Bob Kittredge
Active member
Joe C's AMC hike was planned for Jefferson today. Wasn't actually raining when we got up this morning, but the forecast called for it, and we decided not to risk getting caught in it above treeline.
So.... Plan B: We'd go up Crawford Path as far as Pierce and see whether or
not to continue on to Ike. Driving to the trailhead, we passed other THs that were mostly or completely free of cars. Seemed like everyone had listened to the forecast and decided to work on their taxes instead.
Still a lot of snow on the Path; a good 4 feet. But the treadway is starting to soften up, and a misplaced foot meant postholing up to mid-thigh in wet snow. Still, we barebooted as far as Pierce (which was mostly ice and bare rock). It was misting slightly, and visibility was no more than a few hundred feet, so we decided to just take Webster Cliff Trail to Mizpah and then the Cutoff back to the Path. This section of trail was not so well packed out as the Path, so we quickly changed over to snowshoes, and were glad we did. When we got back to Crawford Path we met a big group of teenagers, a school group from CT, headed for Pierce. These were the only other hikers we saw all day.
Bring your 'shoes, and be mindful of weakend snow bridges.
So.... Plan B: We'd go up Crawford Path as far as Pierce and see whether or
not to continue on to Ike. Driving to the trailhead, we passed other THs that were mostly or completely free of cars. Seemed like everyone had listened to the forecast and decided to work on their taxes instead.
Still a lot of snow on the Path; a good 4 feet. But the treadway is starting to soften up, and a misplaced foot meant postholing up to mid-thigh in wet snow. Still, we barebooted as far as Pierce (which was mostly ice and bare rock). It was misting slightly, and visibility was no more than a few hundred feet, so we decided to just take Webster Cliff Trail to Mizpah and then the Cutoff back to the Path. This section of trail was not so well packed out as the Path, so we quickly changed over to snowshoes, and were glad we did. When we got back to Crawford Path we met a big group of teenagers, a school group from CT, headed for Pierce. These were the only other hikers we saw all day.
Bring your 'shoes, and be mindful of weakend snow bridges.
