p2piper
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Date: September 26, 2006
Time: 9 hours
Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy, temps ranging in 40’s and 50’s
Miles: 11
Steps: 30, 612
Trails: Livermore Trail – North Slide – Mt Tripyramid Loop Trail – South Slide
Holy Sh** Factor: Absolutely incredible on the slides!
Nancy and I had originally planned to hike Mt. Washington via Tuckerman’s Ravine, but predictions of high winds and frozen fog did not bode for a safe hike so we decided to hike somewhere else. That was a wise decision. Our choice: North and Middle Tripyramid via the Mt Tripyramid loop. Steven Smith and Mike Dickerman’s book, The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains describes the loop over the Tripyramid slides as “one of the most exciting and challenging hikes in the Whites.” They were right.
The drive up was uneventful, except when we started to get close to the mountains and saw lots of clouds. I was thinking, “Here we go again,” dreading another cloudy, viewless, raw, rainy day. But by the time we started up the Livermore Trail at 8:34 am, the sun had come out and our spirits soared. The Livermore Trail is part of a gentle cross country ski trail that’s part of the Snow’s ski area. It was wide and smooth with a gentle grade. It was a great way to get warmed up for the climb ahead.
At 9:37 am, we came to a sign that showed all trails leading to the right, but there were gouges in the sign where someone had added arrows encouraging hikers to go straight to reach the North Tripyramid. After consulting with the map, we decided to go straight and continued on walking on a woods road, not as perfectly maintained as the cross country trail, but still wide and wonderful. Tree color was vibrant and the sun pouring through the leaves made it look like we were walking in a kaleidoscope. We crossed a stream and started climbing. Luckily two hours of fast walking had us primed and ready.
Shortly after we started climbing, we came to the bottom of the North Slide. Now, I really like slides. I really enjoy hiking that is more technical and challenging than a tramp in the woods. I love the physicality of it. I love looking at several pitches and choosing one I know is a) doable and b) challenging. It’s like a puzzle and I like scanning and deciding without second-guessing myself. Only once did I get myself into a situation where I couldn’t go forward and had to go back and choose a different route. The slide started out fairly narrow and shaded; the rocks were greasy with moss. Traction was a challenge so good handholds were essential and footholds had to be tested before putting full body weight onto them. As we climbed, the slide grew wider and more exposed. When we finally stopped to catch our breath, we turned around and saw a wonderful view of Tecumseh and the Osceolas, all the way to Mt Washington, which as predicted was crowned with a wreath of clouds.
Nancy and I helped each other over the harder sections, both of us getting better at asking for and accepting help. The higher we climbed the more spectacular the views. I looked down with awe at what and how far we had climbed, and then I looked up and my heart sang because there was still so much more to go. It was a great slide – I was a very happy girl. At the top of the slide, there was a surreal moment when I looked down the slide and out across the expansive view and looked into the dark woods where the path was cut. It was a narrow, dark opening in the woods. One step into the woods and the slide and the view were gone. Very soon after entering the woods, we reached what we thought was the North Tripyramid summit (elevation 4,180) – no cairn or sign to mark it, just a sense that this was the height of land.
We haven’t had the weather or the timing to have lunch on a summit on our last few hikes, so when we reached the top at 12:28 pm and found a log in the sun and a view, we were in heaven. We ate lunch amid a chorus of noisy Chickadees who couldn’t wait for us to leave so they could see if we had left any crumbs behind. We took a couple of summit pictures, did a high five in celebration of #30, and started toward Middle Tripyramid at 1 pm. The ridge trail was very pleasant – we didn’t lose much elevation - and arrived at the summit of Middle Tripyramid (elevation 4,140) at 1:32 pm. More summit pictures, a high five celebrating #31, and off we went to South Tripyramid and our descent on the South Slide.
We met our first hikers on the ridge – two gentlemen who were tagging the three peaks via the Pine Bend River Trail. Both of them were experienced hikers and wore the patches to prove it. They gave their trail names as Wolfgang and Downhill Bunky. I hope to see their trip report on VFTT. Onward and then down the South Slide. Unlike the North Slide, the South Slide was more loose rock and not quite as long or as steep. Definitely the side to go down on. Footing was treacherous and walking on loose rock on a downhill slope was a constant process of trying to keep from doing a face plant. I led the pace and we reached the bottom of the slide at 3:30 pm. Both of us were in good spirits, having passed through an hour of feeling really punchy and laughing at everything. Our endorphins were flying. The rest of the South Slide trail was absolutely gorgeous – mainly because of the afternoon alpenglow and the brook it paralleled was a hot summer day’s dream.
We reached the Livermore Trail at around 4:30 pm and began the tramp back to the parking lot. I have to say that my feet were really sore. My toes hurt and I could tell the numbness I often feel after a long hike was setting in on the bottom of my big toes. Both Nancy and I bought new hiking boots at the beginning of the hiking season, and we have put on around 150 miles of hard hiking. Could these boots have lost their ability to cushion our feet? I can see the wrinkle lines that indicate compression of the sole, but I don’t know what the life of a hiking boot is supposed to be. Is it my feet or the boot? Anyone have an idea?
We arrived at the parking lot at 5:30 and changed into warm, dry clothes and sneakers. That felt good. One of those bliss moments. Then to Biederman’s Deli in Plymouth for a large bowl of turkey and vegetable soup. Perfect!
What a great hike, a perfect loop, excellent weather, wonderful company! We are so blessed.
31 out of 67 peaks
Date: September 26, 2006
Time: 9 hours
Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy, temps ranging in 40’s and 50’s
Miles: 11
Steps: 30, 612
Trails: Livermore Trail – North Slide – Mt Tripyramid Loop Trail – South Slide
Holy Sh** Factor: Absolutely incredible on the slides!
Nancy and I had originally planned to hike Mt. Washington via Tuckerman’s Ravine, but predictions of high winds and frozen fog did not bode for a safe hike so we decided to hike somewhere else. That was a wise decision. Our choice: North and Middle Tripyramid via the Mt Tripyramid loop. Steven Smith and Mike Dickerman’s book, The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains describes the loop over the Tripyramid slides as “one of the most exciting and challenging hikes in the Whites.” They were right.
The drive up was uneventful, except when we started to get close to the mountains and saw lots of clouds. I was thinking, “Here we go again,” dreading another cloudy, viewless, raw, rainy day. But by the time we started up the Livermore Trail at 8:34 am, the sun had come out and our spirits soared. The Livermore Trail is part of a gentle cross country ski trail that’s part of the Snow’s ski area. It was wide and smooth with a gentle grade. It was a great way to get warmed up for the climb ahead.
At 9:37 am, we came to a sign that showed all trails leading to the right, but there were gouges in the sign where someone had added arrows encouraging hikers to go straight to reach the North Tripyramid. After consulting with the map, we decided to go straight and continued on walking on a woods road, not as perfectly maintained as the cross country trail, but still wide and wonderful. Tree color was vibrant and the sun pouring through the leaves made it look like we were walking in a kaleidoscope. We crossed a stream and started climbing. Luckily two hours of fast walking had us primed and ready.
Shortly after we started climbing, we came to the bottom of the North Slide. Now, I really like slides. I really enjoy hiking that is more technical and challenging than a tramp in the woods. I love the physicality of it. I love looking at several pitches and choosing one I know is a) doable and b) challenging. It’s like a puzzle and I like scanning and deciding without second-guessing myself. Only once did I get myself into a situation where I couldn’t go forward and had to go back and choose a different route. The slide started out fairly narrow and shaded; the rocks were greasy with moss. Traction was a challenge so good handholds were essential and footholds had to be tested before putting full body weight onto them. As we climbed, the slide grew wider and more exposed. When we finally stopped to catch our breath, we turned around and saw a wonderful view of Tecumseh and the Osceolas, all the way to Mt Washington, which as predicted was crowned with a wreath of clouds.
Nancy and I helped each other over the harder sections, both of us getting better at asking for and accepting help. The higher we climbed the more spectacular the views. I looked down with awe at what and how far we had climbed, and then I looked up and my heart sang because there was still so much more to go. It was a great slide – I was a very happy girl. At the top of the slide, there was a surreal moment when I looked down the slide and out across the expansive view and looked into the dark woods where the path was cut. It was a narrow, dark opening in the woods. One step into the woods and the slide and the view were gone. Very soon after entering the woods, we reached what we thought was the North Tripyramid summit (elevation 4,180) – no cairn or sign to mark it, just a sense that this was the height of land.
We haven’t had the weather or the timing to have lunch on a summit on our last few hikes, so when we reached the top at 12:28 pm and found a log in the sun and a view, we were in heaven. We ate lunch amid a chorus of noisy Chickadees who couldn’t wait for us to leave so they could see if we had left any crumbs behind. We took a couple of summit pictures, did a high five in celebration of #30, and started toward Middle Tripyramid at 1 pm. The ridge trail was very pleasant – we didn’t lose much elevation - and arrived at the summit of Middle Tripyramid (elevation 4,140) at 1:32 pm. More summit pictures, a high five celebrating #31, and off we went to South Tripyramid and our descent on the South Slide.
We met our first hikers on the ridge – two gentlemen who were tagging the three peaks via the Pine Bend River Trail. Both of them were experienced hikers and wore the patches to prove it. They gave their trail names as Wolfgang and Downhill Bunky. I hope to see their trip report on VFTT. Onward and then down the South Slide. Unlike the North Slide, the South Slide was more loose rock and not quite as long or as steep. Definitely the side to go down on. Footing was treacherous and walking on loose rock on a downhill slope was a constant process of trying to keep from doing a face plant. I led the pace and we reached the bottom of the slide at 3:30 pm. Both of us were in good spirits, having passed through an hour of feeling really punchy and laughing at everything. Our endorphins were flying. The rest of the South Slide trail was absolutely gorgeous – mainly because of the afternoon alpenglow and the brook it paralleled was a hot summer day’s dream.
We reached the Livermore Trail at around 4:30 pm and began the tramp back to the parking lot. I have to say that my feet were really sore. My toes hurt and I could tell the numbness I often feel after a long hike was setting in on the bottom of my big toes. Both Nancy and I bought new hiking boots at the beginning of the hiking season, and we have put on around 150 miles of hard hiking. Could these boots have lost their ability to cushion our feet? I can see the wrinkle lines that indicate compression of the sole, but I don’t know what the life of a hiking boot is supposed to be. Is it my feet or the boot? Anyone have an idea?
We arrived at the parking lot at 5:30 and changed into warm, dry clothes and sneakers. That felt good. One of those bliss moments. Then to Biederman’s Deli in Plymouth for a large bowl of turkey and vegetable soup. Perfect!
What a great hike, a perfect loop, excellent weather, wonderful company! We are so blessed.
31 out of 67 peaks
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