Hammer Time (Favorite short, steep trail sections)

[Raven]

Hi all,

I'm looking for steep sections of trail with the following characteristics:

1. 0.5-1.0 mile long section
2. Sustained rate of gain of at least 1,250' per mile in section
3. Solid trail (not loose scree or mostly slab) that can be descended without big risk (so not King Ravine Trail nor North Slide on Tri-P for example)
4. Does not need to be on a 4,000 footer (the closer to the trailhead the better).

Here are two suggestions to start.

A. Ammo Ravine Trail from Gem Pool to LOC Hut (1.0 mile, 1562'.....1500 feet+/mi)

B. Twinway from Galehead Hut to South Twin (0.8 mi, 1150'.......1400 feet+/mi)

Which ones do you like?

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Beaverbrook, Moosilauke. The steeps start within a few hundred yards of the trailhead.
Wildcat Ridge. Need to take Lost Pond Trail first.
Webster Cliff to Webster, either direction.
Howker Ridge trail up Madison.
Caps Ridge up Jefferson. A bit tough to descend.

The above are all close to the road/trailhead - am sure there are others. There are many steep sections of other trails, like Chemin Des Dames, Great Gulf, Great Gully, Twinway, etc, but they're a long ways in.

 

[Red Oak]

I am going to assume the Hunt trail on Katahdin is off limits?[hopefully].I saw a boy scout cry on that trail.
Kevin-I did not find caps ridge to bad on the way down,but it was a perfect day for weather,sunny and dry.Maybe you are factoring in the ice which must make it treacherous on the way down.
Maybe bluberryledge trail?How about the Osseo,there might be a half mile of that trail that fits that description[do not know how ladders factor in]Good thread here especially for people starting out in Whites.

 

[Raven]

Beaverbrook, Moosilauke. The steeps start within a few hundred yards of the trailhead.
Wildcat Ridge. Need to take Lost Pond Trail first.
Webster Cliff to Webster, either direction.
Howker Ridge trail up Madison.
Caps Ridge up Jefferson. A bit tough to descend.

The above are all close to the road/trailhead - am sure there are others. There are many steep sections of other trails, like Chemin Des Dames, Great Gulf, Great Gully, Twinway, etc, but they're a long ways in.

Thanks Kevin,

Good suggestions. I had forgotten about Beaver Brook - That's ideal climbing all the way to the shelter. Wildcat Ridge would also work pretty well.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Avalon... warm up on the way to the A-Z Jct. and then go up/down Avalon a bunch of times. You gain 650' in about half a mile, plus the extra bit to the summit of Avalon.

East Osceola, 1.5 mile warm up, last mile is 1500'

Kinsman Ridge Trail .25 mile warmup and then 1.1 miles gains 1700'

You could go to the Hancocks and do laps around the Hancock Loop trail

Liberty Springs easily does 1250'/mile, once you get to the steep part.

I have descended all of these, not fast descents, mind you.

Tim

 

[Raven]

I am going to assume the Hunt trail on Katahdin is off limits?[hopefully].I saw a boy scout cry on that trail.
Kevin-I did not find caps ridge to bad on the way down,but it was a perfect day for weather,sunny and dry.Maybe you are factoring in the ice which must make it treacherous on the way down.
Maybe bluberryledge trail?How about the Osseo,there might be a half mile of that trail that fits that description[do not know how ladders factor in]Good thread here especially for people starting out in Whites.

Thanks Red Oak.

Hunt Trail rocks (no pun) but too far for my purposes. Great addition though! It would be ideal. Solid treadway and steep. Hard to match views too.

Descending Caps Ridge is not too bad on dry days but has some steeper (although short) slabby stretches that take some care on descent.

 

[Raven]

Avalon... warm up on the way to the A-Z Jct. and then go up/down Avalon a bunch of times. You gain 650' in about half a mile, plus the extra bit to the summit of Avalon.

East Osceola, 1.5 mile warm up, last mile is 1500'

Kinsman Ridge Trail .25 mile warmup and then 1.1 miles gains 1700'

You could go to the Hancocks and do laps around the Hancock Loop trail

Liberty Springs easily does 1250'/mile, once you get to the steep part.

I have descended all of these, not fast descents, mind you.

Tim

Thanks Tim.

Hancock Laps! Yes!! Let me give that some thought

Kinsman Ridge - perfect....as is Avalon. Good call.

 

[Trail Bandit]

The Holt trail on Cardigan is a nice hike and the last bit before the summit might qualify.

 

[blacknblue]

The Holt trail on Cardigan is a nice hike and the last bit before the summit might qualify.

You wouldn't want to descend that one, though.

How about Mt. Willey from the south (not coming over Field first)? Pretty sustained climb all the way from 302.

Carrigain from the north (Desolation Trail). Makes for a longish day loop, but a really enjoyable hike otherwise.

Zeacliff Trail. Can make a nice loop out of it, and optional add-ons with Zealand and Hale.

I'd second Beaver Brook, though that can be treacherous to descend when wet.

What about Boott Spur or Glen Boulder Trails out of Pinkham? I don't have the stats in front of me, but seems like they may fit the bill.

 

[MichaelJ]

Off the top of my head:

Desolation Trail up Carrigain.
Wildcat Ridge Trail Rte 16 past the cliffs.
Wildcat Ridge Trail Carter Notch to Wildcat A.
Carter-Moriah Trail Carter Notch to Carter Dome (lower section).
Carter-Moriah Trail north descent off N Carter.
Twinway from Galehead Hut to S Twin.
Garfield Ridge Trail from Garfield Trail to Garfield.
Willey Range Trail from Ethan Pond to Willey.
Almost any route up Cannon.
Mahoosuc Range Trail from Mahoosuc Notch up Fulling Mill (note: the Arm is steeper but disqualified due to slippery slab)
Goose Eye Trail on the north side of Goose Eye towards Success Pond Road.
Beaver Brook Trail from Rte 112 towards Moosilauke.

And maybe:
Dicey's Mill Trail?
Webster Cliff Trail from Rte 302 to the cliffs?
Greenleaf Trail from Greenleaf Hut to Lafayette?
Ethan Pond Trail from Rte 302 towards Ethan Pond?
Kedron Flume Trail?
Upper portion of Sabbaday Brook Trail?

Lotta climb in a short distance but a mellow-pitched trail due to over 2 dozen switchbacks is Mt. Tremont. Excellent footing, though.

 

[Lefty E]

Close to your specs, Tom Wiggin Trail, New and Old Paths on Doubleheads in Jackson, Sargent Path in Randolph, Royce Trail going up towards Laughing Lion in Evans Notch, and Table Rock in Dixville Notch, maybe the steepist of all...rate of climb 2,000 in a mile!!

 

[NH Tramper]

Blueberry Ledge Trail up Whiteface from Ferncroft Road. It's said to be one of the more challenging hikes in the Whites -- I really enjoyed it.

Fishing Jimmy Trail up to Kinsman Ridge Trail from Lonesome Lake Trail (leaves Lafayette Place Campground). Descended this one yesterday. Pretty wild.

Hi-Cannon Trail up to Kinsman Ridge Trail also from Lonesome Lake Trail (leaves Lafayette Place Campground). Ascended this one yesterday. Pretty rugged.

These three mostly meet your criteria. The ledges are only an hour or two in, depending on your hike speed. But totally worth it I think if you like rock scrambles.

 

[Raven]

OK, after some more research and thanks to all the great suggestions, I'm narrowing down to these as they fit what I'm looking for probably the best....In all cases I can hit 6-8,000 feet of elevation gain in 10-15 miles by a few repeats of the steeps. Many of these have no approach to the steeps while some have an access hike. These are ideal for what I need.

"No Approach"

Sargent Path (0.8 miles, 950’ - repeat 7 times, 11.2 total, 6650’ total)
Kinsman Ridge (1.5 miles, 1850’ - repeat 4 times, 12.0 total, 7400’ total)
Beaver Brook (1.5 miles, 1900’ - repeat 4 times,12.0 total, 7600’ total)
Wildcat Ridge (1.9 miles, 2200’ - repeat 3 times, 11.4 total, 6600’ total)
Caps Ridge (2.5 miles, 2700’ repeat 3 times, 15.0 total, 8100’ total)

"Some Approach"

Ammo Ravine from Gem Pool to LOC (1.0, 1562', repeat 4 times, 12.2 total, 7200’ total)
(2.1 mile approach adding 950') advantage - I can check water bars along the way!

Willey Range to Willey (1.1, 1650', repeat 4 times, 12.0 total, 7800' total
(1.6 mile approach adding 1200')

I've done most of them multiple times. The only one I have no experience with is the Kinsman Ridge Trail up Cannon - I've always approached from one of the other ways. I've been meaning to get on that one for years....maybe this is the time.

Fun to plan...

 

[carla]

And the need is...?

These are ideal for what I need.

OK, of course this begs the question, and I'm sure there are many others who want to know too:

What is the "need" you are planning for?

Do you have some adventure hike coming up, or...? Curious minds want to know, if you can tell us! ; )

 

[Paradox]

The Greenleaf Trail the .6 miles before Eagle Pass. 925' in .6 miles the ascent starts about .8 miles from the Cannon parking lot. Eagle Pass is very beautiful and interesting terrain.

 

[Paradox]

The Old Spec Trail from Route 26 ascends 650 feet in .5 miles and the ascent begins about .3 miles from the trailhead. There is a good deal of it that features well built stone steps so the descent is relatively safe and easy.

 

[marnof]

If I was training for the upcoming Mt. Washington Road Race, doing reps on some of these trails would be great!

 

[Raven]

OK, of course this begs the question, and I'm sure there are many others who want to know too:

What is the "need" you are planning for?

Do you have some adventure hike coming up, or...? Curious minds want to know, if you can tell us! ; )

Ha...nothing out of the ordinary....a one-day Pressie Traverse attempt in about 2 months if all goes well. Not running Mt. Washington by any means. They're out of their minds.

And since I'm not in my thirties anymore, I figure I better do a few "shake-down" hikes with some serious elevation gain. If I do one of these, I'll consider it a success - 2 would be nice.

I have a thread started on traverse advice but thought this conversation might interest a broader scope so I started it as a new one...

 

[nartreb]

Hell Brook trail on Mt Mansfield. Gets truly steep right away. Might be a little too steep and wet to run down safely, though I've seen folks do it. If you descend the Long trail it's maybe a half mile mile gentle uphill road walk/run back to the Hell brook trailhead.

There's a nice steep section on Watson path (Mt Madison). A little rooty and rocky, but you could descend Valley Way if you wanted to do laps.

I'll also second (third) the Willey Range trail from the south. Just enough warmup from the road and then a good sustained burn.

 

[Irishskier]

Another vote for WRT, and Mahoosucs coming out of the Notch. Also, laps on the Hancocks - clockwise?