Summit: Mount Crawford (3,119'), Stairs Mountain (3,463'), Mount Resolution (3,400')
Trail route: Davis Path, Mt Parker Trail
Trail conditions: Dry trail
Weather: Warm to hot, a breezy wind with sunshine and cumulus clouds
Total miles: 10
Total time: 6:55
A hot day was in the forecast with late day thunderstorms. Mount Crawford, Stairs Mountain and Mount Resolution are short hikes off of the Davis Path so the decision was made to visit all three summits even though I've already been to Mount Crawford a couple of times. These summits are on the 52 With a View list.
An early morning start seemed like a good idea to try and beat the precipitation and some of the heat. It was actually a nice cool start across the suspension bridge and into the woods. The cool air sure helped with the initial steep climb up to Mount Crawford. With clear skies the views in every direction were spectacular. It was then off to Stairs Mountain.
Of particular note along the way was the blooming rhodora, they were everywhere. Also blooming in smaller numbers were trillium, hobblebush, labrador tea, lady slippers, bunchberry and several other unknown blooms.
There is a short steep climb up to the top of Stairs Mountain and then a fairly level spur trail out to the cliff edge. Once again there were spectacular views. I used my PeakFinder app to identify the surrounding summits. There was a nice breeze barely keeping the black flies at bay. That certainly limited the time on the summit and after another dousing of bug spray it was off to the next summit.
Mount Resolution proved to be quite interesting. There is no discernible summit so my GPS was used to get to the highest point located on an open ledge. Once again the breeze was keeping the bug count down but there were a few persistent ones able to find some skin that the bug spray missed. Some photos of the spectacular views and it was time to head down and back to the trailhead.
Met many hikers coming up on the trip down. I was very glad for the early start and that I was not just starting the hike in the heat of the day. The late starters were not looking happy. It was nice to get back to the trailhead early in the day after having hiked three summits.
It was great to visit summits that I have not been to and see the White Mountains from a different perspective. I have three long 4,000 footer hikes, a total of six summits, for this month in order to grid out June. I'm hoping for some cooler weather before tackling these remaining summits.
Enjoy the photos and videos!
The hike starts here
Entering the Dry River Wilderness
Lady slippers still blooming
Ledge scrambling
Heading up to the first summit
Stairs Mountain can be seen from the summit of Mount Crawford
The cliffs that give Stairs Mountain its name
A view to the north
A view to the south
Painted trillium
There was an amazing number of rhodora blooming along the trail
A look back at Mount Crawford
The cliffs on Mount Crawford
A patch of rhodora
Willey Range in the distance
More rhodora
A rough looking red trillium
The final approach to Stairs Mountain
On Stairs Mountain
Mount Resolution
View to the west
View to the east
Stairs Mountain survey marker
Mount Kearsarge
A hiker sitting on the cliff at Stairs Mountain
And more rhodora
Looking past Stairs Mountain to the Presidential summits in the distance
South view from Mount Resolution
North view from Mount Resolution
Ledge scramble down
A view of Stairs Mountain
Garter snake on the trail
The hike ends at the other end of the suspension bridge
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
No comments:
Post a Comment