Lake of the Clouds hut
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South Presidential Range
Fresh off some excellent trail magic (biscuits and dumplings) for lunch at Crawford Notch, I started up Mount Webster. As usual, I would continue until dark. The tricky part about that is there is no camping above tree line. By the time I passed the last campsite around 5 p.m. or so, Mizpah Spring, I was about to enter the Alpine Zone with just 3 hours of light remaining in the day. It takes all day to hike the no camping zone across the alpine area of the Presidential Range. Never detoured, I could always just sleep in my sleeping bag on the trail if darkness hit. Well, turns out I enjoyed the most amazing terrain with almost nobody on the trail. During the golden hour, I climbed Mount Pierce, Eisenhower, Franklin and Monroe. Then I had an incredible evening dinner at the Lake of the Clouds hut enjoying sunset with all the people there. Finally, during the twilight light of the evening, I strolled up to the summit of Mount Washington. I pitched my tent in a corner of the parking lot, well out of view of the park ranger who was sleeping in a building on the summit. This checked off a bucket list item of camping at the windiest recorded place on earth. Winds were calm until about 2 a.m. when clouds appeared and things got a bit rougher, but manageable for my tent.
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Appalachian Trail
Starting the Presidential Range at Crawford Notch is exciting for northbound thru-hikers. There were all kinds of talk on the trail about how amazing this section of trail would be. It contains the largest single expanse of alpine area east of the Mississippi River. Climbing out of Crawford Notch must first be obtained and it is tough, with some super steep rock slab sections. Luckily, the ledges of Webster Mountain just keep offering view after view as you get higher and higher. A few peaks south of Mount Washington are traversed while you must take side trails for a few others, if you want to summit them all.
My visit:
This was a 23.1 mile day. I started at a camp on Mount Zealand. I dropped down to the Zealand Falls Hut where I got some free left over breakfast, then the easy hike dropping down to Crawford Notch where I found the trail magic at the parking area.
Notes:
Crawford Notch appalachian trail Mount Washington Mount Webster Lake of the Clouds hut Lake of the Clouds Mount Eisenhower Mount Franklin Mount Jackson Mount Monroe Mount Monroe Mount Washington Lake of the Clouds Mount Webster Mount Webster Lake of the Clouds hut Mount Washington new hampshire Mount Monroe
New Hampshire, White Mountains
crawford notch map Appalachian Trail appalachian trail
Taken from Little Monroe. Mount Washington in center with Mount Monroe on the right. Mount Jefferson on far left.
Appalachian Trail in red with alternate blue trail going over top of Mount Monroe before dropping down to Lake of the Clouds Hut.
Trail climbing out of Crawford Notch up Mount Webster.
Side trail up and over Mount Eisenhower in blue. Appalachian Trail in red.
Evening on way up Mount Washington with Lake of the Clouds Hut and Mount Monroe on the left.
Leaving at sunset from the Lake of the Clouds hut.
From Mount Monroe, dropping down to Lake of the Clouds hut to make my dinner before climbing up Mt. Washington above.
Crawford Notch from Mount Webster Cliffs
Webster Cliffs Crawford Notch
South from Mount Webster Cliffs
On the cliffs looking to Mount Webster
Hiking up Mount Webster
Looking south from Mount Webster
Looking down at Crawford Notch
Mount Jackson view with Mizpah Spring Hut in view with Mount Pierce to Mount Washington.
Mount Eisenhower
Mount Webster
From Mount Webster, looking at the peaks I would climb the rest of the day.
From Mount Franklin looking to Little Monroe, Mount Monroe and Mount Washington.
South from Mount Monroe
Hiking up Mount Monroe
Hiking up Mount Washington. The trail in this rock is actually pretty good.