Trails: Ammonoosuc Ravine, Monroe Loop (north side only) , Crawford Path, Gulfside, Jewell & Base Road
Conditions: From Gem Pool & up crampons required. One guy I spoke with went up with in-steps & while he made it, he wished he had brought regular crampons. Some of the upper parts have thick ice, no place to go around either
Special Required Equipment: Crampons, I used just my axe on the Monroe cone as it appeared to just be rock & deep hard snow, no post-holing, headlamp too.
Comments: a calm day with temps in the upper 20's. Saw just one guy up to the hut & one guy on Monroe. Left my back at the Hut & brought my axe & a pole + food & water as it was real calm & more snow & rock so no crampons to Monroe. From hut to Washington, I went without crampons but from Davis Path junction & higher easily could have used them, many others did. Gulfside & Jewell have less snow & ice, thanks to the wind so crampons not needed on Saturday. Started at 7:30 & ran out of daylight on this fir lined trail around 4:30 Given a choice of walking on the raod at night or the trail, I pick road so I took the spur of the jewell that ends at the Cog Base Station & is shorter, although the road walk added the same distance.
Conditions: From Gem Pool & up crampons required. One guy I spoke with went up with in-steps & while he made it, he wished he had brought regular crampons. Some of the upper parts have thick ice, no place to go around either
Special Required Equipment: Crampons, I used just my axe on the Monroe cone as it appeared to just be rock & deep hard snow, no post-holing, headlamp too.
Comments: a calm day with temps in the upper 20's. Saw just one guy up to the hut & one guy on Monroe. Left my back at the Hut & brought my axe & a pole + food & water as it was real calm & more snow & rock so no crampons to Monroe. From hut to Washington, I went without crampons but from Davis Path junction & higher easily could have used them, many others did. Gulfside & Jewell have less snow & ice, thanks to the wind so crampons not needed on Saturday. Started at 7:30 & ran out of daylight on this fir lined trail around 4:30 Given a choice of walking on the raod at night or the trail, I pick road so I took the spur of the jewell that ends at the Cog Base Station & is shorter, although the road walk added the same distance.
