Backpacking the Great Gulf Wilderness 8/7/15
I took a trip up to New Hampshires Great Gulf Wilderness, a beautiful wilderness area of rivers, waterfalls, steep climbs, and alpine views that comprises the east face of the presidential range between Mt. Washington and Mt. Madison.
I definitely did not take as many pictures on this trip as i usually do (I'm blaming poor fitness for my lack of energy and motivation to set up my tripod... and maybe staying up till 1am thursday night shooting the stars and Milky Way as they glisten above the suspension bridge over the Peabody River)
I arrived on thursday night around 11pm at the trail head and was all set to go to sleep in the 4Runner Motel, but the stars were so vivid that I couldn't resist heading out to find a good photo location. I set up down by the river with the suspension bridge in the middle of the frame and used my headlamp to light the scene a little. Then decided I should probably get some sleep for the LONG journey ahead.
Day 1 saw me trekking in along the Great Gulf Trail (which may now be one of my favorite trails I have ever hiked in the Whites) following the West branch of the Peabody river for most of the way. A beautiful scenic trail surrounded by waterfalls and cascades. After about 4 miles I got to the trail junction of Great Gulf and the Wamsutta trail. I knew I would be descending Wamsutta later in day so I stashed my Sleepingbag, tent, and sleeping pad in the woods to lighten my pack for the steep climb.
At about 6.5 miles I reached Spaulding Lake. From here it was a steep and often slippery climb up basically a mile of waterfalls flowing down from the summit of Mt Washington. The views were superb, the route was fun (albeit a little sketchy at times) and I was enjoying the climb... until I got to the scree field. About a half mile of very steep loose rock and boulders. On a time crunch to meet my friend T.J. at the summit of Washington at 1pm, I forced myself to keep moving. Finally ascending the scree slope I reached the Mt Washington Observatory.
I found T.J., Immediately scarfed down a chili dog and a bowl of clam chowder, refilled my water, and then we were off.
We took a tour around Mt Washington, Heading down Crawfords path to Tuckermans, to the Alpine Garden, past Huntington Ravine, and then over to Nelson crag for a snack break before descending back down to the junction of Wamsutta trail and Great Gulf Trail. I grabbed my gear and then it was just another .5 miles to a great backcountry camp spot. I racked up about 14 miles today and probably about 5,000+ feet of elevation.
Set up camp, cook some dinner, hang out for a bit and then off for some well earned sleep. Got to be ready for another long day tomorrow. (Note: I just bought a sleeping pad from the last REI garage sale. The tag said slow leak but I hadn't noticed any slow leak the last time I used it on my backpacking trip in the Pemi in June. Well the slow leak definitely sped up because I had to blow my mattress up 2 times in the night... Oh well. Ill find the leak and patch it at a later date.
Day 2 I woke early, wrote in my trail journal a little bit, and took my sleeping pad to the river to try and find the leak. No luck. couldn't see any air coming out anywhere. Ill have to investigate in more detail in a controlled environment like my bath tub back home.
After moving camp to a different location and having breakfast. T.J. and I head up the Six Husbands trail towards the summit of Mt Jefferson. This is a very fun, very steep trail with beautiful views, some super steeps with bolted ladders, and a sweet boulder to climb on during our snack break! We don't see many people along the way but we did meet one couple with the most amazing dog I have ever seen in the mountains. Thing was an acrobat and was sprinting up cliffs that I had to drag myself up.
Instead of taking the direct route to the summit of Jefferson we decided to take the long way around (why not tack on a few more miles and some more red lines, isn't that what we are here for?) we meet up with T.J.s friends Sarah (who I met on the summit of Mt Garfield back in June) and Ben. We head up to the summit of Jefferson, then over to the "secret seat" and have a lunch break. Ben and Sarah have packed in 7 beers (one casualty in the parking lot at the trail head) so we crack a few beers and toast to a day in the Mountains.
From there we head to Mt Adams via the long way... You'll have to ask T.J. how he finds these interesting shortcuts, stop at a little fresh spring to refill water and then mosey on over to Mt Adams. None of us except Ben have the energy to summit Adams (I've been up it before so I don't feel bad about skipping it) so Ben runs off to tag the summit and we all skirt around the side and head towards Mt Madison and the Hut.
At the hut we meet back up with Ben and have a quick snack break, chat with a few thru hikers, and then start towards our descent on the Buttress Trail. I get a few nice shots of dusk setting over the Whites and a pretty good picture of my Madison rising up from behind Star Lake.
We head down the Buttress trail and back towards camp. The night quickly closes in on us and we are shortly benighted. We hike as long in the dark as we can trying to let our eyes adjust but eventually we all dawn our headlamps and continue the journey. After a verrrry long 1.5 miles we get to a talus field. If you have never crossed a talus field in the dark after a 10 mile day, after getting very little sleep because your sleeping pad doesn't stay inflated, and having hiked 14 miles the day before, I can tell you that It isn't very fun... But in reality it really is fun. Its moments and adventures like this that make backpacking so much fun.
After an exhausting but very pleasant day, we cook some dinner, crack some beers, drink some whiskey and hang out around the glow of my mini Black Diamond LED lantern. We eventually turn out the light and just gaze up at the stars, exhausted, full, a little buzzed, and happy to be out in the wilderness.
Eventually I collect myself and head to my tent where I get a great nights sleep ( minus waking up 2 times again to blow up my sleeping pad).
Day 3 and I break down camp early, have some breakfast, hangout with a Pine Martin for a little bit and then head back down the Great Guld Trail towards the trail head. I take off a little early so I can have some time to get photos of some nice waterfalls. Its an easy 4.5 - 5 mile cruise back to the trail head, back to the car, and eventually back to civilization.
Im always thankful for my time in the Mountains. A good weekend, good scenery, good friends, lots of miles, and some good photos.
Enjoy
Cheers
P.S.
heres a riddle for you. Told to us by an 8 year old girl on Mt Adams.
"You take your silver car
to your friends hotel in New York
Stay for a few minutes
and it cost you $1,000"
if you buy a photo Ill give you the answer.... J/K just email me or hit me up on Facebook
Cheers
Read MoreI definitely did not take as many pictures on this trip as i usually do (I'm blaming poor fitness for my lack of energy and motivation to set up my tripod... and maybe staying up till 1am thursday night shooting the stars and Milky Way as they glisten above the suspension bridge over the Peabody River)
I arrived on thursday night around 11pm at the trail head and was all set to go to sleep in the 4Runner Motel, but the stars were so vivid that I couldn't resist heading out to find a good photo location. I set up down by the river with the suspension bridge in the middle of the frame and used my headlamp to light the scene a little. Then decided I should probably get some sleep for the LONG journey ahead.
Day 1 saw me trekking in along the Great Gulf Trail (which may now be one of my favorite trails I have ever hiked in the Whites) following the West branch of the Peabody river for most of the way. A beautiful scenic trail surrounded by waterfalls and cascades. After about 4 miles I got to the trail junction of Great Gulf and the Wamsutta trail. I knew I would be descending Wamsutta later in day so I stashed my Sleepingbag, tent, and sleeping pad in the woods to lighten my pack for the steep climb.
At about 6.5 miles I reached Spaulding Lake. From here it was a steep and often slippery climb up basically a mile of waterfalls flowing down from the summit of Mt Washington. The views were superb, the route was fun (albeit a little sketchy at times) and I was enjoying the climb... until I got to the scree field. About a half mile of very steep loose rock and boulders. On a time crunch to meet my friend T.J. at the summit of Washington at 1pm, I forced myself to keep moving. Finally ascending the scree slope I reached the Mt Washington Observatory.
I found T.J., Immediately scarfed down a chili dog and a bowl of clam chowder, refilled my water, and then we were off.
We took a tour around Mt Washington, Heading down Crawfords path to Tuckermans, to the Alpine Garden, past Huntington Ravine, and then over to Nelson crag for a snack break before descending back down to the junction of Wamsutta trail and Great Gulf Trail. I grabbed my gear and then it was just another .5 miles to a great backcountry camp spot. I racked up about 14 miles today and probably about 5,000+ feet of elevation.
Set up camp, cook some dinner, hang out for a bit and then off for some well earned sleep. Got to be ready for another long day tomorrow. (Note: I just bought a sleeping pad from the last REI garage sale. The tag said slow leak but I hadn't noticed any slow leak the last time I used it on my backpacking trip in the Pemi in June. Well the slow leak definitely sped up because I had to blow my mattress up 2 times in the night... Oh well. Ill find the leak and patch it at a later date.
Day 2 I woke early, wrote in my trail journal a little bit, and took my sleeping pad to the river to try and find the leak. No luck. couldn't see any air coming out anywhere. Ill have to investigate in more detail in a controlled environment like my bath tub back home.
After moving camp to a different location and having breakfast. T.J. and I head up the Six Husbands trail towards the summit of Mt Jefferson. This is a very fun, very steep trail with beautiful views, some super steeps with bolted ladders, and a sweet boulder to climb on during our snack break! We don't see many people along the way but we did meet one couple with the most amazing dog I have ever seen in the mountains. Thing was an acrobat and was sprinting up cliffs that I had to drag myself up.
Instead of taking the direct route to the summit of Jefferson we decided to take the long way around (why not tack on a few more miles and some more red lines, isn't that what we are here for?) we meet up with T.J.s friends Sarah (who I met on the summit of Mt Garfield back in June) and Ben. We head up to the summit of Jefferson, then over to the "secret seat" and have a lunch break. Ben and Sarah have packed in 7 beers (one casualty in the parking lot at the trail head) so we crack a few beers and toast to a day in the Mountains.
From there we head to Mt Adams via the long way... You'll have to ask T.J. how he finds these interesting shortcuts, stop at a little fresh spring to refill water and then mosey on over to Mt Adams. None of us except Ben have the energy to summit Adams (I've been up it before so I don't feel bad about skipping it) so Ben runs off to tag the summit and we all skirt around the side and head towards Mt Madison and the Hut.
At the hut we meet back up with Ben and have a quick snack break, chat with a few thru hikers, and then start towards our descent on the Buttress Trail. I get a few nice shots of dusk setting over the Whites and a pretty good picture of my Madison rising up from behind Star Lake.
We head down the Buttress trail and back towards camp. The night quickly closes in on us and we are shortly benighted. We hike as long in the dark as we can trying to let our eyes adjust but eventually we all dawn our headlamps and continue the journey. After a verrrry long 1.5 miles we get to a talus field. If you have never crossed a talus field in the dark after a 10 mile day, after getting very little sleep because your sleeping pad doesn't stay inflated, and having hiked 14 miles the day before, I can tell you that It isn't very fun... But in reality it really is fun. Its moments and adventures like this that make backpacking so much fun.
After an exhausting but very pleasant day, we cook some dinner, crack some beers, drink some whiskey and hang out around the glow of my mini Black Diamond LED lantern. We eventually turn out the light and just gaze up at the stars, exhausted, full, a little buzzed, and happy to be out in the wilderness.
Eventually I collect myself and head to my tent where I get a great nights sleep ( minus waking up 2 times again to blow up my sleeping pad).
Day 3 and I break down camp early, have some breakfast, hangout with a Pine Martin for a little bit and then head back down the Great Guld Trail towards the trail head. I take off a little early so I can have some time to get photos of some nice waterfalls. Its an easy 4.5 - 5 mile cruise back to the trail head, back to the car, and eventually back to civilization.
Im always thankful for my time in the Mountains. A good weekend, good scenery, good friends, lots of miles, and some good photos.
Enjoy
Cheers
P.S.
heres a riddle for you. Told to us by an 8 year old girl on Mt Adams.
"You take your silver car
to your friends hotel in New York
Stay for a few minutes
and it cost you $1,000"
if you buy a photo Ill give you the answer.... J/K just email me or hit me up on Facebook
Cheers
