I postponed my hike one day due to not feeling well. The forecast was calling for spectacular weather all weekend and I was hoping that Sunday was going to be as beautiful as Saturday for my hike. Today I would be solo hiking Mount Monroe (5,372'), Mount Washington (6,288'), Mount Clay (5,533') and Mount Jefferson (5,712'). Mount Clay is the only summit that does not meet the requirements to be counted as an official 4,000 footer. I needed the others for the month of October.
My hiking route would take me up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail past the Lakes of the Clouds Hut then up to the Summit of Mount Monroe. I would then descend Monroe and take the Crawford Path to Mount Washington. Dropping down from Washington I would take the Gulfside Trail to the Clay Loop trail and cross over Mount Clay descending to the Gulfside Trail again. My hike would continue to the Jefferson Loop and up to the summit of Mount Jefferson for my final summit of the day. The return trip would take me back to the Jewel Trail and down to Marshfield Station for a 12+ mile hike.
I drove into an empty Marshfield Station hiker parking lot before daylight. For the third time this Fall I would be starting the hike with my headlamp. After about a mile up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail it was light enough to remove the headlamp. I reached Gem Pool and started the steep climb up to Lakes of the Clouds Hut. When I reached the hut, closed for the season, I kept on going up to Mount Monroe. The sun was shining through high clouds and there was no wind. I had the summit of Mount Monroe to myself on a beautiful Sunday morning. It was not until I was descending Monroe that I saw my first hiker. Someone had camped right beside the hut.
I passed the hut and was on my way to Mount Washington on the Crawford Path. I was very surprised at how low the water was in the lakes. I estimated one to be at least three feet low based on the water line on the rocks along the shore. It was a very nice hike to Mount Washington with not much more than a gentle breeze blowing, just enough to make it very comfortable. This weather was very unusual for an October day.
Seems I reached the summit of Mount Washington before the big crowds arrived so I went right to the summit sign and had another hiker take my photo. I didn't stay long as trains and cars were arriving by the minute and I knew the summit would soon be overrun with people. I made my exit from the summit via the Trinity Heights Connector down to the Gulfside Trail and across the cog train tracks. I met several hikers along the way to Mount Clay.
I especially like how the Gulfside Trail hugs the lip of the Great Gulf. One misstep and it would be a long way down. I turned off onto the Mount Clay Loop trail. It would be my first time over this summit. It was a series of ups and downs as I crossed over Mount Clay. I met a couple on the summit and one of them got my summit photo before I began my descent. It was quite a drop down to the Gulfside Trail again.
I continued along the Gulfside Trail and then turned onto the Jefferson Loop trail for my final summit ascent of the day up to Mount Jefferson. There were several hikers on the summit when I arrived. I stayed long enough to get some photos and a panoramic video before starting my hike down to Marshfield Station. It was back down the Jefferson Loop trail and across the Gulfside Trail to the Jewel Trail.
There was a section of the Jewel Trail that was very confusing as it branched off in two directions complete with cairns. I saw two hikers so I went off in their direction but they told me that was the wrong trail. They were on their way back up trying to find the true trail. So I turned around and went down the other trail that turned out to be the right one. Once back on track it was smooth going other than a very painful strained right calf. I slowed my pace slightly which seemed to help.
I easily did the one water crossing at the beginning of the Jewel Trail, crossed the cog train train tracks and popped out onto Marshfield Station after nine and a half hours where I had started my hike before daylight. I was amazed at how nice the weather was during the entire hike. It was a much better day than I was expecting and very unusual for the month of October. It was a spectacular day to be above treeline on the Presidentials!
Enjoy the photos and videos!
Third time this Fall that I start hiking by headlamp
Sky is getting brighter
Gem Pool
Early morning sun starting to color the clouds
Stone steps
Sunrise casting a Presidential shadow
First cog train leaving Marshfield Station
Mount Washington
Sun rising beside the Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Mount Monroe
Starting up Mount Monroe
Almost to the summit of Monroe
Getting closer to the summit of Monroe
On the summit of Mount Monroe
A view toward the east
Descending Mount Monroe
On the Crawford Path to Mount Washington
One of the Lakes of the Clouds
A look back at Monroe
Another Lakes of the Clouds with very low water
Mount Monroe and Lakes of the Clouds
A view of the southern Presidentials and the mountains beyond
A line of cairns on the Crawford Path
Mount Washington summit buildings
Arrived on the summit just before the big crowds
Cog train arriving at the summit
Another cog train on the way up
A view of the northern Presidentials from Mount Washington
Mount Clay and Mount Jefferson
Mount Clay
Mount Jefferson
Crossing the cog tracks
Clay, Jefferson, Adams and Madison
Looking into the Great Gulf
Spaulding Lake in the Great Gulf
The Great Gulf Trail on the edge of the Great Gulf
Another cog train going up
On the way to Mount Clay
And another cog train moving toward the summit
Crossing Mount Clay
A grassy stroll on Mount Clay
On the summit of Mount Clay
Mount Jefferson up ahead
The final push to the summit of Jefferson
Mount Jefferson summit pin
On the summit of Mount Jefferson
Zooming over to Mount Monroe
Mount Adams
A view to the west
Lots of quartz in this area
On my way to the Jewel Trail
Looking up at Mount Clay from the Gulfside Trail
Bear scat on the Gulfside Trail
At the top of the Jewel Trail and it's all downhill from here
Descending on the Jewel Trail
Marshfield Station far below from the Jewel Trail
A water crossing at the end of the hike
Down at Marshfield Station
Back where the hike started
A last look at Mount Washington after the hike
Having Fun In The Great Outdoors!
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