DayTrip
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 13, 2013
- Messages
- 4,016
- Reaction score
- 258
I've been reading many of the threads on VFTT and other forums about the merits of ascending or descending Six Husbands vs Sphinx and it seems like the general consensus is that you should ASCEND Six Husbands and DESCEND Sphinx for any loops in this area. But every time I read the AMC Guide descriptions it sounds like it should be the other way around. Six Husbands sounds steep and rugged but the only really uncomfortable sounding area is the steep ledges with the ladders. I'd think ladders could be descended as easily as climbed. On the other hand, the Sphinx Trail sounds very wet, tricky to follow in spots and the AMC Guide specifically points out numerous difficult scrambles and a tricky chimney. That doesn't sound like a good route of descent to me.
Can anyone square me away on specifically why they would not DESCEND one versus the other? I've done most of the "ravine" hikes in the Whites (including Madison Gulf, the Great Gulf headwall and Wamsutta in the Gulf itself) and would like to complete Six Husbands, Sphinx and Buttress to round out my list but I'm having a very hard time deciding how to attack. (I should note I'd be doing as a day hike so this will be a multi-trip undertaking, not one insane day of ravine madness). I like the idea of going up Sphinx cutting across and coming down Six Husbands in a loop but I'm concerned about the descent. The other loop I had in mind was up Six Husbands and then over and down Buttress, which is supposed to have some excellent views of the knee Six Husbands ascends. But then that kind of leaves the Sphinx "orphaned" as a when and how will I do that considering the effort. (Sphinx sounds like a trail people only take when they have to in bad weather.)
What am I missing or ignoring? My gut tells me to go by the AMC Guide which is generally pretty good and it doesn't specifically warn against descent on either of these trails like it does for Huntington, Madison Gulf and others. Is there a "comparable" trail in the Whites that someone can reference to give me an idea of what Sphinx and Six Husbands is like? I'm just guessing but Sphinx sounds a lot like Madison Gulf and Six Husbands somewhat like Wamsutta (more the lower part with the steep, bouldery climb). Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
Can anyone square me away on specifically why they would not DESCEND one versus the other? I've done most of the "ravine" hikes in the Whites (including Madison Gulf, the Great Gulf headwall and Wamsutta in the Gulf itself) and would like to complete Six Husbands, Sphinx and Buttress to round out my list but I'm having a very hard time deciding how to attack. (I should note I'd be doing as a day hike so this will be a multi-trip undertaking, not one insane day of ravine madness). I like the idea of going up Sphinx cutting across and coming down Six Husbands in a loop but I'm concerned about the descent. The other loop I had in mind was up Six Husbands and then over and down Buttress, which is supposed to have some excellent views of the knee Six Husbands ascends. But then that kind of leaves the Sphinx "orphaned" as a when and how will I do that considering the effort. (Sphinx sounds like a trail people only take when they have to in bad weather.)
What am I missing or ignoring? My gut tells me to go by the AMC Guide which is generally pretty good and it doesn't specifically warn against descent on either of these trails like it does for Huntington, Madison Gulf and others. Is there a "comparable" trail in the Whites that someone can reference to give me an idea of what Sphinx and Six Husbands is like? I'm just guessing but Sphinx sounds a lot like Madison Gulf and Six Husbands somewhat like Wamsutta (more the lower part with the steep, bouldery climb). Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.