Ed'n Lauky
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
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Trails: Jewell, Gulfside, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Ammonoosuc
The Jewell trail has a couple of blowdowns at the beginning near the Ammonoosuc parking. Above the intersection with the spur to the cog, the trail is in good condition and has been recently worked on. Both the Jewell trail and the Gulfside trail were unusually dry with very little water. The Crawford path down to Lakes of the Clouds was unusually dry although there were a few spots with some running water. The Monroe loop at least as far as the summit was in good condition and dry.
Despite being dry, the rocks on these trails above 5000' tended to be a bit greasy.
The Ammonoosuc Ravine trail was the worst I've ever seen it, not from lack of maintenance but from the rocks, slabs and ledges being extremely slick. This trail was treacherous. I stepped on a slab near the beginning of the rock slabs as you descend. My feet went out from under me but rather than just sliding I started rolling head over heels. I rolled maybe fifteen or twenty feet then fell off the end of the slab. It was chest high. Somehow I managed to land on my feet unscathed. I have no idea how I did it, but ever so thankful it happened that way. Lauky who is always attached to me was able to stop, right at the edge of the slab. He then jumped down under his own power. The rocks and slabs were as slick as if covered with ice. I've always enjoyed going down that trail but today it was quite frankly... ominous.
We went down with extreme care and no doubt it took longer to go down than it would have taken to go up. But, as they say, all's well that ends well. We made it to the bottom with no more slips. There were places, though, where if you slipped it would have been a long ways down. Under present conditions I would highly recommend doing the loop going up Ammonoosuc and down Jewell. The lower section of the Ammonoosuc below the steep section was quite wet in places.
The winds were brisk today, especially on the north side of Washington and on top of Monroe. Washington stayed in the fog all day, but Monroe opened up for us as we got near Lakes of the Clouds. Aside from the wind, the temperature remained moderate.
We disappointed a lot of people today, coming down from Washington to Lakes of the Clouds at least five people asked if Lauky was Atticus. Sorry folks, no star power here, just a couple of intrepid hikers.
Found a Red Sox cap on Jewell trail. I picked it up because I thought it might have belonged to a group up ahead of me. It wasn't theirs. I still have it. Contact me if it's yours.
Mileage -- 10
Elevation gain -- 4100
[email protected]
The Jewell trail has a couple of blowdowns at the beginning near the Ammonoosuc parking. Above the intersection with the spur to the cog, the trail is in good condition and has been recently worked on. Both the Jewell trail and the Gulfside trail were unusually dry with very little water. The Crawford path down to Lakes of the Clouds was unusually dry although there were a few spots with some running water. The Monroe loop at least as far as the summit was in good condition and dry.
Despite being dry, the rocks on these trails above 5000' tended to be a bit greasy.
The Ammonoosuc Ravine trail was the worst I've ever seen it, not from lack of maintenance but from the rocks, slabs and ledges being extremely slick. This trail was treacherous. I stepped on a slab near the beginning of the rock slabs as you descend. My feet went out from under me but rather than just sliding I started rolling head over heels. I rolled maybe fifteen or twenty feet then fell off the end of the slab. It was chest high. Somehow I managed to land on my feet unscathed. I have no idea how I did it, but ever so thankful it happened that way. Lauky who is always attached to me was able to stop, right at the edge of the slab. He then jumped down under his own power. The rocks and slabs were as slick as if covered with ice. I've always enjoyed going down that trail but today it was quite frankly... ominous.
We went down with extreme care and no doubt it took longer to go down than it would have taken to go up. But, as they say, all's well that ends well. We made it to the bottom with no more slips. There were places, though, where if you slipped it would have been a long ways down. Under present conditions I would highly recommend doing the loop going up Ammonoosuc and down Jewell. The lower section of the Ammonoosuc below the steep section was quite wet in places.The winds were brisk today, especially on the north side of Washington and on top of Monroe. Washington stayed in the fog all day, but Monroe opened up for us as we got near Lakes of the Clouds. Aside from the wind, the temperature remained moderate.
We disappointed a lot of people today, coming down from Washington to Lakes of the Clouds at least five people asked if Lauky was Atticus. Sorry folks, no star power here, just a couple of intrepid hikers.
Found a Red Sox cap on Jewell trail. I picked it up because I thought it might have belonged to a group up ahead of me. It wasn't theirs. I still have it. Contact me if it's yours.
Mileage -- 10
Elevation gain -- 4100
[email protected]
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