Via Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail/Jewell Trail Loop
Vertical climb approx 3800' Distance 9.6mi. Allow an entire day to hike for safety reasons, only start during the early morning hours.
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| Im on the far left trying to get in the photo. This is with my Lyndon State group at the Summit |
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| Im about 95% sure this is a view of Mt. Washington. I took this from the summit of Burke Mountain in Vermont |
The start of the ammonosuc ravine trail is easy. It's a gradual incline for the first mile and a half or so. When I was hiking this, I was unaware of any details at all about this trail. I was hiking with a group of about 40 or so people from my college so I put my trust in the leaders that I could make it up. During this early part, I got increasingly nervous, because I knew the more gradual the trail is now, the steeper it must be later on. Well, soon the trail turns towards the left with a sign saying Lake of the Clouds hut is (only a couple miles ahead). We have hardly climbed, and Lake of the Clouds hut is at 5012' above sea level! Oh boy.
This is where the fun begins (at the time being very inexperienced this is where the nerves began). The trail abrubtly begins to climb steeply. For much of the trail you will find yourself scrambling up small ledges using both your hands and feet. This is where you need to take it slow and be careful. During wetter times, the rocks will be damp and may cause poor footing. This is the part of the climb where a group of 40 of us spread out at our own pace, with the most experienced people intentionally the very last and very first person to make sure everyone was safe. Alone, I paced myself taking several breaks. Finally after a couple of miles (sorry I dont have the exact number at this moment) the trails incline becomes more gradual and your emerge above treeline and at the Lake of the Clouds Hut. (if you are looking for shelter think again, its usually closed and you need reservations way in advance to stay there). Don't forget to walk the extra couple of feet to the actual lake of the clouds, its real. From this point you can summit Mt. Monroe via Crawford path as well. Another interesting thing you will find on the trail is the change of vegetation as you increase elevation. It starts as a full size dense forest with a mix of all kinds of trees. Eventually the trees become more pine, and they start to shrink. As you start out they are way above your head, and the higher you go, the smaller they get. By the time your near treeline, they are little stubs about ankle high.
Once you get the lake of the clouds, the ascent to Mt. Washington is much less difficult from here on out (unless of course the weather is bad, you will be exposed to harsh conditions and it will be much more difficult). The trail turns into the Crawford path. Follow that to the summit for another (mile) or so. The rocks are difficult and annoying to scramble around, so keep that in mind.
At the summit you will find a small city. People where everywhere! With sever hiking trails, and auto road, a Cog Railway, and established research teams, it should come as no surprise to you. Its kind of a good feeling when you walk around and you can tell you where one of the relatively few people that actually hiked to the top. I even saw someone in high heels! It gave me a sense of accomplishment especially after some people commented they couldn't imagine how people climbed to the top. In the main summit building, you can buy food, gifts, rest, and even send a letter. Yes, they have a post office!
You have the option of taking the ammonosuc ravine trail down. I don't recommend this because of how steep it is. On the reverse, you have the option of hiking the Jewell Trail to the top. The downside of doing that is your adding a lot more distance, and the views are not as good.
Going down the Jewell trail proved to be alot more challenging than I expected, especially above treeline (actually above treeline its the Gulf side trail which leads to the Jewell trail). The trail is full of ragged, fairly large rocks (about the size of a person). They are thousands of them, which you have to use your balance, your hands and knees to scramble down. You don't have to worry about falling down far, but its a slow go. You must be careful about getting caught and twisting your ankle. It will make a hard hike almost impossible. Luckily I never heard of that happening on that day. I'm very tall, so it took me a considerable amount of time to get down, eventually the trail curves to the left and below treeline. If you make it to this point you are good to go! The hard part is over, its just a long, steady decline back to the parking lot.
If your anything like me, you will be very sore for the next few days after the hike. Bring some sort of pain reliever that will help. Obviously bring alot of water (about a gallon), extra food to be safe, a first aid kid, a walkie talkie, and DON'T forget your camera!
For Directions to the Cog Railway, additional info, and pictures, there are dozens of official and non-official sights on Mt. Washington and the White Mountains which you can search on google.
