Trail with greatest altitude gain in the Whites?

[Mike P.]

My mistake on the politics I was thinking more geologically though (it looks about equadistant to the two countries coastline) & I had been to Italy.

I guess that is why it's the Corsican Brothers & not the Brothers from France (or Italy) that live on the island of Corsica.

If it's mountainous, it's all good getting there maybe difficult but if the system works & stops the correct people, it's worth it.

 

[nartreb]

Raymond,
I think we weren't considering the AT to be a single trail. The part of the AT in the Presidential Range alone has about 9000 vertical feet gain (gross) [edit- maybe a bit less since the AT bypasses most of the summits]; I'd guess the AT through the Pemi Wilderness is somewhere around 8000 feet; add in the Moosilauke-Kinsman, Carter-Moriah, and Mahoosuc segments and the total is probably something like 40,000 feet. Of course that'd be a rather ambitious day hike - over a hundred miles.
Hm, I wonder what the elevation gain is for the ENTIRE A.T.?

 

[skiguy]

For you Listers

Interesting thread about total elevation gains.HERE"S an interesting list.

 

[sapblatt]

Hm, I wonder what the elevation gain is for the ENTIRE A.T.?

I just read that the elevation gain of the AT is similar to climbing Everest 16 times - that would be 464,560 - or about 88 miles. If you took six months to climb you would average about 2600 feet of gain per day.

I find it more useful to divide the elevation by the number of miles hiked...I find that a well graded path that gains 1000 feet per mile can be pretty comfortable - North Carter Trail comes to mind here...then you can get into some real tough terrain like the trails out of King Ravine where you can gain well over 1000 feet in 1/2 mile.

 

[DougPaul]

I just read that the elevation gain of the AT is similar to climbing Everest 16 times - that would be 464,560 - or about 88 miles. If you took six months to climb you would average about 2600 feet of gain per day.

Everest is not climbed from sea level--it is climbed from a basecamp. The basecamp for the South Ridge route is 18K ft, IIRC, giving a climb of 11K ft, not 29K.

Doug

 

[sapblatt]

Everest is not climbed from sea level--it is climbed from a basecamp. The basecamp for the South Ridge route is 18K ft, IIRC, giving a climb of 11K ft, not 29K.

Doug

Well - you could start at the Indian Ocean!
The site I found that statistic on I am pretty sure was basing it on the 29k figure...

 

[Raymond]

I always think of 1000 feet per mile as being fairly steep. That's the rate for the Tuckerman Ravine Trail from Pinkham Notch to the summit of Mount Washington.

Not that that is killer-steep, of course, but it is a good standard for comparison. Whenever I read that a trail rises 100 feet per tenth of a mile, I have an idea what to expect.

 

[sapblatt]

I always think of 1000 feet per mile as being fairly steep. That's the rate for the Tuckerman Ravine Trail from Pinkham Notch to the summit of Mount Washington.

Not that that is killer-steep, of course, but it is a good standard for comparison. Whenever I read that a trail rises 100 feet per tenth of a mile, I have an idea what to expect.

Clarifying my earlier post - I do agree with Raymond. 1000 feet per mile is steep when it is not evenly graded...North Carter Trail is pretty steady. A couple of rough examples where 1000 feet in a mile are not evenly graded would be the Twinway from Galehead Hut to South Twin...it is pretty mellow at first, and the top bit is not that bad - all of the real elevation gain happens in the middle6-7/10ths. Carter Moriah Trail from Carter Notch to Carter Dome is similar...easy at first, easy near the top - all of the elevation is in the middle.

 

[jrbren]

Everest is not climbed from sea level--it is climbed from a basecamp. The basecamp for the South Ridge route is 18K ft, IIRC, giving a climb of 11K ft, not 29K.

Doug

Ofcourse few Everest climbers climb a straight line from base camp to summit. They climb up, establish a camp, and descend many times throughout the climb. Total elevation gain much more then 11K. I do think there are speed climbers that do it one big push though, but not many.

Interesting stat, I just hope it is not trying to say the AT 16X more difficult then climbing an 8000 meter peak. O2 makes our life much easier .

Now AT in winter ? Is there such a class of hikers (like winter 46ers) ? Seems like our winters are too short for someone to end to end it in one winter, especially in the south.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Now AT in winter ? Is there such a class of hikers (like winter 46ers) ? Seems like our winters are too short for someone to end to end it in one winter, especially in the south.

Apparently a few do hike it in winter. I believe Dan Allen, who wrote "Don't Die on the Mountain" did it. And, a few years ago I met a woman in the Whites headed north who was doing the AT. Am a bit dim re: the date, but I think it was February.

 

[bill bowden]

Greatest vertical gain in one hike

wasn't there a Swedish gentleman who started in Stockholm and bicycled to the start ofhis ascent of Everest?

 

[giggy]

comparing everest and the AT is total apples to oranges. And I actually think that both could be considered tougher depending on who you ask and who is doing them.

I mean, its a heck of lot easier to try and do the AT than a 8000 meter peak. but... I would be curious as to the ratio of those starting and completing. I bet the success rate is less on the AT. just a guess - 2200+ miles is a long freakin' way.

of course - I have nothing to base this statement on - just a guess.

 

[giggy]

wasn't there a Swedish gentleman who started in Stockholm and bicycled to the start ofhis ascent of Everest?

yes there was a few years ago. don't know the details, but it did happen.

 

[jrbren]

Assuming you live in South Hero, VT (based upon your avatar), you don't need to go all the the way to the Whites for a 4K day. Take the Bamforth Ridge trail up Camels Hump - very close to 4K gain, and about 14 miles RT.

The trailhead is near the Onion River (Winooski) at about 110' in elevation. Plus it's a great hike, lots of exposed views as you work up the ridge, and even a few tricky spots to test your footwork. Only negative is road noise from I89 as you work your way up the first couple of miles.

I agree that is a great hike. And difficult too. Ofcourse there is about 2 miles in the middle of this climb where you gain very little net vertical (despite seemingly going up & down all the time). I have done this one twice this summer. Once round trip and the other time we spotted a car at couching Lion and did that as the descent route. I have also used Giant (3300'), Whiteface(NY, 3500') and Mansfield from Stevensville(3000') for big vertical closer to home.

 

[Pucknuts61]

Goran Kropp

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156331830X/103-5385068-4029420?v=glance&n=283155

 

[Kevin Rooney]

yes there was a few years ago. don't know the details, but it did happen.

I think he biked in both directions - to/from Everest.

I may have him confused with someone else, but ... I think he may have died in a climbing incident a few months ago either in Oregon or Washington.

 

[jrbren]

comparing everest and the AT is total apples to oranges.

I agree and I have no experience to really discuss it with any integrity.

 

[Pucknuts61]

I think he biked in both directions - to/from Everest.

I may have him confused with someone else, but ... I think he may have died in a climbing incident a few months ago either in Oregon or Washington.

Nope, you have the right guy,
Bill

http://www.nepal-dia.de/Aktuelle_Lage_/Goran_Kropp/goran_kropp.html

 

[DougPaul]

wasn't there a Swedish gentleman who started in Stockholm and bicycled to the start ofhis ascent of Everest?

Goran Kropp.

Died in a climbing accident in Washington State. 2002.

Doug