BIGEarl
Well-known member
Trails: Sandwich Mountain Trail, Jennings Spur Path, Drakes Brook Trail
Distance – Elevation: 8.7 Miles, 2,800 Feet
Jennifer and I headed to Waterville Valley for a loop-hike of Sandwich Dome. We left planning to hike a clockwise loop but decided to reverse the direction when we arrived.
During the early part of the hike the trail was relatively dry with good footing. This started to change after reaching an elevation of approximately 2500 feet. Ice patches started to show up. They presented no real problem if we were careful with our foot placement. Continuing on we experienced an increasing amount of ice on the trail. At approximately 2800 feet the trail was generally covered with ice. In the areas of smooth ledge the ice was tricky to negotiate. Jennifer decided to pull out her Stabilicers for added traction. I continued to bare boot the hike.
We stopped briefly at Noon Peak for the views past East Osceola and the Tripyramids. We could also get a good view of Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak (through the trees).
Soon after departing Noon Peak Jennifer heard something below us. We stopped, watched, and listened. We saw a yellow pack moving through the trees. The hiker stepped around the corner and saw us. She froze in her tracks. At roughly the same time she looked at me and said Earl!, I said Donna! (A VFTT member)
We’ve hiked together in the past (and hopefully will hike together in the future). I made the introductions and Donna decided to join us.
We continued to the junction with the Jennings Peak Spur path and took the turn planning to have some lunch on the open ledge. The short .2 miles to Jennings Peak is half relatively level ground and half fairly steep climb. All of it is covered with ice. Without traction aids the final half was interesting. When we reached Jennings Peak the wind was coming from the Southwest and creating an uncomfortable condition. We briefly enjoyed the view, which wasn’t bad for the conditions, and noted the remaining hike to Sandwich Dome. Sandwich Dome was roughly 1.1 miles away and the hazy view made it appear much further. We retreated to the tree-covered area behind the ledges for lunch-shelter but it was no better. So, we headed back to the Sandwich Mountain Trail to have our lunch.
After lunch Donna decided to call it a hike and head out. Jennifer and I continued to Sandwich Dome. There was nothing new along this section. We found plenty of ice, a few blowdowns, and one hiker heading back out. When we reached the summit the views were significantly deteriorated from Jennings Peak. The cloud cover was much lower and there was a haze developing in the valley. Before leaving the peak area I pulled out my Stabilicers for an easy walk down. I bare booted my way in and could certainly bare boot my way out. The Stabilicers made the hiking much more enjoyable.
We headed back out on the Sandwich Mountain Trail to the junction with Drakes Brook Trail. Along the way we saw a group of four hikers heading to Jennings Peak. Knowing the conditions on the steep sections leading to Noon Peak, we decided to follow Drakes Brook Trail back out. The icy conditions continued to approximately 2500 feet. There were more blowdowns on this trail than Sandwich Mountain Trail but all were easily passed.
A little below 2500 feet we stopped and removed the Stabilicers. From here back to the trailhead parking the trail was generally clear and dry with only a couple small mud holes that we skirted around. Mid-afternoon we stepped into the parking area and headed off to find a coffee shop for Jennifer.
Nice hike for a grey day.
Distance – Elevation: 8.7 Miles, 2,800 Feet
Jennifer and I headed to Waterville Valley for a loop-hike of Sandwich Dome. We left planning to hike a clockwise loop but decided to reverse the direction when we arrived.
During the early part of the hike the trail was relatively dry with good footing. This started to change after reaching an elevation of approximately 2500 feet. Ice patches started to show up. They presented no real problem if we were careful with our foot placement. Continuing on we experienced an increasing amount of ice on the trail. At approximately 2800 feet the trail was generally covered with ice. In the areas of smooth ledge the ice was tricky to negotiate. Jennifer decided to pull out her Stabilicers for added traction. I continued to bare boot the hike.
We stopped briefly at Noon Peak for the views past East Osceola and the Tripyramids. We could also get a good view of Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak (through the trees).
Soon after departing Noon Peak Jennifer heard something below us. We stopped, watched, and listened. We saw a yellow pack moving through the trees. The hiker stepped around the corner and saw us. She froze in her tracks. At roughly the same time she looked at me and said Earl!, I said Donna! (A VFTT member)
We’ve hiked together in the past (and hopefully will hike together in the future). I made the introductions and Donna decided to join us.
We continued to the junction with the Jennings Peak Spur path and took the turn planning to have some lunch on the open ledge. The short .2 miles to Jennings Peak is half relatively level ground and half fairly steep climb. All of it is covered with ice. Without traction aids the final half was interesting. When we reached Jennings Peak the wind was coming from the Southwest and creating an uncomfortable condition. We briefly enjoyed the view, which wasn’t bad for the conditions, and noted the remaining hike to Sandwich Dome. Sandwich Dome was roughly 1.1 miles away and the hazy view made it appear much further. We retreated to the tree-covered area behind the ledges for lunch-shelter but it was no better. So, we headed back to the Sandwich Mountain Trail to have our lunch.
After lunch Donna decided to call it a hike and head out. Jennifer and I continued to Sandwich Dome. There was nothing new along this section. We found plenty of ice, a few blowdowns, and one hiker heading back out. When we reached the summit the views were significantly deteriorated from Jennings Peak. The cloud cover was much lower and there was a haze developing in the valley. Before leaving the peak area I pulled out my Stabilicers for an easy walk down. I bare booted my way in and could certainly bare boot my way out. The Stabilicers made the hiking much more enjoyable.
We headed back out on the Sandwich Mountain Trail to the junction with Drakes Brook Trail. Along the way we saw a group of four hikers heading to Jennings Peak. Knowing the conditions on the steep sections leading to Noon Peak, we decided to follow Drakes Brook Trail back out. The icy conditions continued to approximately 2500 feet. There were more blowdowns on this trail than Sandwich Mountain Trail but all were easily passed.
A little below 2500 feet we stopped and removed the Stabilicers. From here back to the trailhead parking the trail was generally clear and dry with only a couple small mud holes that we skirted around. Mid-afternoon we stepped into the parking area and headed off to find a coffee shop for Jennifer.
Nice hike for a grey day.
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