“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.” Theodore Roosevelt
Mt. Washington (6288)
Trail: Amonoosic Ravine Tr., Lakes In the Clouds Hut, Crawford path, Mt Washington, Gulf Side trail, Jewell trail.
Date: August 20 1998
Attending: Gabe, Simone, Noah, & John Chicoine
Miles: 9+ Time: 10 hours
AMC huts, / shelters / camping site: Lakes in the Clouds hut
Weather: Sunny, 75 to 80, at the base, 45 at Summit.
This was the first of our White Mountain hikes. Little did we know that this was only the beginning of a very long goal of hiking all 48 of the 4K’s in the White Mountains. Nor did we know how much it would cost us… But I digress; back to this hike. We left home @ 6:15AM, we arrived at the Mt. Washington State Park parking lot (base of the Cog Railroad.) at 9:30. We started up the Amonoosic trail, spirits high, bookbags full of food, water and winter jackets. The Amonoosic has several nice waterfalls to view as it follows along the Amonoosic river.
One of the many treats on the Amonoosic Trail is Gem pool; Pictured here.
The trail was quite vigorous. I would clasify this as the high side of moderate difficulty. We arrived at the Lakes in the Clouds hut at 12:55, I was beat! There are several steep sections near the top third of the trail. The springs on the trail were running quite briskly adding to the difficulty with slick w
ater crossings. I wasn’t excited about going down the Amonoosic if there was any other reasonable option. After a short rest and a short 15 minute class by one of the hut care-takers on above treeline plant life, we pushed on through the next 1.2 miles along the Crawford path to the Mt. Washington summit. What a surprise!!! People everywhere! We’de never been on Mt. Washington and climbing up from the west side, we had no idea the summit would have a carnaval atmosphere until we stepped into the middle of it!
Little did we know that we were enjoying some of the best viewing from the summit, on one of only 20% of the days each year that you have any kind of view at all. While we were sitting on a bench relaxing and recovering from the strenuous ordeal we’d just been through to get here, one very elderly gent, (70’ish) fit as a fiddle, had just hiked up Hunington Ravine and sat down beside us. (He looked less beat than I felt.). Did I mention I was beat!
At 3:45 we started down Crawford path .2 miles to the GulfSide trail .8 miles, (The Gulfside trail is absolutely one of the most awesome trails in the Whites. It looks down into the Great Gulf; It makes you want to throw a rock because it looks like the rock would fall 1000 feet or more. Plus, the views of the Cog as it puffs past the hikers is worth the time it takes to get there. We then connected to the Jewell trail for the final 5 miles to the parking lot. (this rout is an easier/gentler, but a far longer way off this hill.) We arrived at the base of the Cog Railroad again at 7:30, just as dusk was setting in. In the time it took us to walk from the trail-head to the car it was dark. Note to myself! Don’t bother to do this loop in this direction again. Jewel Trail is very long, and though the Gulf Side trail is a must see, it’s rocky and a pain to hike. Just go back down the Amonoosic.