Mt Davis On Montalban Ridge

[DayTrip]

Curious to hike out and see Mt Davis in the Montalban Range. AMC Guide states it probably has the best views in the range and some of the best in mountains. Considering the view from Isolation I'd say that is a hell of an endorsement. But like Isolation, it is a lengthy day hike getting in there. I made a failed attempt to do it via the Davis Path two summers ago but turned back about a mile shy (trail was very muddy, blowdowns, cobwebs and I wasn't in the best of shape at time so it was a generally miserable adventure).

Would like to redo this year and was thinking of a different route. Here are my questions:

1) Did they ever reopen the lower part of Rocky Branch Trail that leaves from Jericho Road with all the trail work done in Dry River Wilderness of late? I've read that "everything is open" but have not seen specific reference to this trail. Like the idea of going up Rocky Branch to Stairs Col Trail if that is doable and it is open.

2) What is the camping situation close to Davis? Most of the woods I passed through certainly looked doable for a tent but I was well short of Davis so I didn't know if it was more scrub and rock close to summit. Thinking an overnight with a sunset/sunrise would be a nice way to hit this mountain.

3) Does anyone have photos from the summit? I don't know that I've ever seen anyone make mention of this mountain. Considering the AMC Guide endorsement I'm surprised more people haven't referenced.

I'd appreciate any information people have. Thanks.

 

[Sherby]

Mostly the same view as Isolation. We did it with Crawford, Resolution and Stairs from the 302. We have some pictures.

 

[wardsgirl]

Your described route, using Stairs Col Trail, is lovely. There are gorgeous campsites atop the Giant Stairs.

I'd camp there, hike to Davis, picking up water at the small brook crossing on the way back to your camp.

A fantastic weekend outing!

 

[TJsName]

Your described route, using Stairs Col Trail, is lovely. There are gorgeous campsites atop the Giant Stairs.

I'd camp there, hike to Davis, picking up water at the small brook crossing on the way back to your camp.

A fantastic weekend outing!

A strong second on this from me as well!

 

[dug]

3rd. We did that once, and twice more up along the ridge, but we liked the Stairs spot

 

[Ken MacGray]

Did they ever reopen the lower part of Rocky Branch Trail that leaves from Jericho Road with all the trail work done in Dry River Wilderness of late?

I was looking at this approach recently to get out to Stairs & Resolution, and it was still closed two weeks ago. But it looks like it might have just reopened:

Rocky Branch Trail sustained an impressive amount of damage during Tropical Storm Irene. The trail is now open to foot traffic only from the end of Rocky Branch Road (Jericho Road) to Rocky Branch Shelter #1. Significant portions of the trail are missing or damaged between Shelter #1 and #2 and therefore continues to be closed to all access.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=77832

 

[nartreb]

Views are similar to those from Isolation (location and height are very close) but more expansive because the summit is more open. Worth the detour if you're on Isolation.

 

[Amicus]

If you have two cars, an alternative that I much enjoyed in a group hike 9 years ago takes in nearly all of Davis Path. We took Glen Boulder Trail up to Davis Path, took the short detour north to Boott Spur, then took Davis Path south to its end at 302 in Crawford Notch, taking the spurs to the summits of Isolation, Davis and Stairs. As I recall, that added up to about 18 miles, but don't rely on my memory for that. It was a long day and fairly strenuous, but although we were all in decent shape we weren't all athletes. The car-spot isn't short but not ridiculous.

nartreb explains why the Davis views top those from Isolation. If you are keeping track of NE3Ks, there is reason to believe that the true summit of Davis is the trail-free (but also open-looking at its top) knob a little to the north of the knob with the spur.

 

[Scubahhh]

"Rocky Branch Trail sustained an impressive amount of damage during Tropical Storm Irene. The trail is now open to foot traffic only from the end of Rocky Branch Road (Jericho Road) to Rocky Branch Shelter #1..."

Anybody know whether Rocky Branch Shelter #1 is still there? Isn't that one they're going to tear down and not replace?

 

[DayTrip]

I was looking at this approach recently to get out to Stairs & Resolution, and it was still closed two weeks ago. But it looks like it might have just reopened:

Rocky Branch Trail sustained an impressive amount of damage during Tropical Storm Irene. The trail is now open to foot traffic only from the end of Rocky Branch Road (Jericho Road) to Rocky Branch Shelter #1. Significant portions of the trail are missing or damaged between Shelter #1 and #2 and therefore continues to be closed to all access.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=77832

Thanks for the update. That was my biggest concern. Has anyone driven Jericho Road and/or hiked this section of trail of late? Wondering if a small car (i.e. low ground clearance) is OK on the road.

 

[wardsgirl]

Jericho Road is a well-graded dirt road. No problem at all in my Hyundai Elantra.

The road is gated about a mile before the trailhead, but it's an easy walk.

Rocky Branch Trail from the trailhead to Stairs Col Trail has been open for nearly a full year.

The shelter at the intersection sees a lot of traffic from fisherman. This shelter is still there and there are no plans for its removal that I know about. (I think the shelter at the intersection of Rocky Branch and Isolation east is slated for removal.)

 

[KV]

Hiked this area this weekend. Jericho Road is NOT gated so you can drive to the gated bridge. Shelter #1 is still there - intact. There was a group already there Friday night so we just cut down to the tent sites.

The trail between Shelter 1 and 2 is still closed. The trail up to stairs is open - a bit wet and slippery and many blowdowns - one with a bit of a detour to get around it. Also a huge portion of a pine precariously hanging by a branch caught in a birch - be warned.

Trail between Stairs and Davis very wet and slick. Didn't make it the whole way - about 1/2 before turning back.

 

[wardsgirl]

Hiked this area this weekend. Jericho Road is NOT gated so you can drive to the gated bridge. Shelter #1 is still there - intact. There was a group already there Friday night so we just cut down to the tent sites.

The trail between Shelter 1 and 2 is still closed. The trail up to stairs is open - a bit wet and slippery and many blowdowns - one with a bit of a detour to get around it. Also a huge portion of a pine precariously hanging by a branch caught in a birch - be warned.

Trail between Stairs and Davis very wet and slick. Didn't make it the whole way - about 1/2 before turning back.

Thanks for letting me know that the road is no longer gated.

Also, Stairs Col Trail is looking for an adopter if anyone is interested

 

[jniehof]

Davis Path is pretty good from 302 to Stairs, interestingly enough. A couple of mudholes but otherwise dry, particularly on the rock. (And wardsgirl, I know I should have been a few miles further north, soon, honest )

 

[JCarter]

Camping on top of Giant Stairs is fantastic. From the old Resolution shelter site to Mt Isolation on the Davis Path, there are very few legal camping opportunities (Giant Stairs is a desi site, there are no others on Davis Path until you go north of Isolation.) The terrain and vegetation on this section is not conducive to getting 200 ft off the trail. I successfully hung a hammock too close to the trail a few summers ago, I don't recall seeing anywhere I could have put a tent in this section. I have heard conflicting reports as to whether it is possible to camp on/near Mt Davis itself.

 

[wardsgirl]

Davis Path is pretty good from 302 to Stairs, interestingly enough. A couple of mudholes but otherwise dry, particularly on the rock. (And wardsgirl, I know I should have been a few miles further north, soon, honest )

Don't even think of switching to Stairs Col Trail!

JCarter, there are two designated campsites between the Giant Stairs and Mt. Isolation. These have the little tent sign, but they are easy to miss. They are located at N44 10 08.0 W71 19 07.6 and N44 11 16.9 W71 19 05.7. jniehof may find this information useful too!

 

[Mike P.]

See Chris D.'s trip report (or trail condition report) for his Isolation & Owl's Head trip. He was on all of the Davis Path and has shots of how unused portions of the trail is between Giant Stairs & Davis.

 

[DayTrip]

See Chris D.'s trip report (or trail condition report) for his Isolation & Owl's Head trip. He was on all of the Davis Path and has shots of how unused portions of the trail is between Giant Stairs & Davis.

Is this report on VFTT or another site? In read a trip report from 6/7 but it had no photos.

 

[dailey7779]

Is this report on VFTT or another site? In read a trip report from 6/7 but it had no photos.

My trail condition report can be found on this sites trail conditions page and there's a link with pics (click here for TC).

Have a nice hike to Mount Davis, I didn't go up to the summit this past Saturday since it was in the clouds, but I have been up there in the past and it does have great views!

-Chris

 

[wardsgirl]

My trail condition report can be found on this sites trail conditions page and there's a link with pics (click here for TC).

Have a nice hike to Mount Davis, I didn't go up to the summit this past Saturday since it was in the clouds, but I have been up there in the past and it does have great views!

-Chris

Thanks for the info, Chris. What a great hike!

The AMC trail bosses scouted the Davis Path last fall. They need to sort out the problems with the remoteness of the work sites in the wet and overgrown areas, and the availability of source material (appropriately sized timber or rocks) to fix the problem of the old single stringer bog bridges. These issues need to be resolved before they can submit the projects for Forest Service approval. Stay tuned!