February is the peak of winter in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range and it may be troublesome to discover a climate window the place the temperatures and wind velocity are protected to climb the upper peaks. I’d handed up a number of alternatives the week prior when the wind speeds had been too excessive for my liking and I used to be resigned to ready till subsequent 12 months with the intention to climb Mt Adams (5793′) and Mt Madison (5367′), the second and fifth highest peaks on the White Mountains 4000 footer record.
So once I awoke on Monday morning (Washington’s Birthday) and noticed that the wind velocity on Mt Adams was forecast to be 11 mph the following day, which may be very low, and that it might be within the 20’s (F) and sunny, I made a decision that I’d climb the Adams and Madison, that are adjoining, then. I texted my good friend Lynn to see if she needed to come back and he or she responded by inviting me to hitch her, our good friend Rick, and his good friend Al, since they had been planning to climb the peaks too.
Lynn, like me, is engaged on the White Mountains 4000 Footer Grid, a peak record the place you climb all 48 of the White Mountain 4000 footers as soon as in every calendar month (48 x 12) for a complete of 576 summits. Rick and Al, have already accomplished one spherical of The Grid and are engaged on their second spherical. I’ve identified Rick and Lynn for effectively over 10 years and appeared ahead to assembly Al as effectively. You couldn’t ask for a greater and extra skilled crew to climb Adams and Madison in winter.
We met the following morning on the Appalachia Trailhead at 7:30 AM which is a really civilized time to start out a winter hike (which regularly begin at 5:00 or 6:00 AM when the times are brief). We determined to climb the Valley Way Trail to treeline as a result of we’d learn studies on NETrailCircumstances.com that the path was damaged out with a floor of packed snow and ice. That meant we might go away our snowshoes within the automobiles and climb with Hillsound Trail Crampons, with full crampons in reserve, in case they had been wanted within the alpine zone to summit the peaks.
Adams and Madison Via Valley Way Tr
The forecast referred to as for deteriorating situations within the early night with elevated winds and snowfall, however we had a nice-sized time window to complete the hike and get under treeline once more earlier than the climate blew in. The plan was to climb to the ridge and Madison Hut, ascend Adams, backtrack to the Hut, then climb Madison, after which descend again to the Appalachia Trailhead. The whole distance of our route was 10.4 miles with 5050′ of elevation acquire, however we anticipated to get again down under treeline by mid-afternoon. We’d nonetheless have a multi-hour hike downhill however we’d be protected by mountain vegetation and be out of the wind as soon as we dropped off the highest of the ridge.
The path situations had been superb as we began our climb, sporting Hillsound Trail Crampons for traction all the best way to treeline, and the Madison Hut shortly thereafter. The hut is closed in winter, nevertheless it’s an excellent landmark within the col between Adams and Madison and could be an necessary windbreak relying on the wind course. It took us slightly below 3 hours to make the ascent.
After consuming some meals and water, we set off the climb Adams first as a result of it’s the hardest of the 2 peaks and would take essentially the most time to climb. If for some purpose, we wanted to bail early, we’d get Adams, however might go away Madison for one more day. Madison is way simpler to summit than Adams and fewer depending on climate situations.
From Madison Hut we climbed the Gulfside Trail which was a mix of ice and frozen snow to the Airline Trail which we adopted as much as the Adams summit. The ultimate part of that path is a big, steep boulder subject. But winter makes it loads simpler to climb as a result of the gaps between the rocks are crammed by ice and snow. You nonetheless should be cautious when climbing it to keep away from an uncontrolled slide, however you may enterprise to the left and proper of the cairns marking the “trail” to search out the best terrain and slope angle to climb.
Once on the summit, we paused for images and took within the grandeur of close by Mt Washington and Mt Jefferson. Rick, Lynn, and I turned into full crampons for the descent, however Al opted to remain in his Hillsounds.
We reversed course and hiked again right down to the Madison Hut, the place the Osgood Trail begins and climbs Mt Madison. While the ascent from the hut to the summit of Mt Madison is simply about 500′, the route was a lot icier and I used to be glad I used to be sporting my Grivel G1 Crampons as a result of they penetrated the steep ice and offered nice traction. We climbed slowly although as a result of we had been feeling the pressure of climbing some 5000′ with full winter gear, meals, and all of the water we wanted to get by the day.
It was sunny and heat on the summit however a financial institution of clouds was blowing in from the northeast, as predicted. We nonetheless had time earlier than it arrived, nevertheless it was time to get going. We began our descent, first to the hut, after which down the Valley Way Trail which we’d climbed earlier within the day.
When we handed the Valley Way Campsite, which is a brief distance under treeline, we modified out of full crampons and again into our Trail Crampons, that are extra comfy to put on. You may also zone out when sporting path crampons, that are simply aggressive microspikes. When mountain climbing in full crampons, you must consciously elevate your toes every time you’re taking a step so the spikes don’t catch on the snow or ice and journey you up. With path crampons, you may simply shuffle alongside and ignore your footwork as a result of the spikes are a lot shorter and fewer penetrating.
By the time we go right down to 3000 toes, we might begin to hear the wind blowing tougher above treeline. We’d timed our hike completely. This was additionally a particular hike for Al and I as a result of we each completed mountain climbing all 48 of the White Mountain 4000-footers within the month of February (over a number of years) for our Grids. Adams could be a very troublesome peak to climb in February, however we’d lucked out and had pristine climate.
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