G
geezer
Guest
I have the opportunity to come up to the Whites for the first time ever for about three-and-one-half days at the end of September. I've purchased the AMC's White Mountain Guide & maps, have done much web surfing for suggestions, and have polled the members of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (my local org.) for their recommendations. I'm now about 90% sure how I want to spend my time up there but wanted to solicit your advice and recommendations.
Because my time is limited and I really enjoy CHALLENGING hikes, I'm looking for maximum "grind" combined with maximum beauty. I can understand that I may not get as much of both grind and beauty as I want in any given hike but I'm willing to compromise to get as much of each as I can. BTW, I'll be staying at Pinkham Notch my entire visit.
Here's my plan (not necessarily in the order in which I'll hike them):
#1 Mt. Washington - I HAVE to hike this one because it's the tallest. I plan on doing this via Ammonoosuc-Crawford-Gulfside-Jewell. This seems to be one of a few pretty "traditional" loops.
#2 Mt. Adams - this one seems to have the advantage of climbing the headwall of King Ravine but here's where I really need some advice. I plan on doing this one via Airline-Short Line-King Ravine-Airline to the summit. The return part of the loop has me a little puzzled. Based on what I've read I'm sure I DON'T want to return by the same route. But I'd like to be able to have nice views of King Ravine on the way back to the car (Appalachia). Is the Airline a reasonable RETURN trail? Does it have an inordinate amount of steep downhill (gotta worry about these old knees of mine)? Do you recommend some other return route?
#3 Franconia Ridge - HAVE to do this one because it seems to be an almost universally agreed-upon "must do" hike. This also appears to be another of those "traditional" loops: Falling Waters-Franconia Ridge-Greenleaf-Old Bridle Path.
#4 Tuckerman Ravine - again, based on the research I've done, it seems to almost be a sin to hike the Whites and not see Tuckerman Ravine. Here's where I'm most stumped. Hikes 1, 2, and 3 will, I figure, use up a majority of the first three days I'm there (and will probably use up most of my energy in the process). I don't have to leave Pinkham Notch until around 3:00 in the afternoon of my last day to catch a flight out of Portland, Maine at 7:20 that evening (burning up some frequent flier miles here). I've considered doing a Tuckerman Ravine-Lawn Cutoff-Davis Path-Boott Spur-Tuckerman Ravine loop. It's a little over 8 miles which is easily do-able in 4-5 hours where I do most of my hiking (Shenandoah National Park). Since I'm staying in the Lodge I can begin hiking by 7-7:30 in the morning so I'll have about 7 hours or so to do this one. Does it make sense? An alternative I've looked at is a loop doing Tuckerman Ravine-Boott Spur Link-Boott Spur-Tuckerman. This one's around 5.5 miles thus about 3-4 hours (I'm guessing). What do you suggest?
Please remember this is my first time! I want to get as much out of this trip as I can. From what I've read and heard I fully expect it will not be my last time either! I have no doubt I'll only be scratching the surface during one short visit. Here's the deal: you guys and gals AWE me this time and I PROMISE I'll come back to do more. There are individuals in this area who make an annual "pilgrimage" to the Whites ... I could do that!
Thanks in advance for your help.
Peter.
Because my time is limited and I really enjoy CHALLENGING hikes, I'm looking for maximum "grind" combined with maximum beauty. I can understand that I may not get as much of both grind and beauty as I want in any given hike but I'm willing to compromise to get as much of each as I can. BTW, I'll be staying at Pinkham Notch my entire visit.
Here's my plan (not necessarily in the order in which I'll hike them):
#1 Mt. Washington - I HAVE to hike this one because it's the tallest. I plan on doing this via Ammonoosuc-Crawford-Gulfside-Jewell. This seems to be one of a few pretty "traditional" loops.
#2 Mt. Adams - this one seems to have the advantage of climbing the headwall of King Ravine but here's where I really need some advice. I plan on doing this one via Airline-Short Line-King Ravine-Airline to the summit. The return part of the loop has me a little puzzled. Based on what I've read I'm sure I DON'T want to return by the same route. But I'd like to be able to have nice views of King Ravine on the way back to the car (Appalachia). Is the Airline a reasonable RETURN trail? Does it have an inordinate amount of steep downhill (gotta worry about these old knees of mine)? Do you recommend some other return route?
#3 Franconia Ridge - HAVE to do this one because it seems to be an almost universally agreed-upon "must do" hike. This also appears to be another of those "traditional" loops: Falling Waters-Franconia Ridge-Greenleaf-Old Bridle Path.
#4 Tuckerman Ravine - again, based on the research I've done, it seems to almost be a sin to hike the Whites and not see Tuckerman Ravine. Here's where I'm most stumped. Hikes 1, 2, and 3 will, I figure, use up a majority of the first three days I'm there (and will probably use up most of my energy in the process). I don't have to leave Pinkham Notch until around 3:00 in the afternoon of my last day to catch a flight out of Portland, Maine at 7:20 that evening (burning up some frequent flier miles here). I've considered doing a Tuckerman Ravine-Lawn Cutoff-Davis Path-Boott Spur-Tuckerman Ravine loop. It's a little over 8 miles which is easily do-able in 4-5 hours where I do most of my hiking (Shenandoah National Park). Since I'm staying in the Lodge I can begin hiking by 7-7:30 in the morning so I'll have about 7 hours or so to do this one. Does it make sense? An alternative I've looked at is a loop doing Tuckerman Ravine-Boott Spur Link-Boott Spur-Tuckerman. This one's around 5.5 miles thus about 3-4 hours (I'm guessing). What do you suggest?
Please remember this is my first time! I want to get as much out of this trip as I can. From what I've read and heard I fully expect it will not be my last time either! I have no doubt I'll only be scratching the surface during one short visit. Here's the deal: you guys and gals AWE me this time and I PROMISE I'll come back to do more. There are individuals in this area who make an annual "pilgrimage" to the Whites ... I could do that!
Thanks in advance for your help.
Peter.