Oh wow, it's really that broken and chopped up on the North Slide? I had thought it was more open, smooth rock like the Coe Slide. If there's that much opportunity for good footing, then maybe, just maybe, I *will* actually do it someday. Maybe. 
tripyramids
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gaiagirl
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If you haven't gone up the North Slide, you're missing out. My favorite scramble in the Whites, hands down. I don't think I've ever had so much fun.
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Michael, there are some smooth steep sections that may give pause to some, but given your hiking history, you will not have a problem. I don't think I would care to descend it, just because it would be tedious. We did meet a backpacker once who was descending and regretting it, mostly because of his heavy pack making him feel as though he was being pushed into the void. He stayed on his butt a lot.
I agree that the toughest spots are down low, where the lichens are almost always wet, and some scrambly sections where you have to search for footholds, but there is no feeling of exposure.
I agree that the toughest spots are down low, where the lichens are almost always wet, and some scrambly sections where you have to search for footholds, but there is no feeling of exposure.
DougPaul
Well-known member
Only the top has a lot of broken loose rock. It is less steep than the bottom.Oh wow, it's really that broken and chopped up on the North Slide? I had thought it was more open, smooth rock like the Coe Slide. If there's that much opportunity for good footing, then maybe, just maybe, I *will* actually do it someday. Maybe.
The bottom is slabby and only the very bottom bit (<100 ft, IIRC) has the slippery-when-wet lichens. This may be the most difficult part of the whole slide. The rock in the lower part is generally pretty solid.
The very bottom is narrow, tree covered, and damp but it opens up and drys out as you get higher.
The difficulties are not sustained--there are plenty of intermediate resting points.
Overall, it isn't very hard. Try it--I'll bet most will like it.
To paraphrase: "The biggest thing you have to fear is fear itself."
Doug
I agree that the very bottom is probably the hardest because it tends to be damp, but does have some moderate handholds and cracks to handjam. It's also still in the trees so the feeling of exposure is lower. Then you're out on decent rock for a bit, and only one difficult short section of real slab, maybe halfway up. Even there, if you slide out it's bruised ego and barked shin at worst. That section's a little steeper than Coe but quite short. I had more difficulty with the south slide, since I have a hard time getting a good rhythm on scree.
The views are incredible from the slides. THE way to do the Tris, IMO, provided you have a nice day.
The views are incredible from the slides. THE way to do the Tris, IMO, provided you have a nice day.
I have similar feelings as yours towards the south slide (as well as Owl's Head). My legs don't bend as much as they should so I tend to slip a lot.
h-w-h: one suggestion - if you decide not to use the north slide, it's still worth a side trip down to the top of north slide. The views are impressive.
Mike P.
Well-known member
If you've done Huntington, the North Slide should not give you any trouble. Some of the best view come from 3/4 of the way up it. My summer preference is up North & down South. Late Fall Early winter is up South & down Pine Bend/Scaur back to Livermore.
Did Sabbaday/Pine Bend for the winter trip & don't really plan on repeating it. I'll do the slides again though.
Did Sabbaday/Pine Bend for the winter trip & don't really plan on repeating it. I'll do the slides again though.
hikes-with-him
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Just purchased this weekend...what a FUN!!! Book!!!
Also just ordered (from the MWO website) the Scudder's WM viewing book...between the two, I should FINALLY be able to figure out WHAT I'm looking at!!
Thanks for this adivce!!
sierra
Well-known member
Yeah that viewing book should be fun to use, I still remember many many years ago on one of my first climbs listenting to these vets name all these peaks off, Im sitting there thinking Im glad I dont have to name one!!!! it always stuck with me.
askus3
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I want to add that the Livermore Road approach could be spiced up with a loop using the Cascades Path. Very scenic diversion to start things off. As for the North slide I let my hike report speak for itself.
JohnL
New member
As other have said, the lower part of the North Slide is the trickiest due to the mossy and potentially slippery parts but once you break out into the open, there are no footing problems, IMO. I’ve climbed up the North Slide in the rain and had no issues. It’s all about having shoes with good traction and a good attitude toward the route.
I’ve posted these photos previously but here they are again for those who are unfamiliar with the slides.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2183865630027359582NwTYEi
The lower part of the North Slide are shown in images 3299, 7617 and 7619 and the only images of the South Slide are 3314, 3315 and 3316. The photos are from at least two different hikes.
Personally, I’ve never had problems with the North Slide and believe that there are more places to get hurt on the Flume Slide, that is, if you really climb up the slide. Many people go up the slide trail and then veer off into the woods to avoid the numerous hard parts but yet claim to have climbed the slide. (editorial) Huntington's is a grade above the North Slide, IMO.
JohnL
I’ve posted these photos previously but here they are again for those who are unfamiliar with the slides.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2183865630027359582NwTYEi
The lower part of the North Slide are shown in images 3299, 7617 and 7619 and the only images of the South Slide are 3314, 3315 and 3316. The photos are from at least two different hikes.
Personally, I’ve never had problems with the North Slide and believe that there are more places to get hurt on the Flume Slide, that is, if you really climb up the slide. Many people go up the slide trail and then veer off into the woods to avoid the numerous hard parts but yet claim to have climbed the slide. (editorial) Huntington's is a grade above the North Slide, IMO.
JohnL
king tut
New member
The North Tri-Pyramid slide kind of kicked my a$$ when I did it last year. I think it was mostly because I was not expecting it from my understated guide book description. There were a lot of friction climbs where i had to jam a hand and/or foot into a crack and push myself up a mini cliff section. I came down the Flume slide a few years back and that seemed a lot more tame to me than the North tri slide. There were quite a few sections where I had to decide how to ascend the next section safely, which is a rarety in the Northeast hking trails. This may not have been as tough as the Knife Edge on Katahdin or The Precipice in Acadia, but it felt like it was in the same ballpark. It also did not help that I hit the upper section of the slide just as the sun came directly into my eyes cresting over the hill top in the morning. I guess it is a little more difficult when you cant see where you are going. The South Slide was a peace of cake though.
