Summit: Mount Tecumseh (3,995')
Trail route: Mt. Tecumseh Trail
Trail conditions: Snow from recent storm was well packed on the trail
Weather: Cold but tolerable temps, blue sky and sunshine with high clouds moving in later
Total miles: 5
Total time: 4 hours
A very cold start to the day when I left the house. Outdoor temperature was -24°F with a difference between inside and outside of 88°F! The only thing kept me going was the forecast indicating rising temps into the 20's and I needed this summit for February! I would be joining Jill and Kally for this short hike today. New high-tech measurements have recently put the summit of Mount Tecumseh below 4,000 feet but it still remains on the 4,000 footer list for now.
There was a beautiful full moon setting as I drove to the trailhead. I watched the outside temp on my car dashboard slowly rise as I got closer to Waterville Valley. With lots of skiers expected here today I parked by the road at the first big parking lot coming into the ski area. Kally arrived first and Jill came shortly thereafter. We drove closer to the trailhead and was able to find parking spots close to the trail.
Having no idea what the trail condition would be we brought our snowshoes on our packs. When we got to the trailhead it was quite apparent that the trail was well packed. We put on microspikes and they stayed on for the entire hike, the snowshoes got a free ride. I call that snowshoe conditioning when the back has to carry the snowshoes.
We met many people coming down that had gotten an early start. Hiker extraordinaire Rich was completing the 4,000 Footer Grid on Tecumseh today and we met him below the summit as he was coming down along with his wife Arlette. Other notable hikers with him were Philip, Leah, Jason and Hiker Ed. These are all amazing hikers that have accomplished some extraordinary hiking adventures.
As we got closer to the summit there was a cold wind blowing. Up on the summit we had spectacular views. I'm thinking that in a few more years the trees are going to be tall enough to obscure the views. But maybe by that time this will no longer be an official 4,000 footer. We stayed long enough to get some photos then started our descent. On the way down we were able to get in some good buttsliding runs and it was a quick trip down the steep sections.
A very enjoyable hike today, we saw several familiar faces and stopped to talk with hikers along the way. This is a long drive for me for a short hike but it was fantastic weather, great trail conditions and fun hiking company!
Enjoy the photos and video!
A cold start leaving the house this morning
Caught the full moon setting on the drive to the trailhead
The hike starts here on a well packed trail
Ice
Sun shining through icy limbs
Ice formations on top of ice
Frozen brook
Ice feathers
Making snow on the ski slope
Kally and Jill coming up a steep section of trail
Surrounded by white
The Sosman Trail sign is gone
Snowy path
We took the trail to the left for the summit
A view from the trail
On the summit
Mount Osceola
East Osceola and beyond
North Tripyramid
Mount Moosilauke in the distance
On the summit with the Tripyramids behind me
High thin clouds arriving
A view from the summit
Summit sign
Looking down on Waterville Valley ski slopes
Another view from the top
Kally about to do some buttsliding
Jill in full buttsliding mode
Easy water crossing back at the trailhead
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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