Home
States
Colorado
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New York
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont
View All
Lists
NE 4,000 Footers
NE 100 Highest
NH 4,000 Footers
NH 100 Highest
NH 52 With A View
NH Belknap Range
NH Ossipee 10
Links
Search
Trail Conditions
Trip Log
Sunrises
Sunsets
About
|
Mt. Webster, Mt. Jackson, Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower
Carroll, NH, Hart's Location, NH, Bean's Grant, NH, Chandler's Purchase, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
The waterfalls along the Webster branch of the Webster-Jackson Trail
Route: Webster-Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail, (Mt. Webster), Webster Cliff Trail, (Mt. Jackson), Webster Cliff Trail, Mizpah Cutoff, Webster Cliff Trail, (Mt. Pierce), Webster Cliff Trail, Crawford Path, Mt. Eisenhower Loop, (Mt. Eisenhower), Mt. Eisenhower Loop, Crawford Path, Route 302
With a decent forecast, I decided to take a stroll in the Southern Presidentials. I had two points of interest - Mt. Eisenhower and the Webster Cliff Trail between Mt. Webster and Mt. Jackson. Thus, if the Webster branch of the Webster-Jackson Trail looked good, I planned to do a loop of sorts from Route 302.
While I generally loathe the Webster-Jackson Trail due to its rocky footing and ups and downs, it was a smooth, Microspikable walkway on this day. While I find the scenery a bit dull, the frozen water fall along the lower portion of the Webster branch was quite amazing with its blue tint. Since the trail used a snowbridge just below it to get across the brook, I was able to get an upclose look at it.
Though there were lots of clouds overhead, the views from Mt. Webster were still quite nice. While it was tempting to loiter a bit, I had a lot more hiking to do.
The stretch of trail between Webster and Jackson, though a bit perturbing with lots of ups and downs and branches in the face, was still quite nice. The snowpack covered up the rumored mudpits and also allowed for numerous views along the trail. I also found this to, at least in these conditions, provide the most gradual way up the steep summit cone of Mt. Jackson.
The views from Mt. Jackson were, as expected with less vegetation and a higher elevation, better than those on Mt. Webster. The snowpack had filled in the summit spruce stand, allowing for me to walk up and get a 360 degree view from one place (vs. normally having to walk around the summit cone). The undercast in the Conway valley was particularly striking.
My next stop was Mt. Pierce. Though I had been on this section of trail once before, I managed to mess up twice - first when the packed trail diverged (though I ended up finding a nice vista) and second when I arrived at the Mizpah Hut.
Perhaps a quarter of a mile before the hut, I encountered fresh tracks. Passing the Mizpah Cutoff junction, I noted there were no fresh tracks on it - thus, by flawed process of elimination, I figured the folks had come from Pierce and turned around. Thus, after taking a quick glance at the hut, I headed down a path adjacent to the Webster Cliff Trail sign. After a minute or two, I was wondering where the steep ascent I had recalled was. I had been eating a fresh baked brownie at the time of my previous ascent, so I figured perhaps my second-guessing wasn't justified, as I was probably too busy enjoying the hut's baked goods. My second guessing was justified, however, as I soon saw a blue blaze - I had followed a herd path to the Mizpah Cutoff. Since I was already a few tenths of a mile into it, I decided to follow it to the Crawford Path junction, since it was a trail I had never hiked.
Reaching the Crawford Path, I turned around and headed right back up the Mizpah Cutoff, this time following the trail proper as it reached the Webster Cliff Trail junction. Heading back to the hut, I continued to the north a bit more, and found the continuation of the Webster Cliff Trail and the sudden steeps I had remembered from my previous hike.
As I reached the southern peak of Mt. Pierce, I could see things were clouding up. Since the forecast had called for increasing clouds, I figured my best views were behind me. Reaching Pierce, I had a brief snack and then continued on my way to Eisenhower. sporting Microspikes the whole time, thanks to the soft blue ice.
Though a bit breezy, the summit of Eisenhower was a lot more pleasant than my previous visit (knock over sustained winds). Since stuff was cloudy and somewhat hazy, I didn't hang around to take in the views too long. This proved to be in error, as by the time I had reached the Crawford Path again, there was increasing blue sky breaking through. As I neared Pierce, it was a whole new day!
With pleasant temperatures and ever-improving views, I headed back up the Webster Cliff Trail a bit to my favorite Mt. Pierce view ledge and plopped myself down for my first seated break of the day. I ended up spending a good half hour on the ledge, soaking in the sun and taking in the excellent views.
The Crawford Path was a nice packed footway for the descent. A brief sidetrip to Gibbs Falls revealed an ice covered waterfall, with water rushing down behind it. As I reached Route 302, I pondered taking the trail around the lake on my way back to my vehicle, however, upon seeing no recent signs of foot traffic, I opted for the easy roadwalk instead. A nice day for the Southern Presidentials!
| Hike Ratings |
|
Getting To Trailhead: |
Easy |
| Destination: |
Mt. Webster |
|
Length: |
Moderate |
|
Steepness: |
Difficult |
|
Navigation: |
Easy |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Minimal |
| Destination: |
Mt. Jackson |
|
Length: |
Moderate |
|
Steepness: |
Difficult |
|
Navigation: |
Easy |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Minimal |
| Destination: |
Mt. Pierce |
|
Length: |
Difficult |
|
Steepness: |
Difficult |
|
Navigation: |
Moderate |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Minimal |
| Destination: |
Mt. Eisenhower |
|
Length: |
Difficult |
|
Steepness: |
Difficult |
|
Navigation: |
Easy |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Heavy |
|
| Hike Stats |
|
Date Hiked: |
Saturday, March 28, 2009 |
| Hike Commenced: |
7:26 AM |
| Parking Elevation: |
1,900' |
| Destination: |
Mt. Webster |
| Ascent Commenced: |
7:27 AM |
| Summit Reached: |
8:47 AM |
| Time Elapsed: |
01:20 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
1,905' |
| Summit Elevation: |
3,910' |
| Distance: |
2.5 miles |
| Vertical Gain: |
2,210' |
| Destination: |
Mt. Jackson |
| Ascent Commenced: |
8:49 AM |
| Summit Reached: |
9:36 PM |
| Time Elapsed: |
00:47 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
3,910' |
| Summit Elevation: |
4,052' |
| Distance: |
1.3 miles |
| Vertical Gain: |
512' |
| Destination: |
Mt. Pierce |
| Ascent Commenced: |
9:49 AM |
| Summit Reached: |
11:30 AM |
| Time Elapsed: |
01:41 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
4,052' |
| Summit Elevation: |
4,310' |
| Vertical Gain: |
1,276' |
| Destination: |
Mt. Eisenhower |
| Ascent Commenced: |
11:35 AM |
| Summit Reached: |
12:14 PM |
| Time Elapsed: |
00:39 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
4,310' |
| Summit Elevation: |
4,780' |
| Distance: |
1.7 miles |
| Vertical Gain: |
920' |
|
|
| Hike Ended: |
2:57 PM |
| Hike Time Elapsed: |
07:31 |
| Hike Vertical Gain: |
5,343' |
|
The Webster-Jackson Trail trailhead
Looking at Mt. Carrigain from near the summit of Mt. Webster
Looking down the Webster Cliff Trail on the way to Mt. Jackson
Mt. Willey, Mt. Field, and Mt. Tom as seen from Mt. Jackson
The Webster Cliff Trail on the way to Mt. Pierce
Looking at Mt. Washington from Mt. Pierce
Looking up the Crawford Path on the way to Mt. Eisenhower
Mt. Washington as seen from Mt. Eisenhower
Directions to trailhead: Take Route 302 West from Bartlett into Carroll. There is a small parking lot on the left side of the road. Trailhead is located on the right side of the road, just after the parking lot and just before Saco Lake.
Back to Mt. Webster Profile
Back to Mt. Jackson Profile
Back to Mt. Pierce Profile
Back to Mt. Eisenhower Profile
|
