BIGEarl
Well-known member
February 25, 2012: Tecumseh
Trails: Mount Tecumseh Trail
Summits: Tecumseh
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
We started this one early to be in a position to hike another peak later in the day. With cooperative weather we had a good plan. With uncooperative weather it didn’t matter what we had for a plan – the weather was running the show.
The only activity at the Mt. Tecumseh trailhead was the plow trucks getting the place ready for the skiers chasing fresh powder. There were three to four inches of new powder on the ground and the lots were sure to be full in a few hours. Sue and I were the only ones there when we started our climb.
We left the truck with snowshoes on and that’s the way we came back. The hike away from the lot was easier and faster than usual. I don’t know why but we hit the relocated trail section fast, reached the mid crossing of Tecumseh Brook fast, reached the upper crossing of Tecumseh Brook fast, and even made it to the viewpoint spur at the bottom of the endless climb to the ridge fast. The trail was completely clear with only a single “step-over” blowdown along the way. Clear sailing at its best!
At the viewpoint spur we stopped to raise the heel bars on our MSRs and got comfortable for the climb. We found a comfortable pace and just climbed. There were a couple stops along the way to the ridge but they were short and spread out. On the climb I noticed Tecumseh was socked in with clouds. Clouds at this elevation probably meant we were to run into problems on the second hike. Eventually, we made the ridge, dropped the heel bars, and finished the ascent. As we were hiking the final stretch we came to the trail split and went left as usual. Both choices go to the summit but for some reason we always go left.
As we contoured around the west side of the summit cone the winds were clearly up, way up. This was another indication of problems later. We kept moving through the open section to get out of the wind as much as we could and were soon on the final steep pitch to the summit. We hit the area of the summit cairn, got our usual summit pictures, and made the u-turn for our hike back out the way we hiked in.
The hike out was a quick one. I had considered taking off the MSRs for the descent but stayed with them. We were descending a short distance above the viewpoint spur at roughly 8:30am when Sue heard some noise and initially assumed it was from skiers on the nearby trail of the Waterville Valley Ski Area. It was skiers, but they were charging down the Mt. Tecumseh trail and headed right for us. Both Sue and I stepped off the trail as the skiers flew past. There were at least three and possibly four. This was a first for me. I have heard skiers use this trail on occasion but never imagined they did so with such speed. These folks were really moving. At the viewpoint spur they turned right and went back out to the ski area.
We continued our hike out and eventually met seven or eight others in three groups starting their climbs of Tecumseh. First in – first out, and we loaded our things into the truck. Soon we were on our way to Marshfield Station and the second half of our day; a hike to Jefferson.
We arrived to Marshfield Station and found the parking signs clearly in place directing us to the Hiker Parking. We pulled in and watched. Ours was the only vehicle in the lot. The wind was blowing from the northwest, occasionally we could see to the upper lot and Marshfield Station but more often the visibility was limited to under a hundred feet, and it was snowing at a pretty good rate. At the times when the visibility opened up enough to see the trees on the slope above Marshfield Station we could easily see they were doing a lot of dancing in the wind. Even the truck was shaking in the wind from time to time.
I think we were both pretty sure the conditions didn’t improve with elevation. We waited and realized this wasn’t a passing condition. We had uncooperative weather conditions running the show.
Eventually, we paid a visit to the Highland Center to change into some dry clothes and hit the highway south. Getting both peaks would have been nice but we needed to at least hike Tecumseh. We can return to get Jefferson with its neighbors in a couple days.
Pictures will follow
Trails: Mount Tecumseh Trail
Summits: Tecumseh
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
We started this one early to be in a position to hike another peak later in the day. With cooperative weather we had a good plan. With uncooperative weather it didn’t matter what we had for a plan – the weather was running the show.
The only activity at the Mt. Tecumseh trailhead was the plow trucks getting the place ready for the skiers chasing fresh powder. There were three to four inches of new powder on the ground and the lots were sure to be full in a few hours. Sue and I were the only ones there when we started our climb.
We left the truck with snowshoes on and that’s the way we came back. The hike away from the lot was easier and faster than usual. I don’t know why but we hit the relocated trail section fast, reached the mid crossing of Tecumseh Brook fast, reached the upper crossing of Tecumseh Brook fast, and even made it to the viewpoint spur at the bottom of the endless climb to the ridge fast. The trail was completely clear with only a single “step-over” blowdown along the way. Clear sailing at its best!
At the viewpoint spur we stopped to raise the heel bars on our MSRs and got comfortable for the climb. We found a comfortable pace and just climbed. There were a couple stops along the way to the ridge but they were short and spread out. On the climb I noticed Tecumseh was socked in with clouds. Clouds at this elevation probably meant we were to run into problems on the second hike. Eventually, we made the ridge, dropped the heel bars, and finished the ascent. As we were hiking the final stretch we came to the trail split and went left as usual. Both choices go to the summit but for some reason we always go left.
As we contoured around the west side of the summit cone the winds were clearly up, way up. This was another indication of problems later. We kept moving through the open section to get out of the wind as much as we could and were soon on the final steep pitch to the summit. We hit the area of the summit cairn, got our usual summit pictures, and made the u-turn for our hike back out the way we hiked in.
The hike out was a quick one. I had considered taking off the MSRs for the descent but stayed with them. We were descending a short distance above the viewpoint spur at roughly 8:30am when Sue heard some noise and initially assumed it was from skiers on the nearby trail of the Waterville Valley Ski Area. It was skiers, but they were charging down the Mt. Tecumseh trail and headed right for us. Both Sue and I stepped off the trail as the skiers flew past. There were at least three and possibly four. This was a first for me. I have heard skiers use this trail on occasion but never imagined they did so with such speed. These folks were really moving. At the viewpoint spur they turned right and went back out to the ski area.
We continued our hike out and eventually met seven or eight others in three groups starting their climbs of Tecumseh. First in – first out, and we loaded our things into the truck. Soon we were on our way to Marshfield Station and the second half of our day; a hike to Jefferson.
We arrived to Marshfield Station and found the parking signs clearly in place directing us to the Hiker Parking. We pulled in and watched. Ours was the only vehicle in the lot. The wind was blowing from the northwest, occasionally we could see to the upper lot and Marshfield Station but more often the visibility was limited to under a hundred feet, and it was snowing at a pretty good rate. At the times when the visibility opened up enough to see the trees on the slope above Marshfield Station we could easily see they were doing a lot of dancing in the wind. Even the truck was shaking in the wind from time to time.
I think we were both pretty sure the conditions didn’t improve with elevation. We waited and realized this wasn’t a passing condition. We had uncooperative weather conditions running the show.
Eventually, we paid a visit to the Highland Center to change into some dry clothes and hit the highway south. Getting both peaks would have been nice but we needed to at least hike Tecumseh. We can return to get Jefferson with its neighbors in a couple days.
Pictures will follow
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