Mount Washington/Crawford Path 7/3/05
7/3/05
Crawford Path/Mount Washington
Crawford Connector, Crawford Path, Eisenhower Loop, Franklin Loop, Monroe Loop, Trinity Heights Connector, Gulfside Trail, Jewell Trail
8.5 miles 4750’ elevation gain
Kevin, Judy, Emma, Dan and the Ripleys
It’s incredible to think that before there was an Auto Road, the Cog Railway and most of the trails, Abel Crawford and his son Ethan Allen Crawford led people to the summit of Mount Washington by this trail. More than 8 1/2 miles when you consider the distance from the homestead to the path. The journey from Boston or Portland just to get to Crawford Notch was in itself an adventure with no road built through yet.
The Crawford Path climbs the southwestern pointing finger of Mount Washington which forms the ridge known as the Southern Presidentials where it winds its way just below the summits of Mount Pierce, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Franklin and past Mount Monroe where it reaches the Lake of the Clouds and the AMC namesake hut.
From where the trail rises above treeline just below the summit of Mount Pierce, hikers are exposed to the elements all the way to the summit of Mount Washington. There is a whole different set of common sense rules that should be followed above treeline. The best bet for shelter from the elements up here is to either make it to the AMC hut at Lakes of the Clouds or get back down in the woods on the nearest trail.
On the way most of our group took the side trails to the summits of Pierce then Eisenhower, while Joan and Dan stayed on the main trail, then to Franklin. Emma and I went to Little Monroe on our way to Monroe where we met Jude, climbing from the other side. She had stayed on the Crawford Path and hiked to the north side and started up meeting us half way down. We returned to the summit and then back down to rejoin the party at the hut. At this point we were 7 miles in and 3450’ elevation gain from the parking lot on Clinton Road, not including the elevation gain or distance crossing the other peaks on the way.
We had left another car at the parking area on Base Road just below Marshfield Station on the Cog Railway. From this parking lot one can access the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail and the Jewell Trail. We intended to return by the Jewell Trail but we could have descended the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail from the Lakes of the Clouds hut and reached the car in the event of bad weather, exhaustion, injury, whatever. We all decided to continue although some had not planned to summit Mount Washington, taking the Westside Trail across the western face to the Gulfside Trail and descending the Jewell Trail.
Steve and Jennifer made it to the summit first and saw Joey, Emma and I before heading down to meet the others who had stayed below the summit. It was all I could do to push myself to the summit, but then, Emma and I were the only ones to cross all the summits that day. I saw Neil Lareau outside the observatory taking weather readings and Joey, Emma and I went in for a quick visit before our descent. Its great to know people in high places.
Rejuvenated, we quickly began our descent, stopping for some photos beside the Great Gulf. We soon caught up with the rest of the group and descended into the sun as it began to dip in the west. A fantastic day with little threat of bad weather and great views in all directions. It also marked the first full day of use of my first digital camera, a Nikon 8800. It was fun to use and easy to carry but I wish I had more experience with it before this trip.
Read MoreCrawford Path/Mount Washington
Crawford Connector, Crawford Path, Eisenhower Loop, Franklin Loop, Monroe Loop, Trinity Heights Connector, Gulfside Trail, Jewell Trail
8.5 miles 4750’ elevation gain
Kevin, Judy, Emma, Dan and the Ripleys
It’s incredible to think that before there was an Auto Road, the Cog Railway and most of the trails, Abel Crawford and his son Ethan Allen Crawford led people to the summit of Mount Washington by this trail. More than 8 1/2 miles when you consider the distance from the homestead to the path. The journey from Boston or Portland just to get to Crawford Notch was in itself an adventure with no road built through yet.
The Crawford Path climbs the southwestern pointing finger of Mount Washington which forms the ridge known as the Southern Presidentials where it winds its way just below the summits of Mount Pierce, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Franklin and past Mount Monroe where it reaches the Lake of the Clouds and the AMC namesake hut.
From where the trail rises above treeline just below the summit of Mount Pierce, hikers are exposed to the elements all the way to the summit of Mount Washington. There is a whole different set of common sense rules that should be followed above treeline. The best bet for shelter from the elements up here is to either make it to the AMC hut at Lakes of the Clouds or get back down in the woods on the nearest trail.
On the way most of our group took the side trails to the summits of Pierce then Eisenhower, while Joan and Dan stayed on the main trail, then to Franklin. Emma and I went to Little Monroe on our way to Monroe where we met Jude, climbing from the other side. She had stayed on the Crawford Path and hiked to the north side and started up meeting us half way down. We returned to the summit and then back down to rejoin the party at the hut. At this point we were 7 miles in and 3450’ elevation gain from the parking lot on Clinton Road, not including the elevation gain or distance crossing the other peaks on the way.
We had left another car at the parking area on Base Road just below Marshfield Station on the Cog Railway. From this parking lot one can access the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail and the Jewell Trail. We intended to return by the Jewell Trail but we could have descended the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail from the Lakes of the Clouds hut and reached the car in the event of bad weather, exhaustion, injury, whatever. We all decided to continue although some had not planned to summit Mount Washington, taking the Westside Trail across the western face to the Gulfside Trail and descending the Jewell Trail.
Steve and Jennifer made it to the summit first and saw Joey, Emma and I before heading down to meet the others who had stayed below the summit. It was all I could do to push myself to the summit, but then, Emma and I were the only ones to cross all the summits that day. I saw Neil Lareau outside the observatory taking weather readings and Joey, Emma and I went in for a quick visit before our descent. Its great to know people in high places.
Rejuvenated, we quickly began our descent, stopping for some photos beside the Great Gulf. We soon caught up with the rest of the group and descended into the sun as it began to dip in the west. A fantastic day with little threat of bad weather and great views in all directions. It also marked the first full day of use of my first digital camera, a Nikon 8800. It was fun to use and easy to carry but I wish I had more experience with it before this trip.
Crossing Gibbs Brook near start of Crawford Path.
