amstony
New member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2004
- Messages
- 732
- Reaction score
- 142
Had a great hike! Started the day with a 4:10 AM wakeup 
and it was off for coffee and a fun ride up I-93. I arrived at the Valley Way trailhead, put on my boots and was on the trail at 7:20 AM. The Valley Way between the trailhead and Randolph Path was very muddy, at one point I sank almost up to my ankles in mud!
The section between Randolph and the Scar Trail was a little better, but ran into the added problem of water runoff. At some points the stream was the trail. The various brook and stream crossings were all fine. This situation remained the same all the way past the Valley Way tent site cutoff. Various muddy areas and runoff. Overall a nice, beautiful trail, well maintained, despite the current mud and water run off situation.
I arrived at the hut at 1020, grabbed a cup of lemonade, and spoke to the hut crew. Weather was supposed to improve late morning. Mt Adams was totally socked in, and Madison was barely visible. However I could see the cairns going up the Osgood trail and decided to head up to Madison. The cairns were easy to follow and several small groups of hikers were on their way down. When I spoke to them about summit conditions they said it was clearing up. The Osgood trail was excellent, some rock hopping, but nothing difficult. As I approached the top I could see the summit and I arrived at 1055. 4K # 37 was done! I stayed at the top, and after a few minutes of munching on a sandwich and a few pictures the clouds and fog blew out revealing a spectacular vista of Adams, Washington, and to the north- the Pilot range, Berlin and other small towns. Totally awesome. At 11:15 AM I started down the Osgood trail and had a nice trip down, with great views.
I arrived back at the hut at 11:45, where I took a short break, and spoke to some folks from Gilford (Sandy and her husband) heading up to Adams from the hut. We decided to head up together. At 12:10 we began the trek up the Gulfside trail and decided to use the Airline, instead of using the Lowes as I'd originally planned. The amount of rock hopping was incredible, although there were cairns to follow you could basically just follow the rocks, they were the same on or off the trail! It was a real climb to the top, definitely gives you a workout and when you get their you have earned the break! Each step is deliberate, no running to the top here.....you have to watch or you'll twist an ankle or worse break something.
Aftyer arriving at the summit at 1:02 PM (4K # 38), it was break time and after a few photo's and talking to some folks who had tented nearby overnight and were trying to dry out clothes and tents, we headed back down at 1:17. The trip down was the same, though a little easier; deliberate rock hopping.
Finally arriving back at the hut at 2:10, I had some coffee, spoke to some hikers and at 2:25 started back down the Valley Way. The trip down was uneventful, thiough the amount of water and slippery rocks slowed me down. When I hit the Randolph/Valley Way intersection I was able to run the trail for the last mile. The ground had dried up at that level, it was almost VERY warm from this point down. At 4:30 I was at the trailhead. I quickly changed- removing sweat soaked clothes, and headed out.
All in all an awesome, weather and views cooperating hike!!!!!!!!!!
38 down- 10 to go!
and it was off for coffee and a fun ride up I-93. I arrived at the Valley Way trailhead, put on my boots and was on the trail at 7:20 AM. The Valley Way between the trailhead and Randolph Path was very muddy, at one point I sank almost up to my ankles in mud! The section between Randolph and the Scar Trail was a little better, but ran into the added problem of water runoff. At some points the stream was the trail. The various brook and stream crossings were all fine. This situation remained the same all the way past the Valley Way tent site cutoff. Various muddy areas and runoff. Overall a nice, beautiful trail, well maintained, despite the current mud and water run off situation.
I arrived at the hut at 1020, grabbed a cup of lemonade, and spoke to the hut crew. Weather was supposed to improve late morning. Mt Adams was totally socked in, and Madison was barely visible. However I could see the cairns going up the Osgood trail and decided to head up to Madison. The cairns were easy to follow and several small groups of hikers were on their way down. When I spoke to them about summit conditions they said it was clearing up. The Osgood trail was excellent, some rock hopping, but nothing difficult. As I approached the top I could see the summit and I arrived at 1055. 4K # 37 was done! I stayed at the top, and after a few minutes of munching on a sandwich and a few pictures the clouds and fog blew out revealing a spectacular vista of Adams, Washington, and to the north- the Pilot range, Berlin and other small towns. Totally awesome. At 11:15 AM I started down the Osgood trail and had a nice trip down, with great views.
I arrived back at the hut at 11:45, where I took a short break, and spoke to some folks from Gilford (Sandy and her husband) heading up to Adams from the hut. We decided to head up together. At 12:10 we began the trek up the Gulfside trail and decided to use the Airline, instead of using the Lowes as I'd originally planned. The amount of rock hopping was incredible, although there were cairns to follow you could basically just follow the rocks, they were the same on or off the trail! It was a real climb to the top, definitely gives you a workout and when you get their you have earned the break!
Each step is deliberate, no running to the top here.....you have to watch or you'll twist an ankle or worse break something.Aftyer arriving at the summit at 1:02 PM (4K # 38), it was break time and after a few photo's and talking to some folks who had tented nearby overnight and were trying to dry out clothes and tents, we headed back down at 1:17. The trip down was the same, though a little easier; deliberate rock hopping.
Finally arriving back at the hut at 2:10, I had some coffee, spoke to some hikers and at 2:25 started back down the Valley Way. The trip down was uneventful, thiough the amount of water and slippery rocks slowed me down. When I hit the Randolph/Valley Way intersection I was able to run the trail for the last mile. The ground had dried up at that level, it was almost VERY warm from this point down. At 4:30 I was at the trailhead. I quickly changed- removing sweat soaked clothes, and headed out.
All in all an awesome, weather and views cooperating hike!!!!!!!!!!
38 down- 10 to go!
