Mt. Isolation dayhike route suggestions

[marty]

Hi all,
I am tentatively planning a midweek dayhike up Mount Isolation in NH later this month. I have not yet decided on which round trip route to take. As I will likely be doing this solo, I will only have one car and do not like to hitchhike.

One choice is the Rocky Branch/Isolation/Davis round trip of 14.6 miles and 3,400+/- foot elevation gain. The other is Glen Boulder/Davis, which is a round trip of 12 miles and 5,050 elevation gain.

Any suggestions for preferred routes?

Many thanks,
Marty

 

[carole]

I've done it from three different directions -

Dry River > Isolation > Davis Path

in and out Rocky Branch from Rt.16 (with bushwack)

in and out Glen Boulder > Davis Path

If I were to repeat one it would be the in and out Glen Boulder route.

 

[dug]

I have personally only day-hiked the Rocky Branch route. I found it much easier than anticipated. Many others will recommend the Glen Boulder route as the scenary is much more spectacular.

 

[sapblatt]

Isolation

If you are phyisically up for it the Glen Boulder route sounds great. I have done the Rocky Branch trip and loved it, (one of my top 5) but the heat got to me on the way out. It is a pretty easy day, but long.

 

[MEB]

You could also take the Davis Path from 302 and do an out and back. Very nice trail with great views from Crawford, Stairs and Davis but it's also long with an elevation gain of 4400.

I've done the trip via Glen Boulder and that is also a very nice trip.....going back up Boot Spur can be a bit tiring though but there's nothing like being above treeline.

-MEB

 

[DougPaul]

I did it from Ammo Ravine via Camel Tr, Boot Spur, and Davis path. A little long, but lots of above T-line. Options for some of the Prezzies if you feel strong and the weather is good. Also shorter drive from Boston area than anything off Rte 16.

Doug

 

[bobandgeri]

We did it from Pinkham - up Boot Spur and returned via Glen Boulder on a nice day and enjoyed all the time above tree line.

 

[poison ivy]

Another vote for Glen Boulder... as long as you don't mind the elevation gain on the way back out.

- Ivy

 

[HighHorse]

in and out via glen boulder is the move. i've done it this way, although i must tell you... if it's hot, that climb out of there and up to bootspur will be painful. i ran this route a year or two ago when it was 98 degrees. and watch for moose poop on the davis path.

 

[RoySwkr]

This has been frequently discussed before, for example: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3582

 

[amstony]

my vote is to go up the Glen Boulder trailhead, hit the trail junction and descend down to Isolation, then go out via Rocky Branch. The views are great, and it is a fun time . Make sure you have a picture trying to "push over" the boulder!

The next time I do Isolation I'll probably do an out and back on Davis Path, that also looks intereting. But for a first time I'd do Glen Boulder.

 

[NewHampshire]

I was reading (in the AMC guide book or Smith/Dickermans 4000 ftrs, I cant remember) about Rocky Branch from Jericho road. Supposedly its a bit of a long hike with 4 extra stream crossings (only bad in high water.) But the eleveation gain is listed as being pretty low. But as is noted on the WMNF road closings (and as I found here) Jericho road has been closed for many years due to severe washouts. So I guess now is a good time to ask how far up Jericho road can one get (without any crazy monster truck antics)? Is this no longer an actual, viable option?
Brian

 

[marty]

Thanks to everyone for your insightful suggestions! Right now, the Glen Boulder/Davis Path round trip is my route of choice for a solo hike.

Best regards,
Marty

 

[RoySwkr]

... Rocky Branch from Jericho road. ... So I guess now is a good time to ask how far up Jericho road can one get (without any crazy monster truck antics)?

From this page http://hikenh.netfirms.com/PDIsolat.htm you can see that from Jericho Road is actually the least elevation gain although it is the about the longest distance. Last year the road was blocked by a gate about here http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=19&n=4889809&e=318716&s=200&size=m&datum=nad83&layer=DRG100
but otherwise could have been driven even further in any sort of car. Did it wash out since then?

You can cut the mileage substantially by doing bushwhack "F". Alternatively if you like long hikes, do the loop from Jericho Road up Rocky Branch and down Stairs Col or vice versa. I did this many years ago with a side bushwhack to E Stairs and it is far less crowded than the E/N routes.

 

[Bob Kittredge]

I went by way of Glen Boulder and the views were magnificent. But it did seem a little strange to bag a 4000 footer by climbing to 5300' and descending to it.

Also, by the time I got to Iso, I wasn't particularly impressed by its views. If you go by way of Rocky Branch, you're in the woods for the whole 7 miles, and I imagine the views from the summit would have a greater impact.

Be careful not to blow by the spur path to the summit from Davis Path. It's not well marked and involves a step up some rock that may not be obvious.

 

[bruno]

i agree with meb. i've hiked to isolation a few times via the glen boulder route (where you go to 5000 feet to get a 4000er!), the "standard" bagger route (the rocky branch way), and in and out up and down davis path. i'd rank the davis path way the best, with glen boulder second (i got caught in a mini-blizzard in october this way--it was fun). try to go on a clear day cause the view from isolation is one of the very best in the whites.