ChileMass
Active member
Date - 8/19/2005
Trails Hiked - Edmands Path to Eisenhower Loop to summit (approx 4800')
Distance - 6.6 mi round trip
Difficulty - Moderate until treeline, then easy.
Conditions - Sunshine, temps in low 80s at base, mid-60s at summit. Almost no wind. A few bugs on top, a few muddy spots on the trail from recent T-storms.
Another nice day in the Whites. Beautiful sunshine and a good group from the 6 camping families. 5 kids and 8 adults made the trip.
The White Mountain Guide (WMG) says Edmands Path is the easiest route to the southern Presidentials and follows the most moderate grades for most of its length, so for our group of weekend/once-in-a-while hikers, it was an easy choice. FYI - Mt. Clinton Road in from Crawford Notch was in very good shape with only a little washout evidence along the shoulder, so any car could make it the 3.2 miles from US 302.
The trail in from the parking lot starts very gradually for the first mile, but then increases for the next mile and a half or so. The WMG aside, it will definitely get your heart pumping. We had to stop several times for water and to give the kids a break. We didn't want to exhaust them and make this hike into a death march which would turn them off from hiking. Edmands Path is in very good shape, and there are definitely sections where you can tell a lot of effort went into constructing this trail. Much of it is just dirt or roots which are a lot easier on the feet than rocks. The woods were beautiful, with sun and shade all the way.
At about 2 1/4 miles, the trail begins to wind in a sort of a cat-walk around the mountain, with just scrubby trees between you and the view (and a BIG drop). This part of the pathway was man-made to provide access to the upper sections and must have been some job to create. After the cat-walk and a short rock-hopping section, the Edmands Path comes completely out into the open and ends in beautiful meadows below the summit connector. The views got better and better as we went up the summit loop trail, except for the cog railway, which was belching huge clouds of black smoke and really screws up this otherwise perfect vista. Monroe's 2 spiky peaks come into view just below Eisenhower's summit.
There was very little wind and the views across to the big Presidential peaks and right up to Mt. Franklin were tremendous. Our group was sweaty and ready for lunch, but with these terrific views to inspire us, we easily walked the final 20 minutes or so to the top. And, this crew of amateurs and kids beat the WMG time estimate by almost a half-hour, arriving on top in 2:34. Not bad!!
There were about 15 people at the summit, and lunch tasted really good. The views from Eisenhower extend 360 degrees due to the flat, open meadow at the top, and the kids kept saying, "Wow - this is really cool" which was great to hear. Mt. Carrigain looked close enough to touch it, Chocurua's pointy silouette was clearly seen to the south, and we could see the Franconias way off to the west. About the farthest landmark I could see was Jay Peak to the northwest.
The walk down was about 1:40 and slightly tough on the knees and quads, but as is our tradition, wings and beers at the Red Parka Pub in Glen took all the edge off. (Wings and sodas for the kids, thanks). :beer:
Probably my last hike in the Whites this season, but it was memorable!! Pics later this week when my wife gets back from camping with the camera -
CM
Trails Hiked - Edmands Path to Eisenhower Loop to summit (approx 4800')
Distance - 6.6 mi round trip
Difficulty - Moderate until treeline, then easy.
Conditions - Sunshine, temps in low 80s at base, mid-60s at summit. Almost no wind. A few bugs on top, a few muddy spots on the trail from recent T-storms.
Another nice day in the Whites. Beautiful sunshine and a good group from the 6 camping families. 5 kids and 8 adults made the trip.
The White Mountain Guide (WMG) says Edmands Path is the easiest route to the southern Presidentials and follows the most moderate grades for most of its length, so for our group of weekend/once-in-a-while hikers, it was an easy choice. FYI - Mt. Clinton Road in from Crawford Notch was in very good shape with only a little washout evidence along the shoulder, so any car could make it the 3.2 miles from US 302.
The trail in from the parking lot starts very gradually for the first mile, but then increases for the next mile and a half or so. The WMG aside, it will definitely get your heart pumping. We had to stop several times for water and to give the kids a break. We didn't want to exhaust them and make this hike into a death march which would turn them off from hiking. Edmands Path is in very good shape, and there are definitely sections where you can tell a lot of effort went into constructing this trail. Much of it is just dirt or roots which are a lot easier on the feet than rocks. The woods were beautiful, with sun and shade all the way.
At about 2 1/4 miles, the trail begins to wind in a sort of a cat-walk around the mountain, with just scrubby trees between you and the view (and a BIG drop). This part of the pathway was man-made to provide access to the upper sections and must have been some job to create. After the cat-walk and a short rock-hopping section, the Edmands Path comes completely out into the open and ends in beautiful meadows below the summit connector. The views got better and better as we went up the summit loop trail, except for the cog railway, which was belching huge clouds of black smoke and really screws up this otherwise perfect vista. Monroe's 2 spiky peaks come into view just below Eisenhower's summit.
There was very little wind and the views across to the big Presidential peaks and right up to Mt. Franklin were tremendous. Our group was sweaty and ready for lunch, but with these terrific views to inspire us, we easily walked the final 20 minutes or so to the top. And, this crew of amateurs and kids beat the WMG time estimate by almost a half-hour, arriving on top in 2:34. Not bad!!
There were about 15 people at the summit, and lunch tasted really good. The views from Eisenhower extend 360 degrees due to the flat, open meadow at the top, and the kids kept saying, "Wow - this is really cool" which was great to hear. Mt. Carrigain looked close enough to touch it, Chocurua's pointy silouette was clearly seen to the south, and we could see the Franconias way off to the west. About the farthest landmark I could see was Jay Peak to the northwest.
The walk down was about 1:40 and slightly tough on the knees and quads, but as is our tradition, wings and beers at the Red Parka Pub in Glen took all the edge off. (Wings and sodas for the kids, thanks). :beer:
Probably my last hike in the Whites this season, but it was memorable!! Pics later this week when my wife gets back from camping with the camera -
CM