Summit: Mount Monroe (5,372')
Trail route: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, then straight up to the summit
Trail conditions: Trail was well packed with some soft areas above treeline
Weather: Cold temps and strong winds above treeline with sunshine and blue sky
Total miles: 5.0
Total time: 5:15
Today's hike would be taking me up to the summit of Mount Monroe which is just south and under the watchful gaze of Mount Washington. I'd be joining Jill, Robin, Amy and Steve for this hike which would be Jill's #575 for the grid with only one more summit to complete the grid doing all 48 4,000 footers in every month of the year!
The weather had a rather ominous wind forecast and cold temps but full sunshine and blue sky. I would be packing for mid-winter conditions. We met at the cog railway hiker parking lot which charges $10 per person. It was a cold and breezy start and it would only intensify as the hike progressed. We were getting a late start in hopes the wind might die down a bit and the warm sun might work in our favor. With freezing temps the past couple of days we decided to leave the snowshoes behind, it proved to be a good decision.
We started the road walk to the trailhead around 9:00 AM. Once on the trail we discovered the trail to be packed and frozen solid. Our choice of traction was crampons. The bridge just before Gem Pool was completely buried under snow with just the handrail showing. The trail went above the handrail and I might add not a place for a misstep. The waterfall at Gem Pool was completely frozen over with a lot of snow on top.
On the other side of the Gem Pool crossing begins the relentless steep up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. The crampons continued to do quite well, it was my legs that were having an issue with the steepness. There was a tricky water crossing higher up with a chunk of ice to step on to help us up the other side. We all did well and there were no mishaps. The trail continued up and we met the first hiker that had turned around just beyond the hut due to wind and cold conditions. A bit further and we met a second hiker that had turned around for the same reason and the sketchy final climb to the summit. At that point I think we were all thinking,"could it be THAT bad?"
Just below the hut there was a large snowfield that seemed to go on forever. The wind was intensifying at this point. We arrived at the hut and were able to find a spot out of the wind. We bundled up with an extra warm layer, balaclava, goggles and swapped to our trail crampons. We made the decision to leave our packs beside the hut out of the wind. It was a short walk over to the trail junction and we started up which began with a long stretch of solid ice. Then there was a large steep snowfield to negotiate before the trail leveled off to the summit.
The wind was no joke, it was howling. Robin would later tell us that the wind was gusting to 63 MPH and the wind chill was -27°F. But the April Spring sun was shining so it "felt" warm. We went to the top for photos and Jill tagged #575 then we dropped down a few feet to get out of the wind. As we descended to the hut the wind was blowing full force into our faces. We watched four young unprepared hikers turn around at the bottom of the icy trail, they made a good decision.
There were many hikers arriving at the hut when we returned. We stopped long enough to eat and then continued our descent back to the trailhead. It was a good trip down although the wind continued to blow for the entire hike. The parking lot had thawed and turned to mud when we got there.
This turned out to be an exciting hike with cold temps, high winds and strong gusts. We persevered and Jill got #575 checked off with one remaining hike this month to finish her grid quest!
Enjoy the photos!
Short road walk to the trailhead at Marshfield Station
The hike starts here
A well packed firm trail
A view up the ravine
Gem Pool
Heading straight up
Amy tackles a water crossing
Looking up the water crossing
The ridgeline above
Robin and Steve stop briefly in a warm spot
Robin and Steve heading up a snowfield to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut
The final ascent to the summit
Robin negotiates ice and rocks
Group shot on a very windy summit
Jill sitting on #575 with one more summit remaining to complete the Grid
A view to the west
Bretton Woods ski area
George looking down on us as we are being blown around
Gals on the summit
Descending to the hut
The trail is a sheet of ice
Back at the hut
On the hut
Heading down the snowfield below the hut
On the snowfield
The trail is becoming more defined
Looking back at the water crossing
Bridge is buried
Robin is walking above the handrail
Solid snow bridge
Back at the trailhead
Cog train at Marshfield Station
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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