Cold Day on the Tripyramids

Summits: North Tripyramid (4,180'), Middle Tripyramid  (4,140')

Trail route: Pine Bend Brook Trail, Sabbaday Brook Trail

Trail conditions: Soft, loose unconsolidated snow with occasional ice underneath

Weather: A cold day with sunny skies

Total miles: 10

Total time:  6:46

I woke up this morning to find five degrees on the thermometer outside my window and the wind blowing making the wind chill sub-zero. The weather forecast was reporting cold temps and sunshine for today with diminishing winds. I was glad that Scott and Lisa would be joining me for this hike.

Scott and Lisa were already at the Sabbaday parking lot when I arrived. We took my vehicle to the Pine Bend Brook trailhead since the size of their vehicle makes it difficult to park bedside the road on the Kancamagus Highway. With the rising sun still behind the mountains it was a cold start to the hike. The wind was not much of an issue since we were protected by the trees.

We started with microspikes since there was a few inches of new loose snow with frozen snow and ice beneath. As the trail got steeper the going got tough. I decided to put on my trail crampons and the extra bite helped provide better traction. It was nice to reach the ridge where the trail leveled out before the last steep pitch to the summit.

There was a breeze blowing on the summit of North Tripyramid and it was cold, not a day for lingering. We continued on to the next summit. It was still the same few inches of new snow with some drifting along the way. There were a few hikers on the summit of Middle Tripyramid when we arrived. We talked for a few minutes and then started our hike back.

When we got to the Sabbaday Brook Trail junction we decided to go back down this trail and not return on the Pine Bend Brook Trail. It is a steep descent on the Sabbaday Brook Trail then levels out with several water crossings. A few of these water crossings were very tricky getting across to the other side with dry feet. We were all glad to get past the final and most challenging water crossing of the day. Just beyond the last water crossing it was an easy hike back to the parking lot on a solid trail packed down from tourist traffic visiting Sabbaday Falls.

I found the hike today to be quite challenging with the cold temps and trudging through soft snow, it was definitely a good workout. I was glad to have Scott and Lisa along, it would've been a long lonely hike without them there for good company. 

It was nice to complete another couple of summits for January but I still have some tough hikes ahead of me for this month.

Enjoy the photos and video!

The hike starts here

A favorite burl with a coating of snow

Entering the Sandwich Range Wilderness and heading toward the sunshine up ahead

At the Livermore Trail junction

Walking along the ridgeline

On the summit of North Tripyramid

A view of Waterville Valley

Zooming into the ski area

Mount Passaconaway

Mount Chocorua

We decided to go down Sabbaday Brook Trail and not return on Pine Bend Brook Trail

The initial descent on Sabbaday Brook Trail is steep

 

Felt good to be in the sunshine

The many water crossings begin here

Scott finds a loose rock on this crossing

Scott wondering if maybe he should have crossed on this tree

The sun was on our backs on the way down the Sabbaday Brook Trail

Leaving the Sandwich Range Wilderness

Footprints show the way across this crossing

Another sketchy crossing

Beautiful Sabbaday Brook but it has to be crossed many times on this hike

Scott postholed through the ice and into the water on this crossing

This crossing requires careful strategy to get across with dry feet

Curly tree

Frozen tourist in the middle of the trail at Sabbaday Falls

The hike ends here

Drove to the trailhead before sunrise and returned home after sunset

Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!