Alpine Garden via Nelson Crag Hike

TRIP DATE:      6-28-2014                               

TRIP LOCATION:          Pinkham Notch and Mt. Washington 

MEETING TIME:          8:45 am          

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 11       

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):      9 hours

LENGTH IN MILES:      8 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    app. 3,600 ft.

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

LEADER NAME(S):       Paul Miller, Eva Borsody Das, Len Ulbricht, Anne Duggan

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Parking at AMC Pinkham Center (NOTE: several late arrivers had to park up the road at overflow parking at Wildcat Ski Area and then hike down to the Pinkham Center)

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

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes (partly)    

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: Hiked Old Jackson Rd. to Nelson Crag Trail to Alpine Garden Trail and down via Lion Head and Tuckerman Ravine Trail.  All trails appeared to  be in fine condition.  No problems encountered.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Sunny and mild with temps in high 60s, but surprisingly humid.  Black flies presented minor nuisance.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)  Wonderful views from above treeline.  Probably about two weeks late to see Alpine flowers in their full glory, but we did spot several varieties.