Monroe attempt 3/2/2010

[Cymbidium]

Trails: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail

The Marshfield Station is plowed but they prefer you park little farther down the road and not at the building.

We were really excited because the day promised to be a perfect hiking above treeline experience. We doned our snowshoes and hit the trail. Someone had been up yesterday so for an hour or so it was pretty easy going. There were lots of blowdowns, snapped off trees and trees bent over the trail. Blazes are very low some we suspect some are buried under snow.

The tracks turned left and descended down to the brook and angling back up it. After seeing huge deep holes with brook water running at the bottom we chose not to follow that track. Instead we tried to find the actual trail. Very deep snow, bent trees and blowdowns made this impossible so we decended without ever reaching the gem pool. Too bad it was a beautiful, calm, blue sky day. Saw Tim Lucia and Bob of Bob and Geri with several others on our way down. It was too late to start another hike so we headed home. I was almost in tears. We will try again later in the week. Looking forward to seeing Tim and Bob's report. I think they were doing Washington today.

A few photos here:
Link: http://picasaweb.google.com/newhkm/MonroeAttempt322010?feat=directlink

 

[Chip]

Oct.29, 2005 I had pretty much the the same hike with my teenage nephew. This was actually my first hike in the Whites. We were "first up" after a huge snow storm. I couldn't figure out why there were people hanging-out in the parking lot...until they shot by us after we bailed. We did make it above Gem, pretty close to treeline, but only because neither of us wanted to say "Uncle". We did have lunch at The Mooseland, though, and it was a fine hike.

 

[bobandgeri]

Cymbidium - your not going to want to read this :>

The tracks went down to the river, passed two 3 foot diameter holes, then in about 125 yards went up to the bank of the river but not back to the trail. We took an adventurous, very steep route with very deep snow that I would not recommend others follow.

We enjoyed blue skies with a few passing clouds most of the time from leaving the hut, while on the summit of Washington, and most of the way back to the hut. By the time we made our way over to Monroe it was in the clouds but earlier in the day it was cloud free. Winds were from zero to maybe a few 15 mph gusts. Photos were sans gloves and hats - very nice day up there.

They did have the lower Cog parking lot plowed just to the right of the two signs telling you not to drive up to the main building.

 

[Cymbidium]

Glad you guys got to summit yesterday. I have heard about that route from Gary Tompkins. It sounds like you had an awesome trip. Good work getting through all that snow. It was too much for me and Denise.
ps I was the first one in the lot yesterday am and did not see the signs re parking. At least they did not give me a ticket!

 

[Cymbidium]

Chip thanks for sharing your photos. I had time to see only a few. Very impressive. Happy hiking,
karen

 

[bikehikeskifish]

TR tonight. It's going to take some time to do it justice.

Tim