The Trident

[Papa Bear]

Audrey and I were discussing this and I thought I'd throw the question out to the group.

Trident Col and Trident Pass are features on USGS maps between Cascade Mountain and Page Pond on the Mahoosuc Trail, about 7 miles east of Route 2. "The Trident" is not a USGS name as far as I can find, but the name appears in the AT Guide to New Hampshire and in the WMG description for the Mahoosuc Trail.

Here's a map: Topozone: The Trident

This looks like an interesting formation with an exposed area (a slide?) on the west peak with probably great views back to the Carters and the Presidentials beyond. The peaks seem to have steep sides and flat tops, perhaps a feature caused by glaciation.

Has anyone ever climbed these? I have never once heard them mentioned on this forum. The terrain looks pretty rough on the south side where the trail goes but it looks like you could climb that slide and go along the ridge to the other peaks. Interestingly, the "slide" seems to be on a ridge, not a gully, so maybe it's not a slide. The WMG says:

The bare ledges of the rocky cone to the east of Trident Col repay the effort required to scramble to its top; a route ascends between two large cairns near the tentsite side path.

I'd like to hear of anyone's experiences climbing the Trident. Who knows, maybe it belongs on the Most under-rated Summit list.

 

[peakbagger]

I havent climbed it but be aware that there is a large landfill on the north side of the ridge that may detract from the view. The AT is routed on the south side of the ridge so the landifll is not in the viewshed. It is visible from Wocket ledge, just past Paige Pond but you are a few miles past it.

If you do elect to try it, you will have to approach from the south as the landfill complex and access road isnt shown on the maps and its is closed to the general public (AMC used to access Trident Col campsite from this area)

 

[SherpaKroto]

I spent a lot of time in Trident col when I was young (11-17) as it was 2.1 miles from my house. There are great views from the westerly peak, just before the summit. You will see down into the Androscoggin River Valley, and it is a fantastic spot to sit during foliage season. I haven't been there since the landfill (it's been a long time), but don't think it would be visible from the West Peak. BTW, it is just an open scramlbe of exposed ledge - not a slide. Traversing the 3 peaks would be rather difficult, as there are large ledgey sections that we found quite difficult (i.e. after getting up about 60 feet with no protection, it made sense to retreat). We tried heading north around the middle peak, but got into some boggy area. Heading further south, it was more ledges. That's my vague recollections of what you'll find there. The westerly peak is definitely worthy of exploration (I'll guess I've been up it at leat 20 times). Note: the ledges of Cascade Mtn also were fun to explore, but the landfill will be visible from there.

 

[el-bagr]

Trident Col is a nice area which seemed formerly to be quite wild. I'm not sure it's a slide; seemed more like boulder-strewn ledges to me. Some good views down to the Wild River mountains.

 

[RoySwkr]

I'd like to hear of anyone's experiences climbing the Trident. Who knows, maybe it belongs on the Most under-rated Summit list.

I climbed only the highest E peak [What, only one of the 3 Tridents? Well, a lot of people climb only 2 of the 3 Tripyramids ] As I recall it was ledgy and scrubby like the rest of the Mahoosucs. The "Sinclair Trail" was a snowmobile trail and provided an easy way down. That summit at least does not belong on the 100 best bushwhacks list.