Jefferson via caps ridge in winter

[giggy]

Sapblatt and I were talking about this last night over cocktails - he did some research and emailed it to me - wondering if anyone did this in winter ??

boundary trail to jeff notch road and then head up caps ridge -

pretty much goes without saying - lots of trail breaking - but I wonder if jeff notch road gets snowmobile traffic? probably be a pretty easy snowshoe to parking lot.

someone here must have done it - there has to be a catch why this doesn't get done more.

this could be a fun adventure.

 

[bobandgeri]

Yes - Jefferson Notch Road is part of the snowmobile trails

 

[giggy]

forgive my ingnorance - but does that mean its ok or not ok to hike on (legally) - not to up to speed on these regs. I would assume its ok -

 

[SherpaKroto]

It's a long ways to hike to get to an unbroken trail. Castle would provide you with a much better overall experience IMHO. I was just happy to get to the top when we did Grey Knob to Jeff Spur.

 

[el-bagr]

No regs against hiking or skiing -- but that doesn't mean you don't need to watch your back. Give sledders respect, and get respect from sledders. Believe it or not, they can sneak up on you sometimes without seeing you.

I've been skiing out after dark on a woods road under moonlight when a pair of sleds comes around a corner. I now have pants with reflective knees, but I used to travel all dressed in dark green and black. Turn on your headlamp just to make sure they see you. Multiple uses, eh?

 

[MichaelJ]

Turn on your headlamp just to make sure they see you.

A great reason to use that blinking mode on most modern LED headlamps.

 

[bobandgeri]

FYI - I was just talking to Sherpa John who summitted Jefferson via the Jewel trail from the Cog base around noontime today - he was quite happy taking this route.

 

[Mike P.]

I'd probably use Jewell of Castle both more likely to be broken out.

If Caps Ridge must be the plan I'd walk the road the whole way. Should be okay, skiers, sleds & hikers use Greylock together, step aside when sleds come you should hear them first before they see you. Up Ice covered caps I'd think would be interesting, even if I went up that way, I'd plan on descending Jewell.

 

[skiguy]

On Skiis

Jefferson Notch Road to the Caps Ridge Trailhead can be a nice Ski. The sleds usually have the road packed right down which makes for quick travel, especially on the way out (down)! There is a Marathon ski race usually in March where Jefferson Notch Road is actually groomed for the race. Going right after that would be real nice.

Here is a LINK to the race for 2006.

 

[giggy]

thanks skiguy - I am going to put this on my to-do list. it just seems like it would be fun and challenging -

I hear ya all on the other options (which would be easier) - just looking for something a bit different

 

[skiguy]

Let me know when you go, especially if the Sapblatt is in on it!

 

[Double Bow]

Let me know when you go, especially if the Sapblatt is in on it!

Ditto!

 

[RoySwkr]

I have hiked Caps Ridge in winter, there was less snow than this year and we were still able to drive to the trailhead Dec.24

This route is often used by winter S&R types who may have motor transportation to the trailhead

Given that the road is packed out and above treeline is hardpack, you're only talking about maybe a mile of breaking which might be tough solo but reasonable for a group, and the roadwalk portion should be trivial in the dark for early or late hikers

 

[torn&frayed]

I did the same route (Boundary, Caps) a few January's ago. I parked at the Jewell lot in front of the closed gate. There was not much snow, so it was mostly a crampon kind of day. I had a great time and would repeat this again in the right conditions. Have fun.
Jim W

 

[peakbagger]

I climbed Jefferson via Caps ridge trail several years ago on the day after new years. It was a very low snow winter and we drove up to the parking lot. The lower section of the trail was not broken out but once we broke out of the scrub, it was mostly ice for the ascent of the caps. After the last cap where the trail bears south, it was a bit deeper but not that bad. When we were coming down we met another group going up that had also driven up to the parking lot (they came in from the cog).

On normal winters I have been walking on the road from the north and the snowmobile traffic was heavy and very dangerous as the sleds were using the road as a race track. By the time we knew they were coming, we had to jump out of the way.

The standard caveat is that there is no place to hide on Caps ridge trail. If any weather comes in from the west, you are walking right into it with no good options to bail