Got out for our first hike of the spring season on
Monday! Spring hiking is always a
potpourri, so don’t take our experience as a rule but it could be an indication
of what you’ll find in the woods up here right now!
We went
to Mt Prospect in
Weeks State Park out of Lancaster NH.
Franconia to Randolph got the least snow this
past season so if you are looking for hikes with no snow, this is a pretty good
locale to search through.
We ascended a
2 mile gated road to John Weeks’ 1912 Summer Cottage which is listed in the National
Historic Register.
Between it and the locked
tower, it was a very very interesting mountain top!
Views were in all directions if you took
advantage of the lookouts.
There was a
western and an eastern look out on the road up and a northern one off of the top
of the mountain.
Trails to the look outs
had a bit of ice on them which was what I would expect a lot of right now.
We could negotiate these just fine
but deeper
sections or higher could prove much more difficult.
For
woods access, pack your microspikes in the least. You may need snowshoes just about anywhere
you go and this could be a particularly pesky decision. For most locations, I do not think you are going
to need snowshoes in the beginning but snow is lingering in the deeper glades
and in the heights. You have to choose
to not bring them and either deal with what you find or possibly even turn
back. Or choose to bring them and
possibly never even need them. It’s not
an easy choice but keep in mind that 2 weeks ago we had 40 inches of snow here
in Pinkham and within 4 days it was down to 2 inches. In the deeper glades with less sun and the
higher elevations where it is cooler, it is THAT snowpack which is
lingering.
For
above treeline still bring up your crampons and ice ax.
For right now, it remains the only safe way to travel
above treeline.
The Lion’s Head Winter
route is still open and the one section is pretty icy!
Backcountry
skiing is still holding on.
Most of the front
country Nordic facilities have closed for the season with the possible
exception of
Bear Notch Ski Touring.
Check out their website to see what they are saying!
Most front country alpine areas have closed as well...Wildcat is still hanging on for the next couple of weekends. Check them out online if interested! Here at Pinkham where snow remains it is
patchy, post holed by non skiers and icy!
Tuckerman’s
Bowl is still going strong however, even if it is in end of season
conditions now!
The snow pack has
stabilized and folks are going up daily to see what they can link
together!
The Tuckerman Ravine Trail is packed and icy from top to bottom...microspikes will make your travels much more comfortable. People also continue to use skins on the Tucks trail. The John Sherburne Trail and the Gulf of Slides Ski Trail is
still skiing top to bottom but VERY patchy near the bottom so be prepared for
challenges if you undertake it!
It has
flowing water, ice, grass, water bars, and rocks!
Be sure to check the
weather and the
Avalanche Report to get the latest details before you go to Tuckerman’s!
All in
all, my family's hike on Mt Prospect was a great graded way to break in the hiking legs!
You can find the hike listed in the
White Mountain Guide under Mt Prospect Auto Road.
It is not covered on the AMC maps but you can find small
maps for Weeks
State Park on line to complement the trail description in the book!
Enjoy the end of the snow season and start
thinking green things!!!
For any general questions, conditions information, or trail advice,
please feel free to contact us here at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center
front desk. We are available by phone at (603) 466-2721 every day from
6:30 AM to 9:00 PM or by email at amcpinkhaminfo@outdoors.org. To make
reservations at AMC Lodges and Huts, please call (603)466-2727 available
Monday through Saturday 9am-5pm. We also offer
ski and stay packages at our
Joe Dodge Lodge and the
Highland Center.
Be sure to check
weather conditions and
avalanche reports before you come and call us here with any questions! We'll see you up here!
Happy spring adventuring!
Joyce S.
Backcountry Information Specialist
AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center
(603) 466-8116
amcpinkhaminfo@outdoors.org
Labels: alpine skiing, avalanche reports, New Hampshire, Pinkham Notch, snowshoeing, Tuckerman Ravine, White Mountains, XC Ski, xc skiing
