B
bother
Guest
Summer temperatures meant that the appropriate attire was shorts, gaiters, and halter or no tops. Not enough of us has the former - who knew it would be in the 70s! We spent a long lunch on the rocks at the top, enjoying the warmth and the 360 degree views. Though there was haze, we had no problems seeing an open Washington, over to Kearsarge, the still frozen lakes and ponds, Waterville valley, and Franconia Ridge.
Conditions: The monorail trail of packed snow from the winter hiking was still in existence, and if you stay on it you won't posthole... much. But the snow is still deep and you can't avoid going in up to your groin from time to time. The water crossings are relatively easy, though the snow bridges are almost all gone - we broke one on the way down. In some places the trail is now a stream, but not too deep.
Equipment: We shifted between snowshoes and stabilicers, with a little crampons thrown in (more because one of the group didn't have stabilicers). We saw people barebooting, but with the risk of slipping. The summit had some icy spots, but was fine with stabiciers.
A fantastic day, so unexpected. A great MOAC group: Dan, Kathy, Kathy, Dave, Anna, Ruby, Jeff.
jhtarbox AT gwi.net
Conditions: The monorail trail of packed snow from the winter hiking was still in existence, and if you stay on it you won't posthole... much. But the snow is still deep and you can't avoid going in up to your groin from time to time. The water crossings are relatively easy, though the snow bridges are almost all gone - we broke one on the way down. In some places the trail is now a stream, but not too deep.
Equipment: We shifted between snowshoes and stabilicers, with a little crampons thrown in (more because one of the group didn't have stabilicers). We saw people barebooting, but with the risk of slipping. The summit had some icy spots, but was fine with stabiciers.
A fantastic day, so unexpected. A great MOAC group: Dan, Kathy, Kathy, Dave, Anna, Ruby, Jeff.
jhtarbox AT gwi.net
