White Mountain Hike 2004

July 2-7

Sunday, July 4


We leave Mizpah Spring Hut after breakfast beginning the difficult climb up Mt Pierce (aka Mt Clinton), alt 4312 ft.  This first climb of over 500 ft in a little over 1/2 miles is the steepest climb of the day.  Today we hike along the ridge of the Presidentials toward Mt Washington to Lakes of the Clouds Hut.  On this ridge we will be above timberline most of the day.  It is a nice sunny day but not too hot.  A very nice day to be on this ridge (two years ago we hiked this route with a cold, strong wind and constant rain) and the views are great.



In the distance we have a rare view, Mt Washington with no nearby clouds.  This is great news since we hope to drop out packs at Lakes of the Clouds Hut and go up Mt Washington in the afternoon.



As we climb down from Mt Pierce, we see Mt Eisenhower and Mt Monroe along the ridge with Mt Washington in the back distance.












We pause on the top of Mt Eisenhower to enjoy the views and eat a gorp for energy.



Bob Spiller catches up with us.



Looking down from the top we see the trail we down and the trail the bypassed the top of Mt Eisenhower rejoining from the right.






While hiking along the ridge we can look down into the valley to the north (Ammonoosuc Ravine) and see the lower terminus of the cog railway up Mt Washington.






The south side of the ridge looks like a wall, dropping steeply into the valley of the Dry River Wilderness



We see the top of Mt Washington through the saddle between Mt Monroe on the right and the unnamed rise on its left flank.



From the top of Mt Monroe we can the bypass trail below and the lower peaks in the Dry River Wilderness.



Looking to the east we can see Mt Washington and the lake beside the Lakes of the Clouds Hut.  Our hut is just left of the lake behind the hump on the peak.



After reaching the hut and dropping our packs we start up Mt Washington (the chili and Tom & Jerry ice cream will make the climb worthwhile).



Looking back we can see the roof of Lakes of the Clouds Hut and Mt Monroe behind and to the left.






At the top we see one of the cog railway engines.  There are at least three engines each with a single car.





A convenient sign at the top identifies the peaks on the ridge we will hike tomorrow: Mt Clay (outside the picture to the left), Mt Jefferson just inside the picture on the left, Mt Adams in the middle of the picture, and Mt Madison on the right.  There are actually minor peaks named for other members of the Adams family. The point on the ridge left of Mt Madison, is named Mt Sam Adams (not named on the sign).  Mt J. Q. Adams is hidden behind Mt Adams.  Our Hut the tomorrow night, Madison Spring Hut is just out of view on the saddle between Mt Adams and Mt Madision.



In this closer (telephoto) get a better view of the saddle near Madison Spring Hut (Mt Adams on the left and Mt Madison on the right and the auto road up Mt Washington in the foreground).



The Mt Washington Weather Observatory.  This building is occupied through the year, with crew changed periodically during the winter by snow mobile.



The cog train starts down the mountain.



The red train follows a few minutes behind the green train.



While hiking back down the mountain, we get a great view of the Lakes of the Clouds Hut and one of the "lakes".



We weather was so great that we looked forward to watching the fireworks from the Mt Washington Hotel in the valley (seen dimly in the background of the picture above).  When we stayed in Lakes on the evening of July 4 four years ago we had a great view of the fireworks. It was supposed to start about 9:30 PM, but during dinner the fog started to roll in and by the time the meal was over we could only see a few feet outside the hut.  At 9:30 we could see nothing of the fireworks. We could hear it but could see nothing.

Go on to July 5