Summits: Mount Jefferson (5,712'), Mount Monroe (5,372')
Trail route: Jewel Trail, Gulfside Trail Jefferson Loop, Westside Trail, Crawford Path, Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
Trail conditions: Spring conditions, hard packed frozen snow, crusted snow, soft snow, ice, bare rock, mud, wet trail
Weather: Cool to warm temps, high clouds with sun shining through
Total miles: 11.8
Total time: 9:33
After several days of strong winds the forecast today was light and variable winds with high clouds and sunshine for the high summits. I would be hiking with Guy, Jill, Jim, Scott and Lisa although this would be a different kind of group hike. Except for all of us needing Jefferson we would be hiking different high summits throughout the day, this will become apparent as you continue reading. I needed Jefferson and Monroe.
On my drive to the trailhead I stopped at the Appalachia parking lot where I found Scott and Lisa about to start their hike up to Madison and Adams. They would then continue on to Jefferson hoping to meet the rest of us at the same time we got there. After firming up our plan I continued my drive to the Ammonoosuc trailhead parking lot. I pulled into the lot and saw that Mark and Jim were already there, Jill arrived soon after.
We drove up to the Marshfield Station hiker parking lot and started our hike from there. Our first challenge was the water crossing at the beginning of the trail. We were able to find dry, ice-free rocks to hop across with dry feet on the other side. A little further up the trail the frozen snow and ice became consistent and we put on our microspikes. The trail was frozen up to treeline and there was no postholing.
There was rocks and firm snow up to the Gulfside Trail. It was then up and down to the summit of Mount Jefferson with more of the same trail conditions except for some crusty snow along the way. When we reached the junction just below the summit I kept going to see if maybe Lisa and Scott might be on their way up. Sure enough they were just below. They told us of a harrowing traverse across a steep snowfield before climbing up to the summit of Jefferson. A short break and there was now six of us leaving the summit.
Guy and Jim were far out in the lead since they needed Mount Washington. The hike back from Jefferson is not one of my favorites especially the relentless grind up beside Mount Clay. When we reached the Jewel Trail junction Jill made a turn and started her descent to Marshfield Station having gridded out Mount Jefferson today. Lisa, Scott and I were continuing on to Mount Monroe.
The three of us have already done Mount Washington in April so we continued on the Westside Trail that goes around the cone of Washington. This trail showed no signs of being broke out so there was a lot of breaking through crusty snow. There were also some snowfields that we had to traverse but they were fairly easy to get across. Down further on the Crawford Path was a different story. There was one large snowfield that required a very careful and slow traverse to keep from slipping and going for a long slide. We made it across with no mishaps.
We got down to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut and made the turn toward Mount Monroe. I could see from way back on the cone of Washington where the problem area would be that was ahead of us on Monroe, it was near the top. An area of snow that was almost vertical was made a little easier by previous hikers that had kicked steps into the snow. This was a no-slip zone where a slip would be a long slide down. We got up without a slip! It was here that we could see Jim was on his way up after coming down from Mount Washington.
We reached the summit and Jim arrived a few minutes later. We took some time to relax for a few moments before starting our descent, it would be all downhill from here. We got past the no-slip zone without a problem and down to the hut. We then began the steep descent on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. The upper part of the trail provided some very nice buttsliding. As we got further down the trail it was a little too risky to continue with the buttsliding but there was still a lot of stand up sliding in the soft, slushy snow. We reached Gem Pool and it was a much easier hike out to the trailhead.
This was a spectacular day to be on the high summits. I have Monroe gridded out having now done it in every month of the year. I need Jefferson one more time in December to grid out that summit. It was an interesting group hike today and I was glad to have company. I hope to maybe get one more hike done in April but that will depend on the weather this week. Latest grid count is 536/576!
Enjoy the photos and videos!
Sunrise on the drive to the trailhead
Hike starts here at Marshfield Station
Our first challenge of the day is a water crossing at the start of the Jewel Trail
Best kind of water crossing
Cog train going up on Jacob's Ladder
Jim and Guy hiking up into the sun
Jill coming up from the Jewel Trail
Spotty snow among the rocks
Jim and Guy drop their packs here for the final ascent to the summit of Mount Jefferson
Heading up to Jefferson
Lisa and Scott coming up the other side of Mount Jefferson after a harrowing snowfield traverse
Mount Washington from the summit of Mount Jefferson
Franconia Ridge in the distance
Mount Adams
Getting back to Gulfside Trail
Helo circles the summit of Mount Washington
Coming in for a landing
Helo on the landing pad
Jim and Guy up ahead on the Gulfside Trail
Sun was getting warm here
Jill heading back down the Jewel Trail after gridding out Mount Jefferson
A view of the northern Presidential summits
On Westside Trail
A slip is a long slide down
Looking up the Mount Washington summit cone
On our way to Mount Monroe up ahead
Snowfield on Westside Trail
Carefully crossing a very precarious snowfield on Crawford Path
Dropping down to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Huge snowdrift on the hut
Ascending a very steep section on Mount Monroe
Relaxing on Mount Monroe the final summit of the day
Mount Monroe for #12 and it's gridded out
Starting our descent and it's all downhill from here
Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Carefully descending Mount Monroe at the no-slip zone
Lisa watches as Jim and Scott climb the snowdrift to the roof
Watched this hiker lose traction and slide down the snowfield on Crawford Path
Ice bulge on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
Jim dropping down into a water crossing
Jim and Lisa watch as Scott slides down onto a rock at this water crossing
Frozen waterfall
Another frozen waterfall beside the trail
Gem Pool
One final water crossing
Wore the microspikes to this point where the snow ended at the trailhead
Mount Washington from Marshfield Station at the end of the hike
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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