Washington for 48

[Puck]

My wife (trail name pending) Gorpburp and I headed up Washington for #48.

Incredible day...nice breeze, sunny incredible views. We stayed at Pinkham and headed up Tuckerman Ravine trail. The crowds were not so bad that early. We were joined by family at the top (auto road ) for a celebration. My sister and her family are now inspired to sart hiking to bag these peaks as well.

I had posted the question of the easiest descents on the forums. A general consensus was up tuckermans and down Lions Head. Sat I spoke with the gentleman at the Pinkham Info desk re descents. I wanted my wife to hear it from somebody else first hand. He concured. So on the way up we spoke with two guys (20 something) who had gone up Lion's head. They said it was steep and not a good way to go down. My wife lost her nerve. She thought that Tuckerman headwall was also steep. We opted to take Boote Spur down. I am left wondering about the best way down...is Lion's head that bad?

We had great views looking into Huntington ravine and Gulf of Slides and Glenn Boulder as well as into Tuckerman's. Near the bottom we heard alot of noise from other hikers...singing and yelling etc. apparently they had encountered a bear with cubs. The only megfauna we saw were squirrels and a vole A great day.

 

[sapblatt]

Puck congrats!!
Great way to finish.
I have descended Lion's Head and found it tough, but I was out of shape at the time (way out of shape, not like my usual out of shape )
Step for stpe I think Boott may be a bit easier, but I think it makes for a longer day - you still have to get to Boott Spur - either of them are tough after a long hike up. The easiest way I have descended, although it is on the other side is Jewell.

 

[giggy]

.is Lion's head that bad?

.

I guess its all relative but I think its its a nice trail down - is it a steep trail?? - yep, but footing is good the entire way and its pretty direct. I don't why anyone would say its not a good way down, unless they are talking about someone who had never hiked anything before - which you guys are not in that catagory. Lions head is a typical steep trail for that side of washington - no tougher than tucks, boot spur, etc... Nice think about lions head is its pretty direct back to hermit lake area.

In fact - I think boot spur is way more a pain in the bum trail. I did hear they have a ladder there now?????

congrats on your 48!

 

[MEB]

Whoo-hoooo!!!!!

Way to Go Puck and Gorpburp! Sure was a great weekend for hiking!

-MEB

 

[pilgrim]

In fact - I think boot spur is way more a pain in the bum trail. I did hear they have a ladder there now?????

Yeah, there's now a ladder at the little scramble near the bottom of the trail. I think too many people were whacking around it in bad weather and causing erosion.

And congratulations to Puck and companions on completing the 48.

 

[marty]

Sincere congratulations on conquering the 48 in grand style! Hope to meet you at the AMC Awards Dinner...

Marty

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

I don't why anyone would say its not a good way down, unless they are talking about someone who had never hiked anything before - which you guys are not in that catagory.

For some reason I do not consider myself "in that category", but given the choice (in summer, of course) I would go up Lion's Head and down Tucks. Only went up Boott Spur once, never down it, so cannot comment on that.

 

[Double Bow]

Way to go! I did Washington on Saturday (TR & pics to come) and our route took us down Boott Spur. I found it to be just fine for descending. Some parts were a little steep but it certainly is easier than descending the Tucks headwall!

BTW, they have added a staircase/ladder type thing on Boott Spur that makes one section much easier.

 

[Pucknuts61]

Way to go Puck! Nice hill to finish on and a great way to did it.

now where's the high-5 icon?

Bill

 

[Puck]

Thanks for the support.

Gorpburp had the idea of just checking out all of the ascents and descents...He might become a redline monster.

 

[Seeker]

Congrats!!

I was on Washington Saturday as well! We hiked into Hermit lakes Friday night, summited via Tuckerman Ravine trail and came down Lions' Head, which ended RIGHT at our shelter. (cool!) Lion's Head is steep, but as others have said, very well built, so the footing is good and the exposure isn't bad at all. (My hiking companion has some minor problems with vertigo and it didn't bother him at all.)

Sunday was the jewel this weekend though. What beautiful weather!! We hiked up Boot Spur link (pretty dang steep and a bit exposed at the top); I headed over to Boot Spur and my companion and his son climbed down the Boot Spur trail to Pinkham. I headed down the Tuckerman Ravine trail back to the shelter to grab my backpack. I have to say, I found the TR trail a bit imtimidating to descend. There was a lot of water on the trail above the headwall from recent rains, which made footing a bit dicy. It wouldn't be my first choice to descend (and I generally am not too wigged out by exposure).

Hey the wind on top on Saturday was pretty exhilarating, huh?

 

[McRat]

Congrats Puck!

Finishing your 48 on such a clear day from the top of New England must have been awesome! Convenient access to ice cream too.

We did indeed take a moment to wave to you from the Kinsmans. So if you got any good vibes from over Franconia ridge... that was us.

 

[Artex]

Congrats to both of you! Ending a grand quest on a grand mountain is a grand way to do it.

 

[Ray]

Hearty congrats, Puck!

Ray

 

[Roxi]

Congrats Puck and Gorpburp!

 

[NewHampshire]

WAY TO GO PUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Betcha couldn't see us waving from the Kinsmans....could ya .

Brian

 

[Puck]

Betcha couldn't see us waving from the Kinsmans....could ya .

Brian

Couldn't see ya but we felt the breeze...

We hope to meet alot of you guys at the awards presentation

 

[bubba]

PUCK -- Doin' it!! Happy 48's!!

 

[Woody]

Congratulations Puck!

 

[carole]

Congratulations Puck and Gorpburp...and to your wife for accompanying you once again!