Silverfox
New member
Folks have been buzzing all week about
a Presi day happening today..thursday..so plans were set
An early start on the road got me to the Cog Station at 645 .. A couple of cars showed some were already on their way. I met up with Rocket 21 and Hiker Ed and his group including J and J and Old Man and we discussed strategy. We decided on an Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail ascent and made quick time on a packed out trail to the Gem Pool where we sugared up for the ascent.. The climb is steep and relentless but has a good consolidated footbed and we all used snowshoes. We paused at several points to look back at the amazing undercast..indeed..we had chosen the right day for this hike....Once up to the uppercrossing the climb lessens a bit and the views were spectacular as we popped out onto the ridgeline that leads to the hut.. We also checked out the roof view from the huge drift there.
Rocket and I were planning Munroe to Jefferson while Ed and his group were doing Washington down to Crawford so after a brief pause the groups split and we headed out for the first peak of the day. The surface was a medium hard frozen crust..perfect for snowshoes..there was very little ice on Munroe and we soon topped out to more amazing views...humm only 1030..we'll make Washington for lunch!!
Jeremy plotted a route via Tuckerman Crossover which avoided the nasty sideslope on the Crawford Path and brought us into a virtual moonscape area..wow..We soon rejoined the Crawford Path and followed Ed's groups packed out path towards the summit ..the groups passed just off the summit and we all smiled at our good fortune and continued on with our day.. Spectacular views from the summit..27 degrees..steady 12 mph wind...it was gorgeous and I only layered up a bit as we stood around spellbound looking at the incredible views..
But time's a wasting..Jefferson looms to the north.. Very easy going getting down off the summit on a soft but not deep layer of snow..very little ice..snowshoes were the footware of choice...Crossed one bit of scary sideslope on the Gulfside..scary for me anyway..I hate that stuff..and we were soon at the Jewell Junction
We descended into a cloud bank at Sphinx col but quickly and immediately broke into the clear on the Jefferson ascent..a little windy along this stretch..20-25 mph range but still mild..I put a shell on over base layers but not really needed. About half way up the Jefferson stretch we ran into Carl's group who had packed out trail well for us to the summit..They had stopped for a snack in a warm spot..excellent choice and we dawdled a bit before pressing on..
Climb to Jefferson over Monticello lawn pretty easy going and we were rewarded with more excellent VFTT in every direction from the summit where we lingered a bit admiring the ever changing undercast to the west..the Twins, Bonds and Franconia Ridge popped in and out of the clouds many times in early afternoon.
Descent was a real good time..could enjoy the incredible panorama without the huffing and puffing..previous groups had cut an angle to the Jewell Trail which we followed on the way down..mostly packed in with snow but a couple of thin spots.. Dropping below treeline was almost a relief..you can only take so many views in the course of a day and the Jewell Trail was well packed out but still soft which made for excellent snowshoe footing
while we saw a couple of postholers today everyone else had on snowshoes which should make for ideal conditions..ours were on the whole day and excepting a couple of hardpacked icy spots which were a little dicey they were more than sufficient.aside from a windshell and food..nothing else came out of the pack all day long..could have saved 10 pounds there probably ...but....
pics
http://silverfox777.smugmug.com/History/20100114/img2565/7648
a Presi day happening today..thursday..so plans were set
An early start on the road got me to the Cog Station at 645 .. A couple of cars showed some were already on their way. I met up with Rocket 21 and Hiker Ed and his group including J and J and Old Man and we discussed strategy. We decided on an Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail ascent and made quick time on a packed out trail to the Gem Pool where we sugared up for the ascent.. The climb is steep and relentless but has a good consolidated footbed and we all used snowshoes. We paused at several points to look back at the amazing undercast..indeed..we had chosen the right day for this hike....Once up to the uppercrossing the climb lessens a bit and the views were spectacular as we popped out onto the ridgeline that leads to the hut.. We also checked out the roof view from the huge drift there.
Rocket and I were planning Munroe to Jefferson while Ed and his group were doing Washington down to Crawford so after a brief pause the groups split and we headed out for the first peak of the day. The surface was a medium hard frozen crust..perfect for snowshoes..there was very little ice on Munroe and we soon topped out to more amazing views...humm only 1030..we'll make Washington for lunch!!
Jeremy plotted a route via Tuckerman Crossover which avoided the nasty sideslope on the Crawford Path and brought us into a virtual moonscape area..wow..We soon rejoined the Crawford Path and followed Ed's groups packed out path towards the summit ..the groups passed just off the summit and we all smiled at our good fortune and continued on with our day.. Spectacular views from the summit..27 degrees..steady 12 mph wind...it was gorgeous and I only layered up a bit as we stood around spellbound looking at the incredible views..
But time's a wasting..Jefferson looms to the north.. Very easy going getting down off the summit on a soft but not deep layer of snow..very little ice..snowshoes were the footware of choice...Crossed one bit of scary sideslope on the Gulfside..scary for me anyway..I hate that stuff..and we were soon at the Jewell Junction
We descended into a cloud bank at Sphinx col but quickly and immediately broke into the clear on the Jefferson ascent..a little windy along this stretch..20-25 mph range but still mild..I put a shell on over base layers but not really needed. About half way up the Jefferson stretch we ran into Carl's group who had packed out trail well for us to the summit..They had stopped for a snack in a warm spot..excellent choice and we dawdled a bit before pressing on..
Climb to Jefferson over Monticello lawn pretty easy going and we were rewarded with more excellent VFTT in every direction from the summit where we lingered a bit admiring the ever changing undercast to the west..the Twins, Bonds and Franconia Ridge popped in and out of the clouds many times in early afternoon.
Descent was a real good time..could enjoy the incredible panorama without the huffing and puffing..previous groups had cut an angle to the Jewell Trail which we followed on the way down..mostly packed in with snow but a couple of thin spots.. Dropping below treeline was almost a relief..you can only take so many views in the course of a day and the Jewell Trail was well packed out but still soft which made for excellent snowshoe footing
while we saw a couple of postholers today everyone else had on snowshoes which should make for ideal conditions..ours were on the whole day and excepting a couple of hardpacked icy spots which were a little dicey they were more than sufficient.aside from a windshell and food..nothing else came out of the pack all day long..could have saved 10 pounds there probably ...but....
pics
http://silverfox777.smugmug.com/History/20100114/img2565/7648
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