Best route to Pinkham Notch

[Funston's Drop]

Guys,

I'm enroute to Tucks right now, on I-84 in western CT approaching Hartford. Any recommendations on the best approach? Options are I-91N through VT, or continue east on 84 and Mass Pike to I-93 or NH Rt. 16.

Got about half-hour before hitting hartford--any suggestions are appreciated!

FD

[TheOctopus]

I'd do 84 to the MassPike to 495 to 95 to 16 at this time of day.

If you're toll adverse, 495 to 93 to NH Rte. 25 to 16 works fine, too.

Have a great trip -- please post report!

[M@]

Ok: How are you en-route right now? I am techonology-curious. Cell phoned laptop? If so, are we in store for the freshest tuckerman information ever?

From Concord:
91 north to exit 17, to pinkham is 4:44
84/90/290/495/rt3/93 is 5:09

Not a huge difference, my advice, go with what you know.

And the 93 option lets you see the EX-Man in the mountain.

M@

[Funston's Drop]

Thanks for the info guys...absolutely huge. We're on 91 N now approaching Brattleboro...so we're going that route, taking Exit 17, etc., coming in from the north side.

Re: "enroute right now"...yes indeed. Sprint PCS Vision wireless internet on a dell laptop....it's sick. $100/month, which isn't bad when your company is paying for it! Anyway, very addicting...I managed to forget hiking boots, so we used it to locate an EMS on the way in CT.

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be bringing this setup to the bowl, so the updates won't be THAT fresh, but a report will definitely be posted.

While we're at it, any thoughts on the following for tomorrow?

1) Hillman's - how's it look?
2) Gulf of Slides -- anything left? If so, what's the best approach?
3) Finally...Great Gulf. Read some of the other posts, etc. on this. Access seems pretty good from the auto road, you just park on the side of the road? And, is there anyway to see what your ripping before dropping in, or is it pretty much blind?

Aside from these three options, we'll be up in the bowl early doing Left Gully, etc.

Thanks again - any insight is much appreciated.

[Funston's Drop]

Thanks for the info guys...absolutely huge. We're on 91 N now approaching Brattleboro...so we're going that route, taking Exit 17, etc., coming in from the north side.

Re: "enroute right now"...yes indeed. Sprint PCS Vision wireless internet on a dell laptop....it's sick. $100/month, which isn't bad when your company is paying for it! Anyway, very addicting...I managed to forget hiking boots, so we used it to locate an EMS on the way in CT.

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be bringing this setup to the bowl, so the updates won't be THAT fresh, but a report will definitely be posted.

While we're at it, any thoughts on the following for tomorrow?

1) Hillman's - how's it look?
2) Gulf of Slides -- anything left? If so, what's the best approach?
3) Finally...Great Gulf. Read some of the other posts, etc. on this. Access seems pretty good from the auto road, you just park on the side of the road? And, is there anyway to see what your ripping before dropping in, or is it pretty much blind?

Aside from these three options, we'll be up in the bowl early doing Left Gully, etc.

Thanks again - any insight is much appreciated.

[M@]

Do you have Delorme mapping software on laptop? If so I can send you a map of a short cut.

M@

[M@]

Actually, I can save map as JPG: Here's a link:
http://www.weirdtable.org/~m/ShortCut.jpg

Your looking for Dolly Copp Road on the right, before you hit Gorham. Might save you a few min.

Disclaimer: I always forget this shortcut and have never taken it.

WATCH OUT FOR MOOSE!

M@

[skicdave]

Ok we'd be selfish to ask for live updates, photos, videos and the like. He'd be spending all his time working the technology rather than working up a sweat and skiing the sluffs.

Besides lugging up all that gear. Na. Be sure to post the MOMENT your off the mountain however. Then you can enjoy your :beer: or maybe :beer: :beer: :beer:

[pjmanchester]

DOLLY COPP road is a very nice shortcut

[RR]

This time of year it's drying out quickly...two weekends ago I found it easy to stay near 30 mph once I passed the houses in Randolph. But the potholes and ripples were pretty tough. We didn't bottom out or fully compress the shocks, but nearly so in a few spots.

PS In Randolph it's labled "Pinkham B"

[Funston's Drop]

Back online now, on I93 south...no Sprint PCS towers to be found in the White Mountains.

Abbreviated 5/16 Trip Report:

Left Pinkham @7AM, arrived at Hermit Lake by 8:30. Took a quick look at Hillman's but decided against....ceiling was still low and couldn't see more than a few hundred feet of vert. Headed into the bowl, skied the Chute (entering from the upper left), followed by Left Gully (stopped just before the top). Great stuff...if you're into Sierra Cement, which we are of course. Plenty of snow in left gully especially, should be great for a while.

Thought about going back to do Hillman's, but exhaustion took over, and called it a day. Still worth the 8 1/2 hour haul from Philly!

Thanks again for the directions -- although I will say that the Dolly Copp was completely sketch after about half-mile...continuing on would have probably violated my rental car agreement, so we took the long route.

FD

[Skilasnow]

Glad to hear you had a worthwhile trip. I am not sure but I wouldn't prefer Sierre Cement over Mashed Potaoes... assuming of course that I had nice sharp edges
:jumpturn:

[M@]

MMMmmm... Fresh Tuckerman report.

Thanks,
M@ :ducttape:

[RR]

That is why we rent cars....but I think you gave in way too soon. The first dirt stretch is typical of the rest and even at 25 MPH using Pinkham B and Dolly Copp roads to cut off the loop into Gorham is a few minutes saving. Granted not everyone is used to driving on dirt, but a relatively smooth ride can be had at a much higher average rate after some practice. My last trip I had to hold up behind a Subaru (VT) and a pickup (NJ) from about half way and still saved over ten minutes.

Once the camping season starts the road usually has a lot of pedestrians and cyclists, then making 20 MPH is all one could reasonably make, but considering the quiet surroundings even 10 or 15 MPH makes it a win-win deal imo.

btw: Dolly Copp Rd starts on NH16 and ends at Barnes Field campground, near where it intersects Pinkham B coming in from Randolph off Rt2.