need info

[shifty]

Hello everyone, i'm new on this forum and happy to be with you. I am planning a trip in the presidential on the week end of october 7 and 8. What kind of weather should I get on top of mount washimgton? I never been there that late on the season. I also want to sleep on the hut of the rmc club, if some of you ever slept there, I would like to know how is it and if it's crowdy on the saturday night?

thank you
Shifty

 

[Mike P.]

It's a bit of a walk from Washington to the closest of the RMC shelters but doable. During foliage season, I suspect on Saturday it could be crowded.

Weather? Could be nice could be cool, could be under several inches of ice or snow.

Highlights from my 4 trips, two in October, two in mid-November
10/3/?? (96 or 97) fog, rain, 32 degrees early so ice on road closed auto road, wind in mid-20's when we arrived up top, it must have been 32.9 as freezing rain was beginning to break & melt off rocks.

10/12/01 or 02 Cool, dry wind in the teens pants & light fleece was enough

11/20/04; snow above 3000 feet, some ice, dead calm wid under 5 MPH crampons

11/19/05: thin layer of snow covering some icy spots, (not in our group) one guy sprained or broke a bone above plastic boot, another twisted/reaggravated a bad knee, fleece, gloves, hat crampons we walked down the raod, extra exposure, better footing

IMO October may be the most unpredictable month of the year & more days like the ones mentioned in the White Mountain Guide. (cool & nice down low, brutal up top)

10/3/98 I was on Moriah, Presidentials were white

Many postcards show foliage down low & white Presidentials. IMO its' some of the best hiking but you really need to be prepared to turn back early or have lots of gear.

 

[MichaelJ]

Definitely visit the RMC website to learn more about the facilities and what's available at Grey Knob or Crag Camp, the Perch or the Log Cabin. Each is completely different, and only one has insulated walls and a woodstove (which in October will likely *not* be lit). Some get crowded, some don't. Where were you thinking of heading?

Keep in mind as Mike says that it's a long way from Washington on the Gulfside Trail to get down, then up over Jefferson, then down and over to any RMC shelter. Given a good weather day, it will be a great hike, but you'll need to be prepared for anything from 50° sun to 15° snow and sleet.

 

[shifty]

thank you for taking the time to awnser my message, I didnt know exactly which hut I wanted to go to, for the distance I think I can do it, it is aronud 12 miles trip and I did trip that long before but it was on good temperature so it is my big concern, the other one is to be sure to have a place to sleep because I will be at the end of the day. Is there a time I should get to the hut to make sure there is still room, we are supposed to be 6 or 7 in our group.

ty
Shifty

 

[Mike P.]

That's Columbus Day weekend? 6 or 7 open spots arriving late sounds kind of iffy to me. Providing temps are not really cold, might make better time since you won't sweat as much. I don't have any experience staying at any RMC places but from others & what've I've read on their site (some time ago) the shelters are small.

Are you car spotting & going up Ammo trail over Washington & then to a RMC Shelter?

Where did you do 12 miles before? Was that a Presidential or Great Range (ADK) trip. The Presidentials, especially from Monroe North, have some of the tougher footbeds for traveling on. The trail in any places is just rocks, some neatly place, others not. While people might hit 2 miles per hour in other hiking destinations in the east, it's very difficult to hike at your normal speed on these peaks.

If RMC shelters are your destination & high peaks, I'd look at doing Adams, Madison or Jefferson or some combination of these. (most hikers in NH like these peaks better) if Washington is your goal & an overnight consider Hermit Lake (AMC) in Tuckerman Ravine.

 

[shifty]

Thank you Mike, sounds like a good idea to go on those mounts instead of washington, when I made a 12 miles trail it was in the area of baldface with an extra walk to mt meader, I know that the rmc shelters are not the biggest ones but I will b hiking with my dog so that's why I want to go there.

 

[MtnMagic]

Shifty, Mike and Michael make great points, listen to them. You wrote you are bringing your dog. I trust you have a fleece blanket or a sleeping bag for your companion to prevent your pal from shivering at night.

 

[MichaelJ]

Well, if you want to be sure, reverse your trip. Go straight up to Grey Knob or Crag Camp on your first day. Claim your spaces, leave your gear, and if your start was early enough, go visit Mt. Adams. Next day pack up your gear and head out over Washington and down to wherever your car spot is. This also leaves you the option, if the weather is poor, to just tag Jefferson and come back to grab your gear and go down to the starting-point cars. Or if the weather is really, really poor, to just bail right out back to the cars.

 

[MtnMagic]

Great point MJ!