February is the peak of winter in New Hampshire’s Presidential Vary and it may be tough to discover a climate window the place the temperatures and wind velocity are secure to climb the upper peaks. I’d handed up a number of alternatives the week prior when the wind speeds have been too excessive for my liking and I used to be resigned to ready till subsequent 12 months with a view to climb Mt Adams (5793′) and Mt Madison (5367′), the second and fifth highest peaks on the White Mountains 4000 footer checklist.
So after I awakened on Monday morning (Washington’s Birthday) and noticed that the wind velocity on Mt Adams was forecast to be 11 mph the following day, which may be very low, and that it could be within the 20’s (F) and sunny, I made a decision that I’d climb the Adams and Madison, that are adjoining, then. I texted my good friend Lynn to see if she wished to return and he or she responded by inviting me to affix her, our good friend Rick, and his good friend Al, since they have been planning to climb the peaks too.
Lynn, like me, is engaged on the White Mountains 4000 Footer Grid, a peak checklist the place you climb all 48 of the White Mountain 4000 footers as soon as in every calendar month (48 x 12) for a complete of 576 summits. Rick and Al, have already accomplished one spherical of The Grid and are engaged on their second spherical. I’ve recognized Rick and Lynn for effectively over 10 years and regarded ahead to assembly Al as effectively. You couldn’t ask for a greater and extra skilled crew to climb Adams and Madison in winter.
We met the following morning on the Appalachia Trailhead at 7:30 AM which is a really civilized time to begin a winter hike (which frequently begin at 5:00 or 6:00 AM when the times are brief). We determined to climb the Valley Manner Path to treeline as a result of we’d learn stories on NETrailConditions.com that the path was damaged out with a floor of packed snow and ice. That meant we may depart our snowshoes within the vehicles and climb with Hillsound Path Crampons, with full crampons in reserve, in case they have been wanted within the alpine zone to summit the peaks.
Adams and Madison Through Valley Manner Tr
The forecast referred to as for deteriorating circumstances within the early night with elevated winds and snowfall, however we had a nice-sized time window to complete the hike and get under treeline once more earlier than the climate blew in. The plan was to climb to the ridge and Madison Hut, ascend Adams, backtrack to the Hut, then climb Madison, after which descend again to the Appalachia Trailhead. The overall distance of our route was 10.4 miles with 5050′ of elevation acquire, however we anticipated to get again down under treeline by mid-afternoon. We’d nonetheless have a multi-hour hike downhill however we’d be protected by mountain vegetation and be out of the wind as soon as we dropped off the highest of the ridge.
The path circumstances have been best as we began our climb, carrying Hillsound Path Crampons for traction all the way in which to treeline, and the Madison Hut shortly thereafter. The hut is closed in winter, nevertheless it’s a superb landmark within the col between Adams and Madison and will be an essential windbreak relying on the wind course. It took us just below 3 hours to make the ascent.
After consuming some meals and water, we set off the climb Adams first as a result of it’s the hardest of the 2 peaks and would take essentially the most time to climb. If for some cause, we would have liked to bail early, we’d get Adams, however may depart Madison for one more day. Madison is way simpler to summit than Adams and fewer depending on climate circumstances.
From Madison Hut we climbed the Gulfside Path which was a combination of ice and frozen snow to the Airline Path which we adopted as much as the Adams summit. The ultimate part of that path is a large, steep boulder discipline. However winter makes it lots simpler to climb as a result of the gaps between the rocks are stuffed by ice and snow. You continue to should be cautious when climbing it to keep away from an uncontrolled slide, however you possibly can enterprise to the left and proper of the cairns marking the “path” to search out the simplest terrain and slope angle to climb.
As soon as on the summit, we paused for pictures and took within the grandeur of close by Mt Washington and Mt Jefferson. Rick, Lynn, and I become full crampons for the descent, however Al opted to remain in his Hillsounds.
We reversed course and hiked again all the way down to the Madison Hut, the place the Osgood Path begins and climbs Mt Madison. Whereas the ascent from the hut to the summit of Mt Madison is just about 500′, the route was a lot icier and I used to be glad I used to be carrying my Grivel G1 Crampons as a result of they penetrated the steep ice and supplied nice traction. We climbed slowly although as a result of we have been feeling the pressure of climbing some 5000′ with full winter gear, meals, and all of the water we would have liked to get by means of the day.
It was sunny and heat on the summit however a financial institution of clouds was blowing in from the northeast, as predicted. We nonetheless had time earlier than it arrived, nevertheless it was time to get going. We began our descent, first to the hut, after which down the Valley Manner Path which we’d climbed earlier within the day.
Once we handed the Valley Manner Campsite, which is a brief distance under treeline, we modified out of full crampons and again into our Path Crampons, that are extra comfy to put on. You can even zone out when carrying path crampons, that are simply aggressive microspikes. When mountaineering in full crampons, you should consciously increase your ft every time you are taking a step so the spikes don’t catch on the snow or ice and journey you up. With path crampons, you possibly can simply shuffle alongside and ignore your footwork as a result of the spikes are a lot shorter and fewer penetrating.
By the point we go all the way down to 3000 ft, we may begin to hear the wind blowing tougher above treeline. We’d timed our hike completely. This was additionally a particular hike for Al and I as a result of we each completed mountaineering all 48 of the White Mountain 4000-footers within the month of February (over a number of years) for our Grids. Adams is usually a very tough peak to climb in February, however we’d lucked out and had pristine climate.
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