Mt. Washington summit hike recommendations

[boardman]

Taking two reasonably fit friends (they both run 3-4 miles a couple times/week) for their first hike up Mt. Washington this coming Saturday. Was thinking the Tuckerman Ravine Trail would be a good choice for a moderately strenuous hike, good scenery, good Mt. Washington experience. I've never done the TRT in summer. How is it? Is it likely to be wicked crowded?

Any suggestions for a similar experience, but less crowded? Ammonoosuc? Jewell? I'd appreciate suggestions from my knowledgeable T4T brethren!

[loafskibum]

The TRT sounds like what you want...if you havent done it in summer you should. How many people will be on it will depend on the day and weather. Give it a go and report back if you see any snow;)

[scottie4183]

ravine trail will most likely be pretty crowded but if you have never been up it in the summer i'd say go for it...it's like a totally different world.

my second choice would be and ammonoosuc ravine...it's a really nice trail and still fairly strenous.

[RR]

....How is it? Is it likely to be wicked crowded?

Any suggestions for a similar experience, but less crowded? Ammonoosuc? Jewell? I'd appreciate suggestions from my knowledgeable T4T brethren!From Pinks the best option is the Boott Spur Trail. Get's you to tree line sooner, not crowded and the views are awesome. It is longer by 45 minutes to an hour but you can peek into Gulf of Slides and the views into TR&HR are nice. Bring binocs to scope the crags.

The first bump North of the trail and above the junction of the Boot Spur Link can be skipped as can the next one (Larry), but walk over to at least one of Moe and Curly. Moe is the bump below the summit of Boott Spur and Curly is the one past the BS summit. Moe doesn't look like much, but the views from there are excellent. It would be easy to miss Curly from the top unless you went at it NW from the height of land on the BST.

I suggest taking the West side route from Boott Spur (Davis Path, easier than Upper Tux trail) Maybe even take The Camel Trail over to Lakes of the Clouds and then to the Summit from there. (adds 40 min to an hour)

If you do that, take the Tuckerman Ravine Trail all the way back to Pinks. BTW, Lakes and Summit H20 smells and tastes of chlorine....yuck! Get some good water at the HL Pump!

[cbcbd]

I second adding Boot Spur to part of the loop.

A cool loop would be go up Huntington's, go up Ball Crag to summit (nice views to the Northern Presis) and then descend via Tux or do the longer loop and come down Boot Spur.

Also don't discount the Lion's Head trail as part of a loop - great views into the bowl.

[RR]

Agreed, if they are right people and fit, give it to them. It may hurt for a few days, but they will love it enough to return.

The below the Headwall the TRT is nice enough, but the herd will be there. Farking brainless packs of them sitting, blocking the trail...often at cruxes!

Below HL the TRT is nothing special, being stuck in the trees with noisey folk all about....if you are going that way, grab the Raymond Path.., longer, no views but sublime intimate woods and easiest of the Eastside trails.

However, sockit to'em, get'em to treeline and watch they little eyes go big...:D

[Telemark]

For newbies take them up TRT, the feeling of getting to the ravine, then up and over the headwall is not to be missed. Then loop down off the summit and take Boott Spur down. You get the best of both worlds. If you start early enough you won't see many people all day.

http://www.hikethewhites.com/wash2/index.html

-dave-

[PWDR8S]

I'll echo the early start. Do make a serious attempt at early starts on your hikes and you almost always avoid crowds, let alone people in general and besides, it's cooler and you can linger longer at nice viewspots.

[bradfordski]

Did the same hike in July with a couple noobs. They were, (and still are) in about the same shape as your buds and they were fine. We got up to Hermit Lake at about 1:30/ 2pm and after pitching the tent went over to Lakes of the Clouds and back. The next day we summited via Lions Head, (which I firmly feel is a must see, although some deem it rough I think its a good challenge for those just "fit.") Then descended via Tucks.
The same pals and another noob are headed up this Saturday, we are going up Annomousac, crossover to Lions Head, (just to show the friend,) then to the summit, down to camp at Spaulding Lake, up to Mt. Clay Loop via GG Trail and down Jewell. Thats the traditional summer hike I've been told.
As for crowdedness up Tucks, the weather was fantastic day 1 and the trails we pretty clear. In fact day 2 had colder wetter weather and there were more people, but that was still not crowded at all.
Anybody know how Jewell and Annamousac gets?
OK, that was quite a rant for me, I hope some part of that helped! :p

[boardman]

Thanks, all, good beta. I'm thinking TRT up, Boot Spur down (otherwise, Lion Head). Huntington is definitely out for these guys - they're not ready for that kind of exposure!

[MadPatSki]

I'll add my vote...

Very close what has already been said...

TRT-Boots Spur (the view WOW) then to the summit. Trip down is via Lions Head and TRT. So you don't through the Ravine, but you see from both sides. :D

Anyway, that's my favorite trek to the summit (although there are a few trails that I've never tried). :rolleyes:

[Ispoiler]

Affix and I took a complete noob up the Huntington Ravine trail to the summit of Washington and back down the TRT. He eyes looked liked he licked some of those "special" stamps in a few sections but he survived and enjoyed the hike. If they like the trail and the exposure you might even get a few new belay slaves out of the day.

[boardman]

Affix and I took a complete noob up the Huntington Ravine trail to the summit of Washington and back down the TRT. He eyes looked liked he licked some of those "special" stamps in a few sections but he survived and enjoyed the hike. If they like the trail and the exposure you might even get a few new belay slaves out of the day.

HAHA! Or I could be hiking back down the trail from whence we came! Huntington is billed as "one of the most strenuous hikes in the Whites," so I think I'll spare these guys on their first time (though believe me, I'd love to go up there, it looks like tons of fun!).

[RR]

Why start these folks off just like everybody else....aren't they special people?

BTW the Lion's Head Trail is a tough, tough down hike compared to the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. For 0.2 mile they are about the same from the split on the cone. Then LH gets very easy for a tenth and then hammers nearly all the way to the junction with TRT. From the split, Tux Trail has intermittant easy stretches until Sliuce and hammers to the Floor. Then it's easy to the cache and has intermittant easy stretches to the Pump.

Oh, yeah, the Pump: Best water on the hill!

Then there is the Deck...best resting spot in all of Zed plural-alpha quadrant.

[tig]

Best trail ever!

Well atleast in the east. I dont mean for views, but for the sheer fun of it. Go with a heavy pack :-)

I was told that the Durand Ridge is very good too. Which reminds me, the Franconia ridge trail is also a fun, but this threads about MW, so...

[boardman]

Why start these folks off just like everybody else....aren't they special people?

BTW the Lion's Head Trail is a tough, tough down hike compared to the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. For 0.2 mile they are about the same from the split on the cone. Then LH gets very easy for a tenth and then hammers nearly all the way to the junction with TRT. From the split, Tux Trail has intermittant easy stretches until Sliuce and hammers to the Floor. Then it's easy to the cache and has intermittant easy stretches to the Pump.

Oh, yeah, the Pump: Best water on the hill!

Then there is the Deck...best resting spot in all of Zed plural-alpha quadrant.

Yeah, took the Lion's Head trail down when we did Pinnacle; my buddy Doug complained loudly and often! haha!

[RR]

Yeah, took the Lion's Head trail down when we did Pinnacle; my buddy Doug complained loudly and often! haha!HA! What's he got to complain about...did that after Odells, in the dark, at 5F in 80MPH winds with frequent gusts into triple digits and one sustained breeze of 120MPH...our crampons were making sparks as we skittered along in the lighter airs :eek: Travel was impossible some of the time and involuntarily bruising on two occasions...

God, I loved it!

[bradfordski]

Yeah, took the Lion's Head trail down when we did Pinnacle; my buddy Doug complained loudly and often! haha!

Funny, my friend did the same thing the way UP!!!:rolleyes:
Here is his face early that morning between his curses aimed at me:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q272/jat_hhs/051_51.jpg