TMax
New member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 589
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- 85
What a fabulous day for my annual birthday hike. 
My original plan was for an alpine start so I could get in all the Southern Presi's. However, as willing as my body was I just couldn't seem to get my brain on board for getting out on the trail in those below freezing temps in the dark. Instead. I was treated to an amazing sunrise that bathed the snowcovered mountain tops in that alpine orange glow! Eventually, I hit the trail from the Mt. Clinton parking area (I was the only vehicle there) and started the cold climb up. It didn't take long to to warm up. The terrain was quite varied and made a speedy ascent difficult. The trail would go from ice to open water to slick rocks and back again. I avoided putting on crampons because I really dislike walking on open rocks with them. But that choice led to some interesting trail “dances.” The only other person I saw (until the summit of Eisenhower) was a guy who BLEW past me on the way up. Took the short side-track up to the summit of Pierce and was rewarded with incredible views. The sun was shining and there was barely a cloud in the sky. Finally put my crampons on for the trek over to Eisenhower. The weather remained good until I started up the Eisenhower Loop Trail then typical White Mountain conditions took over. Clouds that completely sock you in, stiff breezes and spitting snow. The drifts were deep in spots but it was a great climb. No view from the summit but I did run into a large AMC group and got to talk to someone about his experiences climbing Pico de Orizaba (in prep for my trip down there). Dropped off the other side and into the col. At this point I was half-an-hour shy of my self-imposed turn-around time so I decided to head back. The Crawford Path in this section (from the Edmunds Path to the Eisenhower Loop) was messy with lots of open water and mud. By the time I got back to where the Loop Trail diverges, the weather had again improved with bright sunshine dominating. Stopped to eat my frozen bagel but cooled off quickly so started walking again. Passed the AMC group just below Pierce (nice bunch!) and navigated the slippery trail back down with only one fall (a record for me ). Took off from the parking area and was treated to an amazing sunset to partner with the morning’s sunrise. Pulled over near the Mt. Washington Hotel and stood in awe at the Presi’s bathed in that orange glow that continuously changed in hue until disappearing for the night.
And so I ask (as Guinness is fond of saying) “Where else would you rather be?”
My original plan was for an alpine start so I could get in all the Southern Presi's. However, as willing as my body was I just couldn't seem to get my brain on board for getting out on the trail in those below freezing temps in the dark. Instead. I was treated to an amazing sunrise that bathed the snowcovered mountain tops in that alpine orange glow! Eventually, I hit the trail from the Mt. Clinton parking area (I was the only vehicle there) and started the cold climb up. It didn't take long to to warm up. The terrain was quite varied and made a speedy ascent difficult. The trail would go from ice to open water to slick rocks and back again. I avoided putting on crampons because I really dislike walking on open rocks with them. But that choice led to some interesting trail “dances.” The only other person I saw (until the summit of Eisenhower) was a guy who BLEW past me on the way up. Took the short side-track up to the summit of Pierce and was rewarded with incredible views. The sun was shining and there was barely a cloud in the sky. Finally put my crampons on for the trek over to Eisenhower. The weather remained good until I started up the Eisenhower Loop Trail then typical White Mountain conditions took over. Clouds that completely sock you in, stiff breezes and spitting snow. The drifts were deep in spots but it was a great climb. No view from the summit but I did run into a large AMC group and got to talk to someone about his experiences climbing Pico de Orizaba (in prep for my trip down there). Dropped off the other side and into the col. At this point I was half-an-hour shy of my self-imposed turn-around time so I decided to head back. The Crawford Path in this section (from the Edmunds Path to the Eisenhower Loop) was messy with lots of open water and mud. By the time I got back to where the Loop Trail diverges, the weather had again improved with bright sunshine dominating. Stopped to eat my frozen bagel but cooled off quickly so started walking again. Passed the AMC group just below Pierce (nice bunch!) and navigated the slippery trail back down with only one fall (a record for me ). Took off from the parking area and was treated to an amazing sunset to partner with the morning’s sunrise. Pulled over near the Mt. Washington Hotel and stood in awe at the Presi’s bathed in that orange glow that continuously changed in hue until disappearing for the night. And so I ask (as Guinness is fond of saying) “Where else would you rather be?”
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