the trail. This is a ski trail, and it sees very little human traffic. It is great for skulking for wildlife, etc., but it's not a traditional hiking trail. It's thick with grasses and ferns. In addition to the coyote, I also kicked up three different flickers. The trail ends at a point where there is a rescue cashe shed. From there, the going would be thick and the walls of the gulf get steep.

Happy Trails

 

[cooperhill]

Thanks for all the info. If I go I'm going to explore around the bottom (below treeline) and hopefully see some moose. I had good luck last year around this time on the Shelburne Ski trail.

Chris

 

[DougPaul]

Just a general comment: ski trails are frequently not hardened and any significant amount of traffic could cause erosion.

Doug

 

[RoySwkr]

My mother & I did the hike you are thinking of, topping out near Gulf/Slide Peak and returning Glen Boulder Trail.

As mentioned this is not a maintained hiking route, however the current dry conditions should result in less erosion than most anytime else.