blaze
Active member
Date of Hike: Sunday 7/12/09
Full Route: Ascent via Great Gulf Trail to Gulfside to the short connector to the summit, picked up after one crosses the tracks, the name of which eludes me. Descent via Tuckerman Ravine, Lawn Cutoff, Davis Path, Boott Spur, Tuckerman Ravine. Hitched from Pinkham back to GG trailhead.
Trail Conditions: Great Gulf is plenty soggy to treeline (and even above, to a lesser extent, since the trail follows a small stream on the headwall). There are numerous stream crossings, and some are somewhat difficult, but manageable with care, creativity, and luck. A few old, step-over blowdowns, but none are difficult. Boott Spur is also plenty soggy, with some large mud wallows, and requires extra caution and time for descent. A rope has been affixed to a tree at the top of the ladder - nice touch, and thanks to whoever did it. All other trails were in great shape. A few skeeters, not too bad.
Special Equipment Required: two trekking poles were very very helpful for stream crossings and for descent on slick trails. Gore tex boots. Shorty gaiters.
Comments: The Great Gulf Wilderness is truly great, in every sense of the word. Just a few miles up the road, yet a world away, from the overflowed parking at Pinkham and the "mule train" chugging up Tuckerman's on a fine summer day. Boott Spur of course is also very scenic, and like GGT, was getting very little use.
Thanks to the gents from PA, a father and son with whom I'd chatted on Boott Spur, who gave me a lift back to my car.
Photos http://www.pbase.com/jonathantr/mw0709
Full Route: Ascent via Great Gulf Trail to Gulfside to the short connector to the summit, picked up after one crosses the tracks, the name of which eludes me. Descent via Tuckerman Ravine, Lawn Cutoff, Davis Path, Boott Spur, Tuckerman Ravine. Hitched from Pinkham back to GG trailhead.
Trail Conditions: Great Gulf is plenty soggy to treeline (and even above, to a lesser extent, since the trail follows a small stream on the headwall). There are numerous stream crossings, and some are somewhat difficult, but manageable with care, creativity, and luck. A few old, step-over blowdowns, but none are difficult. Boott Spur is also plenty soggy, with some large mud wallows, and requires extra caution and time for descent. A rope has been affixed to a tree at the top of the ladder - nice touch, and thanks to whoever did it. All other trails were in great shape. A few skeeters, not too bad.
Special Equipment Required: two trekking poles were very very helpful for stream crossings and for descent on slick trails. Gore tex boots. Shorty gaiters.
Comments: The Great Gulf Wilderness is truly great, in every sense of the word. Just a few miles up the road, yet a world away, from the overflowed parking at Pinkham and the "mule train" chugging up Tuckerman's on a fine summer day. Boott Spur of course is also very scenic, and like GGT, was getting very little use.
Thanks to the gents from PA, a father and son with whom I'd chatted on Boott Spur, who gave me a lift back to my car.
Photos http://www.pbase.com/jonathantr/mw0709
