NeoAkela
Active member
Date of Hike: 05/31/2012
Loop as follows: Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Alpine Garden Trail to Nelson Crag, Nelson Crag trail to Washinton summit, Crawford down to Davis Path, Davis to Boott Spur, Boott Spur trail back down to Pinkham Notch hut.
Trail Conditions: Was surprised to fine Tuckerman Ravine open (original plan had been ascent via Lion's Head). Trails in good shape, though wet. Tuckerman ravine trail was ice and snow free, passing just beside some large snow remnants. No overhanging ice or snow on the trail, so it was a comfortable climb, though a bit wet in spots. All other trails were their usual rocky selves.
Special Equipment Required: Sunscreen should have been put in the pack. Bugspray helpful in the lower elevations, but the wind kept everything bug-free above treeline. Winter hat, sweatshirt, and windbreaker were a big help in the summit area, which was covered with a dark grey cloud half the time with lots of wind. Bluebird sky the other half.
Comments: An early recon trip to check out the Alpine Garden due to the early snowmelt. Alpine Garden is still in the very early stages, so should be well set for an early-mid June peak. Some nice clumps of blooms here and there, but 90% of everything is still to come. Actually saw quite a bit more blooms on the Boott Spur trail in the area of the hanging cliffs - quite a color show starting in that area. Didn't originally intend on summiting today, but with such nice weather and the long daylight, I decided to lengthen the trip. Dark clouds boiled in mid-afternoon, but the rain held off. Waterbars (the few that there are) need some attention on Boott Spur trail - most filled with silt and the water is running down the trail.
PS - I haven't been to Harvard Rock in a few years, but someone tossed piles and piles of branches and slash trees in a huge mess all around the rock. I remember a few years back taking some photos posing on the rock with the ravine in the back. Now, the unsightly mess of the tossed brush makes approaching the rock difficult, and photos of the rock quite ugly. What's the sense in that? There's a lot of rocks on that mountain - why block off this one?
NeoAkela
Loop as follows: Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Alpine Garden Trail to Nelson Crag, Nelson Crag trail to Washinton summit, Crawford down to Davis Path, Davis to Boott Spur, Boott Spur trail back down to Pinkham Notch hut.
Trail Conditions: Was surprised to fine Tuckerman Ravine open (original plan had been ascent via Lion's Head). Trails in good shape, though wet. Tuckerman ravine trail was ice and snow free, passing just beside some large snow remnants. No overhanging ice or snow on the trail, so it was a comfortable climb, though a bit wet in spots. All other trails were their usual rocky selves.
Special Equipment Required: Sunscreen should have been put in the pack. Bugspray helpful in the lower elevations, but the wind kept everything bug-free above treeline. Winter hat, sweatshirt, and windbreaker were a big help in the summit area, which was covered with a dark grey cloud half the time with lots of wind. Bluebird sky the other half.
Comments: An early recon trip to check out the Alpine Garden due to the early snowmelt. Alpine Garden is still in the very early stages, so should be well set for an early-mid June peak. Some nice clumps of blooms here and there, but 90% of everything is still to come. Actually saw quite a bit more blooms on the Boott Spur trail in the area of the hanging cliffs - quite a color show starting in that area. Didn't originally intend on summiting today, but with such nice weather and the long daylight, I decided to lengthen the trip. Dark clouds boiled in mid-afternoon, but the rain held off. Waterbars (the few that there are) need some attention on Boott Spur trail - most filled with silt and the water is running down the trail.
PS - I haven't been to Harvard Rock in a few years, but someone tossed piles and piles of branches and slash trees in a huge mess all around the rock. I remember a few years back taking some photos posing on the rock with the ravine in the back. Now, the unsightly mess of the tossed brush makes approaching the rock difficult, and photos of the rock quite ugly. What's the sense in that? There's a lot of rocks on that mountain - why block off this one?
NeoAkela
