Huntington Ravine mid-June?

[amigo]

Hi,

A friend and I are planning to hike up Huntington Ravine from Pinkham Notch mid-June. We've hiked in the Whites before, including Mt Washington.
We've been told by a couple of people to do something else as it's pretty scary and difficult in a few spots - and these guys are in good shape!

Anyone care to give me their opinions/advice?

As well, we'll probably arrive late in the evening and plan on starting early from Pinkham Notch. Can one buy a permit bright and early there or can one buy permits at the parking lot?

Thanks.

 

[forestgnome]

You'll be getting plenty of responses on both questions...

Huntington Ravine Trail has a couple steep sections on the headwall. I'm not a rock climber and I don't think it's bad at all. I've been warned by people coming up "don't even think about going down that trail" when they saw me heading down it. It just depends on the hiker. You do have to use both hands a few times, and falling could easily be fatal. It's a very beautiful place.

Happy Trails

 

[audrey]

You don't need a permit to hike anywhere in the Whites, though back in the 60's, I believe some places like the Great Gulf did have a permit system.

Huntington has a couple of fairly exposed scrambles and one spot that required rather a long reach that I found a bit difficult, but otherwise it is straightforward if you don't have much fear of heights. I don't know how experienced you are, so I can't predict how you'll do.

Most people will tell you that if you were OK on Tripyramid North Slide, you'll be OK in Huntington. I only found one spot where I had to take a deep breath and gulp, where you have to edge around a large boulder with a long drop behind you.

Do not go if rain threatens or if it is wet. And stay on the trail.

Once you've reached the spot that requires using a crack to scramble about 15 feet up, it gets much more difficult to backtrack, so if you are nervous by then, don't go any further!

 

[amigo]

Huntington

Thanks for the replies.

When I mentioned permit, I meant the passes that are now required in the National Forest that are required at all trailheads. I just wonder if there's a meter where you can pay at Pinkham Notch since we will arrive late the night before and plan on starting the hike early. I would imagine I can purchase a pass at the Pinkham Notch store but not sure if they'll be open when we start the hike.

Thanks.

 

[jrichard]

Hi,

We've been told by a couple of people to do something else as it's pretty scary and difficult in a few spots - and these guys are in good shape!

This depends on how you feel about heights. I've hiked up this trail a handful of times and sometimes members of my party were literally shaking with fear. There are small sections where you could get hurt or perhaps killed if you slip - although I think that would be difficult unless you are goofing around.

On the other hand, there are sections of Arcadia NP that are just as precarious.

Also, like others said: it's more dangerous when wet, and more dangerous going down.

 

[David Metsky]

The Pinkham Notch parking lot does not require a WMNF parking permit.

 

[arghman]

snow?

Not sure how Huntington's compares w/ Tuckerman Ravine (one of these days I will get out to Huntingtons...), but I might suspect that there would still be quite a bit of snow/ice in the ravines in mid-June. 2 yrs ago, the Tuckerman Ravine trail was still closed until July 4 & I have photos of someone skiing on the small leftover snowy section in mid-July.

 

[giggy]

huntington will melt out quicker. - esp in the class 2/3 sections, which are above the fan and exposed to the sun.

2 weeks ago, snow/ice was pretty much confined to the gullies proper on the headwall. I would guess come mid june, this will all be melted out - but who knows. may have to slog some snow down low though.

its a fun class 3 hike/climb.

its all relative, I know people who think its over-rated and I know at least one person that froze half way up the class 3 section.

I would say most hikers that have some basic exp will fall in the former group.

Give it go and have fun.

 

[Bob]

it's not that hard in June

I know several inexperienced (as in non climbers) hikers that have done it on Memorial Day weekend, it's usually pretty clear of snow by then. There is some exposure...

I heard Hikerdude has done it

 

[jrbren]

I personally would only do it in dry conditions. I have done it 2 or 3 times. In dry conditions, with a Boote Spur descent, is probably my favorite hike in the white mountains. My big concerns with mid June would be lingering snow, which was addressed above.