Oakes Gulf, Mt. Washington, NH - 3/30/2006

[lftgly]

After 3 perfect bluebird weekdays in a row, Monday through Wednesday, 2 more near-perfect days were on tap for Thursday and Friday. With rain forecast for Saturday, and the snowpack shrinking daily, I made the last-minute decision to ski Thursday. It was too late to get any skiing partners, but I was not destined to ski alone...

Upon arriving at the Cog Base, I found 2 other eager souls heading up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to ski Oakes Gulf. A few minutes later, another car arrived, and 2 Vermont freehealers swelled the ranks of our pilgrimage to 5.

Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Gem Pool, SledHaulingMedic

Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail

Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail

After a lunch break on the sunny East side of the Lakes of the Clouds hut, we ventured over the Dry River Trail into Oakes Gulf.

Zack ripping in Oakes Gulf!

SledHaulingMedic rips in Oakes Gulf!

View towards Double Barrel, Oakes Gulf

Oakes Gulf, view towards Boot Spur

Oakes Gulf, view towards central gully

Oakes Gulf, view back towards our tracks

 

[lftgly]

Oakes Gulf, SledHaulingMedic skinning back up

Oakes Gulf, Zack's tracks

Mt. Washington, Zack skiing Crawford Path towards Lake of the Clouds hut and Mt. Monroe

Mt. Washington, skiing towards Ammonoosuc Ravine

Mt. Washington, Zach and SledHaulingMedic

Perfect sunset from the Cog Base, ending a perfect day on the RockPile!

 

[eatskisleep]

Awesome pictures... how long was the hike up?

 

[lftgly]

It was about two and a half to three hours each way. On the ascent, crampons were nice, but not necessary. The trail was still pretty firm in the morning, but not as icy as I expected. On the descent, Sled and I were hobbled by wet snow balling up under our crampons, until we took them off; and Zach beat us down to the trailhead.

 

[Vortex]

Very impressive. Looks like hiking may be the only way soon.

 

[eatskisleep]

How does the skiing there sompare to Tux?

 

[NHpowderhound]

lftgly wrote

Sled and I were hobbled by wet snow balling up under our crampons, until we took them off; and Zach beat us down to the trailhead.

That is one of the first things I noticed when I saw your pic of sledhaulingmedic at the Gem Pool. That sucks. Ive had some bad experiences with wet snow balling up on gator straps, skins and crampons as well.
Great report! :beer:
((*
*))NHPH