Outdoor Diversion: A Windy Mount Monroe

Summit: Mount Monroe (5,372')
Trail route: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, then straight up to the summit
Trail conditions: Trail was well packed with minor drifting above treeline
Weather: Cold with temps in the 20's, strong winds above treeline and incoming high clouds
Total miles: 5.4
Total time: 5:00

After checking several weather report resources it looked like a good day to venture above treeline. Winds and temperatures looked to be tolerable so the plan was to hike up to Mount Monroe and over to Mount Washington. I would be joining Jill, Mark, Larry and Marty. I had not seen any recent trail reports so I was hoping trails would be well packed. It was about to be an interesting day.

We met at the Ammonoosuc Parking lot that is plowed out and the privy is open. Our plan was we'd all pile into one car and pay only ten dollars. Ooops, just below the Marshfield Station parking area there was a temporary shack beside the road and the attendant was collecting ten dollars per head NOT $10 per car! She explained to us that they were keeping the building open for us hikers with warm rest rooms and food available between 8:00 - 3:00. The only problem is that most hikers start hiking before 8:00 and return after 3:00. So much for saving some money with one car. We reluctantly gave the attendant fifty dollars and sheepishly drove up to the parking lot having thought we made a smart move by taking one car.

The trail was well packed and we all wore microspikes and carried snowshoes. There was no wind when we started our hike but as we gained elevation it was clear that the wind was increasing significantly. We met several hikers coming down as we went up. Their plans were also to hike Washington after Monroe but they said it was too windy. So much for that weather report. I've stated before in my blog that I take the weather forecast with a grain of salt. One can never be sure of the weather until you are on the trail and the summit.

There was lots of snow along the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. Just before leaving treeline Larry managed to get himself into a deep spruce trap. As I went around to lend a hand I also sunk one leg deep into the snow but was able to get right out. With no signs of a packed trail to follow there was no way to tell where the deep snow might be. We basically went straight up and hoped to bypass any more spruce traps.

As we got above treeline the wind was howling and blowing snow and shards of small, sharp ice. We reached the Lakes of the Clouds Hut and found one side that was out of the wind. We adjusted our layers and some of us put on balaclavas and goggles. We then started up the open slope of Mount Monroe and the wind was even more intense.

There appeared to be a funneling affect from the wind and it was really blowing hard through here. Any exposed skin was being pelted with small pieces of ice, somehow it found a way around the balaclava. As we neared the summit the wind diminished and it was actually quite tolerable. We made the decision to not venture on to Mount Washington as it would be a very windy 1.5 mile hike across open and exposed terrain. The summit views were spectacular. We stayed long enough for a few photos then started our descent.

The wind increased again as we made our way back down the open slope. At times I was almost blown off my feet. I was capturing the descent on video and it was very difficult holding the camera in one hand without the trekking pole support. We got back down to the hut, took a brief break and continued our descent on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. The trail was already blown back in with snow but we managed to get down through the exposed area without any trouble.

Once back down below treeline the wind diminished and I was able to remove my down jacket. It was a quick trip down the steep section of trail to Gem Pool and then out to Marshfield Station. I spoke to some skiers that had just skied down from the summit of Mount Washington and was told that the wind wasn't that bad. I'm assuming maybe not on the summits but that area between the summits looked very windy with the way the snow was being whipped up.

I was actually not disappointed at not hiking to Mount Washington. I'm not a big fan of hiking in a strong wind and I'll hike Washington on a less windy day. The snowshoes had a free ride today although the televators would have been nice on the steep section of the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail but microspikes were fine. It was a fun hike with Jill, Mark, Larry and Marty. We all agreed the wind made it interesting. All of us hikers have experienced winter hiking conditions for the past month. Next weekend winter will be officially here!

Enjoy the photos and video!