Sandwich Dome, Waterville Valley, NH

TRIP DATE:      10-20-2012                             

TRIP LOCATION:          Sandwich Dome, Waterville Valley, NH        

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  N

MEETING TIME:          9:30 AM         

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 6         

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       6.75

LENGTH IN MILES:      6.3

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    2,100

DIFFICULTY:         B-C                         (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S):       Len Ulbricht

CO-LEADER NAME(S):  Paul Miller

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    WMNF trailhead parking lot on Rte. 49 opposite entrance to Waterville Valley (parking pass or fee required)

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:        No                  TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHING WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?           Yes

IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

Sandwich Mtn. Trail to Jennings Peak.  Return via Drakes Brook Trail.  Wet conditions from previous day’s drenching rain included puddles on trail, several smaller stream crossings, and two significant crossings of Drakes Brook at start and end of hike.  Bypassed initial treacherous crossing of Drakes Brook by walking short distance along road and then bushwacked to rejoin Sandwich Dome Trail on opposite bank.  Second crossing of Drakes Brook at end of hike required us to take off our boots, roll up our pants, and wade across brook with water up to our knees.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Cloudy in am, partial sun in pm.  60-65 degrees

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.):  Great views from Jennings Peak lookouts toward Sandwich Wilderness and Tripyramid.  Drakes Brook Trail a beauty with lots of rushing water!