Una_dogger
11-12-2007, 02:22 PM
Stats:
8.2 miles, 4387 ft gain
NH48 #31
NE115 #94
NE4K #47
NEHH #57
MichaelJ, Terra and I loaded up the car and headed to the Whites friday night for a weekend of peakbagging and hanging out with good friends around the campfire. We camped at Barnes Field, and lets just say that the revelry and the hiking were closely ranked in the "strenuous" category! :D
MJ and I had initially planned on a long loop to Isolation from Pinkham Notch, but when the morning dawned a wise Giggy advised us that today was a day for Washington. It was not difficult to change our minds, and after a hearty breakfast at Pinkham we headed up to Tuckerman's Ravine.
We joined Giggy, Frodo, Arm, Mats, Woody, Jeff and Swamp until we reached the junction of the Lion's Head summer approach. The guys were off to climb the headwall in Tuck's, and MJ and Terra and I headed off via Lion's Head, with a plan to regroup in the Alpine Garden where the two trails rejoin.
The climb up Washington is a staggering 4700 foot gain in 4.1 miles! Woo hoo. I was in heaven as we pushed onward and upward. I had my new Black Diamond Razor ice axe in tow but didn't need it today, nor my crampons. The snow line started early on at about 3000 feet and had deepened to 1 foot by the time we reached treeline. A steady climb up through a cloud for about a mile affording us eerie views of rime ice covered cripplebush. The deep chasm into Tuckerman's Ravine was always to our left, but it was within the same cloud as we were. Shortly before reaching treeline we put on our stabilicers, which provided some traction and energy savings as we pushed through a foot of lightly packed powder.
Just before we reached the climb of Lion's Head, we emerged above the clouds and enjoyed tremendous views of Adams, Madison, Washington, and Boot Spurr. Tuckermans was still in a cloud but it was lifting gradually. The best part of my hike was hanging out in the Alpine Garden watching the ever-changing cloud formations and snapping a whopping 157 photos on this hike!!
We reached the junction where the gang was waiting for us and began our slow and steady push up the last 800 feet or so in the final 0.4 miles along the summit cone. The antenna of the Mt Washington Observatory looked like spiny needles from this angle. Rime ice and wind scalloped snow formations covered every rock, twig and trail sign.
We reached the summit and enjoyed *sweeping* views of the White Mountains. There were about 20 people there besides our group. The winds were at about 0-10 miles an hour and the temperature felt like 20 degrees (need to check on these data). Giggy was *right on* -this was a near perfect day for my first ascent of Washington!!! Thanks, G. :tup:
We were able to enjoy the summit for about 30 minutes, then began a descent via the same path. Most of the gang headed out ahead of us but MichaelJ and I lingered a bit longer. We caught up to Woody and Jeff in the Alpine Garden. It was about 2pm and the light of the day was beginning to drop behind Boot Spurr, casting a pinkish glow on the snow. We gazed into Tuckerman's Ravine, and watched the spindrift kick off the Presis. It was absolutely amazing, the closest thing to the Himalayas I have ever experienced. There is nothing more sweet than a day on the Presis in full winter conditions, bright sunshine, and low winds. Wow.
We started off again and as I was feeling pretty pumped, I kicked it into high gear and was back at Pinkham at 3:30 pm. Just before reaching the bottom of the trail I recognized a little black dog named Emma from her avatar. Emma is the proud owner of Kevin and Judy. I had met Kevin a few weeks back and we had spoken recently of getting Emma and Terra together for a hike. What a great coincidence to find that we had all planned to hike the Wildcat Ridge the next day, and now we could share the trail together!
After a scalding hot shower at Pinkham it was back to Barnes for more fun, revelry, plenty of food, friends and good times and my new favorite hot drink......Glug!
Pics:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8EYuWzNs1bsJm¬ag=1
3D topo of route can be seen here:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cf33b3127ccebfe8c47c3ef400000026108EYuWzNs1bu
8.2 miles, 4387 ft gain
NH48 #31
NE115 #94
NE4K #47
NEHH #57
MichaelJ, Terra and I loaded up the car and headed to the Whites friday night for a weekend of peakbagging and hanging out with good friends around the campfire. We camped at Barnes Field, and lets just say that the revelry and the hiking were closely ranked in the "strenuous" category! :D
MJ and I had initially planned on a long loop to Isolation from Pinkham Notch, but when the morning dawned a wise Giggy advised us that today was a day for Washington. It was not difficult to change our minds, and after a hearty breakfast at Pinkham we headed up to Tuckerman's Ravine.
We joined Giggy, Frodo, Arm, Mats, Woody, Jeff and Swamp until we reached the junction of the Lion's Head summer approach. The guys were off to climb the headwall in Tuck's, and MJ and Terra and I headed off via Lion's Head, with a plan to regroup in the Alpine Garden where the two trails rejoin.
The climb up Washington is a staggering 4700 foot gain in 4.1 miles! Woo hoo. I was in heaven as we pushed onward and upward. I had my new Black Diamond Razor ice axe in tow but didn't need it today, nor my crampons. The snow line started early on at about 3000 feet and had deepened to 1 foot by the time we reached treeline. A steady climb up through a cloud for about a mile affording us eerie views of rime ice covered cripplebush. The deep chasm into Tuckerman's Ravine was always to our left, but it was within the same cloud as we were. Shortly before reaching treeline we put on our stabilicers, which provided some traction and energy savings as we pushed through a foot of lightly packed powder.
Just before we reached the climb of Lion's Head, we emerged above the clouds and enjoyed tremendous views of Adams, Madison, Washington, and Boot Spurr. Tuckermans was still in a cloud but it was lifting gradually. The best part of my hike was hanging out in the Alpine Garden watching the ever-changing cloud formations and snapping a whopping 157 photos on this hike!!
We reached the junction where the gang was waiting for us and began our slow and steady push up the last 800 feet or so in the final 0.4 miles along the summit cone. The antenna of the Mt Washington Observatory looked like spiny needles from this angle. Rime ice and wind scalloped snow formations covered every rock, twig and trail sign.
We reached the summit and enjoyed *sweeping* views of the White Mountains. There were about 20 people there besides our group. The winds were at about 0-10 miles an hour and the temperature felt like 20 degrees (need to check on these data). Giggy was *right on* -this was a near perfect day for my first ascent of Washington!!! Thanks, G. :tup:
We were able to enjoy the summit for about 30 minutes, then began a descent via the same path. Most of the gang headed out ahead of us but MichaelJ and I lingered a bit longer. We caught up to Woody and Jeff in the Alpine Garden. It was about 2pm and the light of the day was beginning to drop behind Boot Spurr, casting a pinkish glow on the snow. We gazed into Tuckerman's Ravine, and watched the spindrift kick off the Presis. It was absolutely amazing, the closest thing to the Himalayas I have ever experienced. There is nothing more sweet than a day on the Presis in full winter conditions, bright sunshine, and low winds. Wow.
We started off again and as I was feeling pretty pumped, I kicked it into high gear and was back at Pinkham at 3:30 pm. Just before reaching the bottom of the trail I recognized a little black dog named Emma from her avatar. Emma is the proud owner of Kevin and Judy. I had met Kevin a few weeks back and we had spoken recently of getting Emma and Terra together for a hike. What a great coincidence to find that we had all planned to hike the Wildcat Ridge the next day, and now we could share the trail together!
After a scalding hot shower at Pinkham it was back to Barnes for more fun, revelry, plenty of food, friends and good times and my new favorite hot drink......Glug!
Pics:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8EYuWzNs1bsJm¬ag=1
3D topo of route can be seen here:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7cf33b3127ccebfe8c47c3ef400000026108EYuWzNs1bu