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Chandler's Purchase, NH, Sargent's Purchase, NH, Beans Grant, NH, Harts Location, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking the Jewell Trail on the way to Mt. Washington
After a less than enjoyable drive to Crawford Notch, I spotted my vehicle at the Webster Jackson parking area and headed toward the Cog base station parking area. Though not always open or free, it was both today. Starting before sunset, we headed up the Jewell Trail, barebooting.
Reaching treeline, we were pleased to see blue sky overhead - and clouds below us. We were standing above a spectacular undercast, hovering at about 3,800 feet. Absolutely amazing.
Reaching the southern end of the Mt. Clay Loop, we donned Microspikes for the final icy ascent to Mt. Washington. By the time we reached the summit, most of the undercast had burned away, revealing a hazy horizon. Nonetheless, we had fairly sharp views to the northeast, as Sugarloaf was easily seen over the border in Maine.
After lingering around the summit a bit (the first train of the day had arrived, ending the placid feel we at first had), we descended to Lakes of the Clouds for lunch, needing Micropsikes for most of the descent.
After a nice lunch break, we then headed up an icy walkway to Monroe. Part of the way up the steeps, one of my Microspikes lost grip on an iced covered rock. Just as I noticed this and started to shift my weight, my other foot gave out too, resulting in an instantaneous fall and slide. Just as my luck had been on this day, I landed with nearly all of my weight on my bruised patella, resulting in instant pain. Not wanting my leg to lock up, we kept on moving, lingering at the summit for only a few minutes.
Part way to Eisenhower, I took a break and used some of the rime ice to try and reduce the swelling and perhaps regain some range of motion. It was a shame not to enjoy perhaps my favorite stretch of trail on the ridge on the account of pain. Boy did Eisenhower look far away.
Finally reaching Eisenhower, the anti-inflammatories kicked in a bit, reducing the pain and increasing range of motion. Thus, I decided I could soldier on to Pierce, rather than bailing down the Edmands Path. Reaching Pierce, we had only a few minutes of sunlight remaining - yet my knee was feeling a lot better. Thus, we decided to continue along the Crawford Path and make a decision on Jackson at the hut. We were stalled, though, by a decent sunset display from the southern knob of Pierce.
Upon dropping down the steeps to the hut, we decided to quit while we were ahead. The headlamps came on about halfway down the Mizpah Cutoff. The Mizpah Cutoff and the Crawford Path were quite wet - a bit surprising since it had been two days since the heavy rains.
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The trailhead near the Marshfield Base Station
Looking down the Gulfside Trail on the way to Mt. Washington
Looking at the Northern Presidentials from Mt. Washington
Looking up the Crawford Path on the way to Mt. Monroe
Looking at the Southern Presidentials from Mt. Monroe
The Crawford Path on the way to Mt. Eisenhower
Looking at the Northern Presidentials from Mt. Eisenhower
Looking down the Eisenhower Loop on the way to Mt. Pierce
Looking at Mt. Washington from Mt. Pierce
The sunset as seen from the southern vista on Mt. Pierce
Back to Mt. Washington Profile
Back to Mt. Monroe Profile
Back to Mt. Eisenhower Profile
Back to Mt. Pierce Profile
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