ChileMass
Active member
Date - 8/12/06
Hike - Mt. Washington via Tuckerman Ravine Trail
Degree of Difficulty - Strenuous +
Vertical Gain - 4250 feet
Conditions - Sun/Clouds & WIND
Well, I can finally count myself a real White Mountain man after succesfully climbing to top of the big rockpile. Tuckerman Ravine is something to see, and it was tough but we got it done. 3 of us started out at 8:30AM, and, along with several dozen fellow hikers, went up the Tuckerman Expressway. We were slow - it took us a little over 5 hours since one of our party was cramping badly by the time we got above the top of the bowl and onto the rocks. We stopped every cairn sometimes (maybe 100 feet apart), and Mike made it. But - once up top there was no way he was climbing back down, so we all took the hiker shuttle back to Pinkham Notch. Hate to admit it, but yes, we wussed out. I was happily surprised that I did as well as I did - I could have walked down but we didn't want to split up our party. I think using hiking poles (for the first time ever) made a huge difference. I was tired but not exhausted when we got to the top. We had more sun than clouds for the most part - it was about 45*F at PNVC to start and much colder above the bowl. We all had lots of extra clothes, water and gear, so we were warm enough and well-hydrated (thanks to those that gave me input last week). Still, I sweated thru about 3 layers and could feel the wind once we got onto the rocks. The wind at the top was sustained at 45-50 mph at 1:30PM, but thankfully the clouds broke just as we got there. The summit temp was 35*F and the windchill was 19*F!! We got hit with a few pellets of sleet or hail, but the views were mostly tremendous. It was weird seeing all the hikers wearing winter gear in August!
And, as always - I forgot the camera, so no pics to offer and no photographic evidence for proof, so you'll just have to take my word for it. Can't wait to do it again. Back up in the WMNF this coming weekend to do Caps Ridge/Gulfside/Clay with the family.
Hike - Mt. Washington via Tuckerman Ravine Trail
Degree of Difficulty - Strenuous +
Vertical Gain - 4250 feet
Conditions - Sun/Clouds & WIND
Well, I can finally count myself a real White Mountain man after succesfully climbing to top of the big rockpile. Tuckerman Ravine is something to see, and it was tough but we got it done. 3 of us started out at 8:30AM, and, along with several dozen fellow hikers, went up the Tuckerman Expressway. We were slow - it took us a little over 5 hours since one of our party was cramping badly by the time we got above the top of the bowl and onto the rocks. We stopped every cairn sometimes (maybe 100 feet apart), and Mike made it. But - once up top there was no way he was climbing back down, so we all took the hiker shuttle back to Pinkham Notch. Hate to admit it, but yes, we wussed out. I was happily surprised that I did as well as I did - I could have walked down but we didn't want to split up our party. I think using hiking poles (for the first time ever) made a huge difference. I was tired but not exhausted when we got to the top. We had more sun than clouds for the most part - it was about 45*F at PNVC to start and much colder above the bowl. We all had lots of extra clothes, water and gear, so we were warm enough and well-hydrated (thanks to those that gave me input last week). Still, I sweated thru about 3 layers and could feel the wind once we got onto the rocks. The wind at the top was sustained at 45-50 mph at 1:30PM, but thankfully the clouds broke just as we got there. The summit temp was 35*F and the windchill was 19*F!! We got hit with a few pellets of sleet or hail, but the views were mostly tremendous. It was weird seeing all the hikers wearing winter gear in August!
And, as always - I forgot the camera, so no pics to offer and no photographic evidence for proof, so you'll just have to take my word for it. Can't wait to do it again. Back up in the WMNF this coming weekend to do Caps Ridge/Gulfside/Clay with the family.