The Cog

[DRPHIDDLEPHOS]

I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE COULD TELL ME IF THE RAILWAY IS RUNNING YET? AND WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO DITCH THE TRAIN AND MAKE A RUN FROM THE TOP? IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE? AND WOULD THEY LET YOU BRING YOUR GREAR UP ON THE TRAIN....ONE WAY TICKET! I ALSO HEARD ABOUT A COMPANY(MID WINTER) :skifemcool: THAT WAS TAKING SKIER/RIDERS UP IN VANS ON THE AUTO ROAD WITH SNOW CAT TRI TIRES! DOSE ANYONE KNOW IF THAT RUMOR IS TRUE, AND IF SO WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE OUTFITTER?

<small>[ May 09, 2003, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: skicdave ]</small>

[saxman]

I.M.H.O. It just ain't right. /sm

[skicdave]

Heading up to ski Tucks by any means other than hiking is widely discouraged. You need to hike up to see what your in for and to assess your ability for a particular route.

I doubt the Cog people will allow you to take your skis up. (might be able to hide them in a body bag though...).

You might be able to ski via the Cog next year, or at least in 2005, but thats to ski along side the Cog... see the Skiing Weste Side of Mt Washington Via Cog Railway (http://timefortuckerman.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000393) thread for more on that.

Those nice scenic rides up the Cog start weekends May 3rd/2, May 10/11, May 17-19. Daily service starts May 27. Reward: french fries at the summit.

I chose to hike myself. No Cog to be had by this bode.. :skismile:

[BCSKIER]

I was told on Sunday that it was legal to hike down the cog railway, and it really didn't seem right at all. I pictured hiking next to the tracks maybe 20 feet away. It narrowed to a point where it was easier to walk along the railroad ties. Turns out this was very sketchy. We were 20+ feet above ground at times, hopping over the railroad ties (some rotten), with 50+lbs on our backs after 4 runs in the gulf. I really thought that we would be greeted by some rangers with a nice big fine at the bottom, but we got lucky. Anyone ever hear/do this?

[DMC]

The smog railroad should be banned...
It's an environmental nightmare... It burns tons of coal a day... Soft coal... The stuff that leaves black stuff all over the place..

We take such effort to preserve this area by packing in and out - staying on trails when there's no snow...

I boycott that NASTY thing...

[rocket9]

skicdave: Your comment: "Reward: french fries at the summit is not being militarily/politically correct." I believe you meant:
Reward: franconia fries at the summit.

Rocket :D

[skicdave]

Ha ha rocker9,

We'll I'm actually Canadian.. so not sure what you call them in the states... homefries, potatoe fries, chips?

Now you got me wondering why we call them french fries.. sheesh :eek:

Well be thankful they don't serve 'poutin' up on the summit... cheese on fries.. yeech!

I'm biased about the whole 'food' thing up top on Mt Washington. It really takes away from the experience of hiking to the summit. Just not the same sweating it out only to arrive at the summit to a crowd of tourists stuffin it in with greasy potates.

I'd prefer a Blue or Mikes Red at the top myself... preferably a draft.

Re: DMC's comments...

Supposedly the Cogs will be converting from coal burning to 'cleaner' heating oil in 2004. Is heating oil much better?

Find out more about the cog conversion in the Monitor article Cog Railway Will Clear the Air (http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/good/2003/0223_cleanercog_2003.shtml).

[ILOVE2SKI]

it would be nice for the cog to go up but not all the way b/c then you would have inexperienced skiers coming down tuck's which is a huge saftey issue :skicool:

[saxman]

A guy wrote an article in SKI magazine 5 or 6 years ago, and it was his contention that the hike in was part of the "weeding out" process. If you could make the hike in, the hike up the bowl, you must be in some kind of shape and your chances of a safe decent are pretty good. /Saxman

[M@]

I completely agree with the weeding out idea. I've always thought strength was a key part of skiing steeps. Ability being just barley more important.

M@

[Castlerock]

The cog does not allow skiers to use it for access to the mountain. Actually it is not them, several years ago they used to offer skiers access. The NFS shut them down. You also used to be able to get a helicopter lift as well. Al Risch used to run guided heli tours. Both activities were banned under the legal banner of the "no motorized use" part of the wilderness are designation. I think that the safety issue was the prevalent one however.

Just imagine what you'd find tumbling into the waterfall crevasse in May if Cogloads of kibbies were deposited on the summit every two hours!

[RR]

There used to be awsome chili available at the summit house...

I agree, stronger wills, stronger bodies, a more committed attitude, and a bucket full of skills* are all requisites for admittance to the Tuckerman Asylum.

*The bigger the bucket, et al, the higher you go!

[Jerm]

Why take the cog when you can just drive?
It's way cheaper and you can bring your weber. Anyone know if it's gonna be open all the way this weekend.

I used to be opposed to the idea, and then I sold my soles to a Ford 4x4 van. Being at the summit at 9:30 AM with nothing more than 25 bucks expended is purty schweet...

FWIW, the smog rail was running last weekend. I watched the black cloud ascend a few tiems from Mt Jefferson.

[skidude]

SAXMAN:
If you could make the hike in, the hike up the bowl, you must be in some kind of shape and your chances of a safe decent are pretty good. /Saxman WEll you are either going to get down safely or be so tired u just roll down...ANy guesses on what will happen with skimumster and I (or is it me) :envy:

[VTrider]

I remember that year when they allowed skiers and what not to ride the Cog up to do Tuckermans. Talk about a bad idea, I think they quickly decided that it was a bad idea because it was a one time thing. Lots of people were getting 'stuck' somewhere and didn't know what to do.

[jshefftz]

I know someone who uses the cog tracks to access Great Gulf, but he's incredibly agile - as bcskier pointed out, it's pretty sketchy in places.
The cog general is very skier/hiker unfriendly - you can't even bring backpacks into their building, or park in their lot (though I've gotten away with both).
By contrast, the auto road is very skier friendly (which isn't that surprisingly when you think about it, since they also run an xc ski area).

[Castlerock]

By the way, jshefftz last post cued me to check the autoroad site and it is now open to the summit for private vehicles. Great Gulf this weekend anyone?

[RR]

If the cog is running nearby, keep your bucket on...chunks of coal have been flung intentionally at hikers for years. The word is their aim is phenomenal. So far the standard riposte is a moonshining...but with skis on, ID is all too easy.

[DRPHIDDLEPHOS]

THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN A TRAIN ROBERY IF I TOOK ONE ON THE BEAN. CAN YOU SAY DERAILMENT? :eek: