Early Bird
Active member
Mt. Washington- Lion's Head
Date of Hike: Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011
Trail Conditions: All parts of the trail were packed out so that snowshoes were not needed. Bare booting was fine until the last flat section of Lion's Head. All then used full crampons and ice axes. The steep sections varied from ice to bare rock to packed snow. (This was harder to navigate than the last time I climbed Washington in winter.) Once above tree line ascending the wind picked up, but trail was still easy to follow. We had planned to return via Boot Spur, but with the low visibility and increasing winds, we opted to return the way we came.
Special Equipment Required: Crampons and ice axe, full face coverage, many layers for warmth and wind protection.
Comments: We were a large AMC group of 12-13. (one turned back). At times we moved head down following the steps before us, and often we waited to regroup so that no one was left behind in the clouds above treeline. Excellent, although not the easiest of days in the mountains with a great group having come from all over NE and NY to hike Mt. Washington in winter. Note trail descending was hard to follow above treeline to start. We went up with the cairns far to our left. Coming down we began following the cairns and briefly lost our way in the fog. It was a short trudge with some sinking down into the snow before we got back on track. For a section above treeline the broken out hard packed trail does not follow the cairns.
Thanks to our AMC trip leaders for getting us up and down yesterday. I really enjoyed the day.
Date of Hike: Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011
Trail Conditions: All parts of the trail were packed out so that snowshoes were not needed. Bare booting was fine until the last flat section of Lion's Head. All then used full crampons and ice axes. The steep sections varied from ice to bare rock to packed snow. (This was harder to navigate than the last time I climbed Washington in winter.) Once above tree line ascending the wind picked up, but trail was still easy to follow. We had planned to return via Boot Spur, but with the low visibility and increasing winds, we opted to return the way we came.
Special Equipment Required: Crampons and ice axe, full face coverage, many layers for warmth and wind protection.
Comments: We were a large AMC group of 12-13. (one turned back). At times we moved head down following the steps before us, and often we waited to regroup so that no one was left behind in the clouds above treeline. Excellent, although not the easiest of days in the mountains with a great group having come from all over NE and NY to hike Mt. Washington in winter. Note trail descending was hard to follow above treeline to start. We went up with the cairns far to our left. Coming down we began following the cairns and briefly lost our way in the fog. It was a short trudge with some sinking down into the snow before we got back on track. For a section above treeline the broken out hard packed trail does not follow the cairns.
Thanks to our AMC trip leaders for getting us up and down yesterday. I really enjoyed the day.
