Trypiramids 9/4/04

[David Metsky]

Hiked the usual route, up North down South. Got to the trailhead just after 9:30 from Boston, on the trail before 10:00. We took a pretty steady pace up the Livermore Road to the North Tripyramid junction, stopping there for some foot repair and gorp. Neither Alex or Cory had been up the trail before, though they had done Flume Slide a few weekends before. They found this to be more difficult, but except for a few places where we had to work on foot placements, everyone made it up without problems.

We rested at the top of the slide and met one guy headed down the North Slide. He seemed to know what he was doing. Once back on the trail we met more people, many having hiked up South and were going down Scaur, several folks using Sabaday Brook and Pine Bend Brook, and a few going up and down South Slide. We grabbed lunch at Middle Tri, then headed down the South slide.

South is, as usual, much easier than North. We had no problems though I could feel it in my knees a bit. The hike out to Livermore Road from the bottom of the slide is way longer than it has any right to be, that section takes forever. We saw lots of folks headed into the woods for camping, I think they were just going up the South Tripyramid trail for a few miles and setting up tents. One group has several tents right next to the brook on the Boulders Loop, where we stopped to soak our feet.

At the car we each had a cold beer and ate our remaining food before hitting the road. A lovely hike.

Photos #1
Photos #2

-dave-

 

[MadRiver]

I too did the Tripyramid on Saturday. Although my friend and I started around 8:00am, my friend hurt his knee half-way up the North Slide so were not too far in front of you. I also met a few people who had mistakenly taken the South Slide and were going to take the Scaur Trail down. Two women in particular mentioned that the sign at the South Slide Trail could be misleading if you haven’t done the trail before. Even my friend thought that we needed to turn at the South Slide until I corrected him. If you see the sign that reads South Slide 2.3 and the North Slide 3.3 and do not look at the larger sign that reads South Slide Trail, you can mistakenly take the wrong trail.

 

[Rik]

So many of us in the same place without knowing it! I came over the Sleepers to the south slide and over the Tri's and back. Lots of up and down! Great day for a hike.

 

[bigmoose]

Great photos of the slide! I've never seen it captured as well, really showing its steep gradient and smooth slabs. It put me right back there again. Thanks!

 

[MichaelJ]

Great hike, Dave! The pics are awesome, and again remind me why I have no plans to go up the North Slide.

 

[HikerBob]

Dang! A day late and cr*ppy weather to boot! I may as well add my quick notes to the official Tripyramid thread

Went up today (Monday 5th) and hit the trail at 6:15 under gray skies. Made it to the North slide junction in 1 1/2 hours but by then the pitter patter of raindrops had added to the dank grayness.

I decided I would attempt the slide but with a firm conviciton to turn back if it got too iffy. Dave, I got as far as your picture titled "Cory contemplating her next move" and turned around. I would have walked up that slab dry without hesitation but it was slick and greasy and being alone it was beyond my comfort level. The return down the slide was interesting to say the least.

On the run out through the woods at the botton I ran into another solo hiker who was also going to give the slide a stab. Didn't see him again so hopefully he made it up and over OK.

Got back to the Livermore Trail by 9:30 so still had a good days worth of hiking left in me and went up by way of Scaur Ridge. It got grayer, danker, and drippier. Climbing into the clouds added to the soggy state of affairs and I was happy with my decision to turn back on the slide.

The Scaur Ridge trail does offer a much easier way up and I'm sure with the right weather the open woods would be quite pleasant. Did I mention the damp?

Followed some moose tracks for a while up the steeper section to the ridge but they veered off before the top.

By the time I got to North peak the sun was trying to burn through the clouds, but not quite making it. On Middle peak the clouds opened up for a fleeting glimpse of Passaconaway but by the time I got the camera out it was all gray again!

The start of the drop down from South peak was a little greasy in the trees and a lot of care was required. The slide however was reasonably dry even though the clouds were still blowing by.

Then the most amazing thing happened. I was just below the Kate Sleeper junction when the cloud base rolled up over me and the views opened up. It was still a little hazy but there were views!

Along with the views came the heat. It had been in the low 50's on the ridge and I'd popped my vest on during breaks because I tarted to get chilled. When the sun came out the temp on the slide went up to the high 70's!

I didn't complain as I carefully stepped and occasionally skidded down the slide. Poles certaily helped with balance and it was good fun.

The walk out to the Livermore Trail and back to the parking lot did seem to go on and on, and of course the weather got better with every step I took away from the mountains!

Still, a great day out and #'s 26 & 27 and I'll be back to tackle that North Slide again on a nice sunny day

Bob

 

[David Metsky]

The one time I did the loop counter clockwise it was from misreading the sign for the South Tripyramid trail and not realizing it until we were up on the slide. Going down the north slide isn't that bad in dry weather, but not something I'd want to try with any moisture.

Sorry I missed everyone else. I have got to put my VftT patch back on my pack!

-dave-

 

[Periwinkle]

Dave, that section of the South Slide Trail returning does seem like it goes on for much longer that it should. I couldn't believe that a section of decent hiking after so much tough stuff would seem so ENDLESS!!!!

And good call turning back on the North Slide, Bob. I commend you. I never would have attempted that solo (I did it with Askus' group in August). I'm very comfortable solo hiking, but had never planned to do that trail alone. Even with a group, it was pretty scary. I had a bad moment at the very start of the slide, where there is a small "V" in the slide just as you begin it. It just got more interesting from there, and that was only with a brief thunderstorm the night before. Greasy stuff.... Good call on your part taking the alternate route!

 

[SherpaKroto]

Great hike, Dave! The pics are awesome, and again remind me why I have no plans to go up the North Slide.

And remind me why I HAVE to get out there! Good practice for the ADKs

 

[carole]

Nice pictures, Dave. I got to relive my recent hike there (first time for me on the north slide). It was a HHH day so the views were hazy and I was soaked but I surprised myself at how much I was enjoying it.