U
Unregistered
Guest
Percy Peaks, 2/5/17 via Christine Lake trailhead.
Random Group of Hikers, party of 6. We ascended both summits of Percy Peaks from the east from the Christine Lake boat launch using the Old Summer Club Trail, Percy Peaks Trail, and South Percy spur trail, OAB same route. Unsure of parking, we consolidated cars in Groveton but discovered ample parking at the Stark covered bridge and at the Christine Lake Boat Launch, which is being plowed out by NHDOT. From the lake we ascended the Old Summer Club Trail on woods roads broken out by snowmobile as far as the junction/ merger with the southbound Cohos Trail. Thence to the col and summits the trail was unbroken. About 1.5 feet of snow at low elevations, increasing to 2.5 or more in upper elevations with drift pockets of deeper snow in lees. About 10" powder over firmer snow with a breakable crust below. The trail was well blazed to the col but snow obscured some of the blazes. I was very familiar with the trail--we might have gotten off track in a few places had that not been the case. We found all junctions signed. We ascended the N. peak over mostly snow covered slabs with shallow drift cornices, soft sastrugi, and a few short icy areas. We did trigger a small slab slide at one point but the snowmass was too piebald, light, and not sufficiently deep enough enough to be of danger to us. Pleasant summit temps in the 20s with light wind and long views. We plowed up the S. Peak with difficulty through deep drifts. The trail there is not blazed and very narrow. Having some familiarity with spur trail helped us keep on the trail corridor and out of spruce traps. We did not find the canister which was probably embedded in several inches of rime. Descent was fast. There were about 4-5 blowdowns on the Old Summer Club Trail but only one of them presented difficulty. Lots of bent over poles covered with snow, however. We used bare boots and/or spikes on the snowmobile trails, snowshoes the rest of the way although one of us descended the N. Peak slabs on spikes for better stability. We carried crampons but did not need them. No difficult water crossings.
Was excited to finally visit this fantastic place in winter--one of the finest views in all of the White Mountains.
Shoeless Paul [email protected] Photos: https://www.meetup.com/rndmhkrs/events/237081206/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/kmacgray/sets/72157679936935456/
Random Group of Hikers, party of 6. We ascended both summits of Percy Peaks from the east from the Christine Lake boat launch using the Old Summer Club Trail, Percy Peaks Trail, and South Percy spur trail, OAB same route. Unsure of parking, we consolidated cars in Groveton but discovered ample parking at the Stark covered bridge and at the Christine Lake Boat Launch, which is being plowed out by NHDOT. From the lake we ascended the Old Summer Club Trail on woods roads broken out by snowmobile as far as the junction/ merger with the southbound Cohos Trail. Thence to the col and summits the trail was unbroken. About 1.5 feet of snow at low elevations, increasing to 2.5 or more in upper elevations with drift pockets of deeper snow in lees. About 10" powder over firmer snow with a breakable crust below. The trail was well blazed to the col but snow obscured some of the blazes. I was very familiar with the trail--we might have gotten off track in a few places had that not been the case. We found all junctions signed. We ascended the N. peak over mostly snow covered slabs with shallow drift cornices, soft sastrugi, and a few short icy areas. We did trigger a small slab slide at one point but the snowmass was too piebald, light, and not sufficiently deep enough enough to be of danger to us. Pleasant summit temps in the 20s with light wind and long views. We plowed up the S. Peak with difficulty through deep drifts. The trail there is not blazed and very narrow. Having some familiarity with spur trail helped us keep on the trail corridor and out of spruce traps. We did not find the canister which was probably embedded in several inches of rime. Descent was fast. There were about 4-5 blowdowns on the Old Summer Club Trail but only one of them presented difficulty. Lots of bent over poles covered with snow, however. We used bare boots and/or spikes on the snowmobile trails, snowshoes the rest of the way although one of us descended the N. Peak slabs on spikes for better stability. We carried crampons but did not need them. No difficult water crossings.
Was excited to finally visit this fantastic place in winter--one of the finest views in all of the White Mountains.
Shoeless Paul [email protected] Photos: https://www.meetup.com/rndmhkrs/events/237081206/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/kmacgray/sets/72157679936935456/
