BIGEarl
Well-known member
March 10, 2012: Washington, Jefferson
Trails: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Trinity Connector, Gulfside Trail, Jefferson Loop, Jewell Trail
Summits: Washington, Jefferson
Hikers: Peakbagger (Dennis), Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
We got started on this one a little later than planned. Among other challenges to the start of the day were slow-moving plow trucks working to keep the roads safe. After a quick stop at The Highland center for a final check of current Mount Washington summit conditions, we headed to Marshfield Station to meet Peakbagger for the hike. As expected, he was already there and patiently waiting for us; thanks to modern technology he knew we were running a little late.
It didn’t take long to get our things together and set off. The plan was a simple loop; up Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to the LOC Hut, take Crawford Path from the hut to the summit of Mount Washington, head to Mount Jefferson via Gulfside, and return to the trailhead by way of Jewell Trail.
Peakbagger started the day on Hillsound Trail Crampons; Sue and I went with our MSRs. There were quite a few others ahead of us. The trip to Gem Pool was fairly quick. There, we met and passed three others. After passing this trio, I lifted the Televators and the climb to the LOC Hut started. Peakbagger was out in front and setting the ideal pace for our climb. The trail surface is perfect; we had terrific traction and there was very little ice. Roughly half-way to the top of the falls we came up behind a larger group of perhaps six or seven. They were also headed to Mount Washington and we saw quite a bit of them on our climb. Slowly we made our way to the top of the falls and then life got a little easier. The trail became less steep; we soon broke above the treeline into beautiful sunny conditions and low wind. This is a huge change from our visit of two weeks earlier.
At the hut we made a quick stop. There were a few others there when we arrived; including the large group we followed up Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. Sue and I retired our MSRs and changed to full crampons while Peakbagger stayed with the Hillsound Trail Crampons; they were doing the job. At or near the hut we also pulled out eye protection and headgear; we had a ~15 mph wind from the north and the temperature was ~3 degrees. Do the math if you want the windchill number; we needed to cover up.
We left the hut with the top few hundred feet of Mount Washington in the clouds. They were thin clouds but thick enough to limit visibility and prevent any long-range views from the summit. As we climbed the wind increased, which is the usual case. There were a lot of us all headed to the same place from various directions. We reached the summit with only a couple others already there; they passed us a short distance below the summit. By the time we were ready to leave there were twenty to thirty others on the summit area trying to hide from the wind. We stayed long enough to get some summit pictures and have quick refreshment. It was cold and we needed to keep moving. We left the summit area via Trinity Connector to Gulfside. After crossing the Cog tracks we generally followed the course of the trail to the area near the rim of Great Gulf. After passing through one section of side-slope that was right on the edge and realizing a slip would probably leave a mark, we worked our way away from the edge and made a direct course to the Gulfside - West Side trails junction.
At the next junction I was leading and asked; over or around? Sue said “It doesn’t matter to me.” Peakbagger said “Around.” We stayed with Gulfside and contoured around Mount Clay. With the cloud cover there would be no views to enjoy so we weren’t missing anything and we saved a little distance and elevation in the process. It’s really nice to hike the area being able to see more than one cairn at a time and not having to fight to stay upright. What a difference compared to our last visit. We cruised past the upper end of Jewell Trail and continued to Sphinx Col. From Sphinx Col we had roughly one mile to the summit of Jefferson with ~800 feet of elevation. We made our way along Gulfside to the south junction with Jefferson Loop Trail, made the turn, and headed to the summit. In a short .3 miles and 300 feet we were getting our summit pictures but again the distance views were very limited.
The wind and cold kept us moving and we were quickly on our exit hike. Back on Gulfside the wind was down from where it was on the summit and we headed south on Gulfside to Jewell. First we gave up the remaining 500 feet to Sphinx Col and then re-climbed 450 to the trail junction. We made the turn for Jewell Trail and were on a 3.5 mile downhill cruise to Marshfield Station and our waiting vehicles. A short distance after dropping back under the treeline we stopped and changed to our snowshoes for the remaining hike out.
We started the day a little later than planned but finished generally on schedule, and we did not need headlights on the way out. Thanks Dennis for joining the hike, it’s always a pleasure to hike with you. Thanks Sue, I think you’re fun to hike with too.
Pictures will follow.
Trails: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Trinity Connector, Gulfside Trail, Jefferson Loop, Jewell Trail
Summits: Washington, Jefferson
Hikers: Peakbagger (Dennis), Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
We got started on this one a little later than planned. Among other challenges to the start of the day were slow-moving plow trucks working to keep the roads safe. After a quick stop at The Highland center for a final check of current Mount Washington summit conditions, we headed to Marshfield Station to meet Peakbagger for the hike. As expected, he was already there and patiently waiting for us; thanks to modern technology he knew we were running a little late.
It didn’t take long to get our things together and set off. The plan was a simple loop; up Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to the LOC Hut, take Crawford Path from the hut to the summit of Mount Washington, head to Mount Jefferson via Gulfside, and return to the trailhead by way of Jewell Trail.
Peakbagger started the day on Hillsound Trail Crampons; Sue and I went with our MSRs. There were quite a few others ahead of us. The trip to Gem Pool was fairly quick. There, we met and passed three others. After passing this trio, I lifted the Televators and the climb to the LOC Hut started. Peakbagger was out in front and setting the ideal pace for our climb. The trail surface is perfect; we had terrific traction and there was very little ice. Roughly half-way to the top of the falls we came up behind a larger group of perhaps six or seven. They were also headed to Mount Washington and we saw quite a bit of them on our climb. Slowly we made our way to the top of the falls and then life got a little easier. The trail became less steep; we soon broke above the treeline into beautiful sunny conditions and low wind. This is a huge change from our visit of two weeks earlier.
At the hut we made a quick stop. There were a few others there when we arrived; including the large group we followed up Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. Sue and I retired our MSRs and changed to full crampons while Peakbagger stayed with the Hillsound Trail Crampons; they were doing the job. At or near the hut we also pulled out eye protection and headgear; we had a ~15 mph wind from the north and the temperature was ~3 degrees. Do the math if you want the windchill number; we needed to cover up.
We left the hut with the top few hundred feet of Mount Washington in the clouds. They were thin clouds but thick enough to limit visibility and prevent any long-range views from the summit. As we climbed the wind increased, which is the usual case. There were a lot of us all headed to the same place from various directions. We reached the summit with only a couple others already there; they passed us a short distance below the summit. By the time we were ready to leave there were twenty to thirty others on the summit area trying to hide from the wind. We stayed long enough to get some summit pictures and have quick refreshment. It was cold and we needed to keep moving. We left the summit area via Trinity Connector to Gulfside. After crossing the Cog tracks we generally followed the course of the trail to the area near the rim of Great Gulf. After passing through one section of side-slope that was right on the edge and realizing a slip would probably leave a mark, we worked our way away from the edge and made a direct course to the Gulfside - West Side trails junction.
At the next junction I was leading and asked; over or around? Sue said “It doesn’t matter to me.” Peakbagger said “Around.” We stayed with Gulfside and contoured around Mount Clay. With the cloud cover there would be no views to enjoy so we weren’t missing anything and we saved a little distance and elevation in the process. It’s really nice to hike the area being able to see more than one cairn at a time and not having to fight to stay upright. What a difference compared to our last visit. We cruised past the upper end of Jewell Trail and continued to Sphinx Col. From Sphinx Col we had roughly one mile to the summit of Jefferson with ~800 feet of elevation. We made our way along Gulfside to the south junction with Jefferson Loop Trail, made the turn, and headed to the summit. In a short .3 miles and 300 feet we were getting our summit pictures but again the distance views were very limited.
The wind and cold kept us moving and we were quickly on our exit hike. Back on Gulfside the wind was down from where it was on the summit and we headed south on Gulfside to Jewell. First we gave up the remaining 500 feet to Sphinx Col and then re-climbed 450 to the trail junction. We made the turn for Jewell Trail and were on a 3.5 mile downhill cruise to Marshfield Station and our waiting vehicles. A short distance after dropping back under the treeline we stopped and changed to our snowshoes for the remaining hike out.
We started the day a little later than planned but finished generally on schedule, and we did not need headlights on the way out. Thanks Dennis for joining the hike, it’s always a pleasure to hike with you. Thanks Sue, I think you’re fun to hike with too.
Pictures will follow.
