Mt. Eisenhower & Mt. Pierce Hike

TRIP DATE:      August 22, 2015                                             

TRIP LOCATION:          Mt. Eisenhower/Mt. Pierce, White Mountains National Forest, NH

MEETING TIME:          8:30am           

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):             4

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):       7.5 hours

LENGTH IN MILES:      10.5 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    2,780’

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

LEADER NAME(S):       Maureen Kelly

CO-LEADER NAME(S):             John Pereira

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Parking was at the Edmand Path Trailhead off Mt. Clinton Road. It’s a developed site that can accommodate about a dozen or so cars. Parking area is just passed the third culvert/bridge (guard rails used) along Mt. Clinton Road.

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

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?              Yes      

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:        Began hiking along Edmands Path. In about two hours we began to enter into the alpine zone. At the junction with Crawford Path we took the trail up to the summit of Mt. Eisenhower. We spent a few minutes on the summit to enjoy the views and then headed back down the summit to Crawford Path. At the junction we had lunch at some rock slabs. Once done, we hiked along Crawford Path to the junction with Mt. Pierce. After quick hike to the summit of Mt. Pierce, we were heading down the mountain on Crawford Path. Once we reached the Mt. Clinton Road we walked along it to the trailhead.

Trail conditions were great! Not many folks were seen when hiking on Edmands Path and Crawford Path up to Mt. Pierce. The section of trail between Mt. Pierce and Mt. Clinton Road had a lot of folks hiking up and down the trail.  

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:    Mostly cloudy, mild (in the mid-60’s) and a very light breeze.

White Mountains Presidential's Hut Hike

TRIP DATE:      August 25 - 27, 2014                          

TRIP LOCATION: White Mountains - Presidentials Hut Hike             

MEETING TIME: 8:45 am                   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 13       

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS):  ~18 hrs.

LENGTH IN MILES:      16.5 mi.

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    ~4344 ft.

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

LEADER NAME(S):       Leslie Carson, Maureen Kelly

CO-LEADER NAME(S):

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    Cog Railway lower parking lot

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:   Y                     TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 1 hr. Sunday pm

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?              Y

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

We hiked up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Lakes of the Clouds hut. We got our gear squared away then hike up Mt. Monroe. The next day, we left after breakfast and hiked the Crawford Path to Mt. Washington summit then hiked the Gulfside Trail to Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Adams. From there we hiked to Madison hut. On day three, after breakfast and packing up, we hiked Mt. Madison then hiked out the Airline Trail to the Appalachia parking lot where we had spotted two vehicles. The trails were dry.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: The weather couldn’t have been better! Beautiful sunny days with fabulous views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

Great trip! Everyone seemed to enjoy the trip and many summited several 4K footers for the first time.

Whiteface and Passaconaway Loop

TRIP DATE: Saturday August 2, 2014

TRIP LOCATION: Whiteface and Passaconaway Loop

MEETING TIME: 8:45am trailhead sign-in, 9:00 am departure

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): Seven

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 9 hours 10 minutes (book time 8 hours)

LENGTH IN MILES: 11.7 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): 3,553 feet

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

LEADER NAME(S): Len Ulbricht

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Walt Granda

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Designated parking to right off Ferncroft Road. Can overflow onto Ferncroft. One Johnny can. No parking fee. Good cell phone reception.

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?: No            

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST? Yes

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: Blueberry Ledge trail to Whiteface summit, then Rollins trail along bowl ridge line to Dicey’s Mill trail. Then up Dicey’s Mill to clockwise west-east loop around Passaconaway (took short spur to summit) and back to Dicey’s Mill for long but easy 3.8 mile descent to cars. Trails generally blue blazed and easy to follow.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Overcast in AM, sun breaking through by noon, sunshine all afternoon. Humid, in high 70s, no wind.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) A challenging scramble up the ledges just below Whiteface summit. Put your poles away. You’ll need both hands to grab at crevices and tree limbs. Could be dangerous when wet or snow/ice covered. There is no bypass around the ledges. Long legs help. There are several tiers of lookouts from the ledges. Keep climbing to best unobstructed viewing ledge, just below McCrillis trail junction, for 180 degree views to south. Great lunch spot.

Rollins trail descends gradually to Dicey’s Mill with several ups and downs. Many blowdowns with two or three lookouts over bowl.

Loop around Passaconaway has lookouts to west (view Tripyramid, and Franconia Ridge in far distance) and east (Chocura stands out).

Galehead Hut in White Mountains

TRIP DATE:      9/13/13 – 9/14/13                

TRIP LOCATION:          Galehead Hut – White Mountains                 

WAS TRIP CANCELLED? (y/n):  N (Rescheduled from Memorial Day Weekend 5/25 – 5/27/13)

MEETING TIME: 9:00 am                   

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 6         

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 12 hours   

LENGTH IN MILES:      12.1 mi.

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    3678 ft.

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

LEADER NAME(S):       Leslie  Carson

CO-LEADER NAME(S):             Maureen Kelly

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION:    North Twin Trailhead off Haystack Rd. Twin Mtn., NH

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:    Yes, Gale River Trailhead    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 20 min.

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes     

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

Hiked up North Twin Trail, fairly wet and muddy. Had a significant river crossing – 4 people went across the river by scooting along a log and two others took off boots and waded across the river. Foggy with no views at North Twin summit, but it was “Flags over 48” day in the Whites so several people were at the summit with the US flag. We celebrated Karen Singleton’s completion of her 48^th 4K footer with cheers, pictures and champagne. We continued to hike on North Twin Spur to South Twin mtn. (no views) then down Twinway trail to Galehead hut. Had a lovely turkey dinner at the hut with many other people celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. Karen’s birthday was on Sunday.

On Sunday after breakfast, we hiked up to Galehead mtn. and had gorgeous views. It was a beautiful sunny, bright day with lots of visibility. A perfect fall day although it technically wasn’t fall yet. We could see for miles. Hiked back to the hut, grabbed our gear and had a lovely hike down the Gale River trail to the cars.

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Saturday was overcast, drizzly. Sunday was sunny and beautiful.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

This hike was rescheduled from Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, not all the participants who signed up in May were able to participate in this hike. They were refunded their money. Secondly, the original hike was for 3 days, two nights at Galehead hut, self-service, with group meals. The original plan included hiking North and South Twin, Galehead and the Bonds. We were given a credit from AMC and had to use it before the end of the calendar year. I was disappointed that we were unable to reschedule during a self-service season without getting too late in the season and the cost for one night with full service at the hut was, in my opinion, very expensive ($124). I believe the cost was prohibitive for some people. I do not plan to lead overnight hikes to the huts when in full service on a weekend in the future.