SCWDC Hut to Hut Traverse of the Presidential Range '97
Last Update: 8/27/97
New Information:
Driving Directions to Pinkham Notch
Daily Hiking Itinerary
The daily hiking itinerary html file was automatically created with Word and it made it
50% larger than necessary. I can provide a more compact listing if desired (2 pages vs.
3).
If there are any other ham radio operators in the group who have 2 meter or 440 HT's
please bring them along. It would be a great way for us to stay in contact over this
sprawling area. There are four ham radio repeaters on top of Mt. Washington, not to
mention many others in the area.
This is a beautiful geographic area with outstanding hiking, and
backpacking during the warm season and excellent snowshoeing and back country skiing
during winter. More people visit the White Mountains per year than Yellowstone and
Yosemite combined. Much of our trek will be above tree line providing spectacular
panoramic views of the Presidential Range. We will traverse the entire Presidential Range
during this week of hut to hut hiking. Numerous opportunities will be available for peak
bagging during the trip. We will be hiking on the Appalachian Trail (AT) for most of the
week with some potential side trips. The AT skirts some of the peaks and crosses others.
Skirted peaks can be reached via side trails if desired. The highest peak will be Mt.
Washington at 6288 ft.
If the weather is good we can have some flexibility as to the routes people choose to
take. Some days may have alternative hikes from one hut to the other, as well as the
previously mentioned peak bagging. If the weather is bad we will hike as a group and all
stay on the same trail. Because of potentially severe weather and that a number of trip
participants are day hikers and not experienced backpackers, I have included more
information in this trip description than I normally would, particularly in regard to
required equipment.
The huts are typically spaced 6 to 10 miles apart. Due to the steepness of the terrain,
potential for severe weather, and the increased pack load relative to day hiking, this is
a reasonable distance to travel in a day. If the weather is good there will be
opportunities to add short but steep side trips to nearby peaks or do a short day hike
from the next hut. On some days the entire day will be consumed just getting to the next
hut. An average hike in the White Mountains is equivalent to the most difficult hikes that
we do in the Mid Atlantic States. The most difficult hikes have either been eliminated or
made optional for this trip.
Trip Itinerary
Trip Dates: 9/5/97 to 9/14/97
Depart: 9/5 or 6, PYOT, a list of participants will be distributed for car pool formation
Saturday 9/6
- Arrive: Pinkham Notch Visitors Center
6:00 PM Supper at Joe Dodge Lodge
spend the night at Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch
Sunday 9/7
- Leave Pinkham Notch via shuttle to trailhead
Follow trail to Galehead Hut
Dinner at 6:00, spend the night
Optional day hike from the hut
Monday 9/8
- Leave for Zealand Falls Hut after breakfast
Dinner at 6:00, spend the night
Optional day hike from the hut, or just enjoy the falls
and take a soapless bath
Tuesday 9/9
- Leave for Mizpah Hut after breakfast
Dinner at 6:00, spend the night
Wednesday 9/10
- Leave for Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Dinner at 6:00, spend the night
Day hike to Mt. Washington
Thursday 9/11
- Leave for Madison Hut
Dinner at 6:00, spend the night
Optional day hike from the hut
Friday 9/12
- Leave to return to Pinkham notch
end of trip
stay at the lodge Friday night
go out to dinner
Saturday 9/13
- Drive home or stay one more day and night for an optional day hike to
Mt. Washington from Pinkham
Must make your own reservation for Saturday night
Mt. Washington Weather
Anticipated weather includes anything from warm and sunny conditions
to cold, wet, and very windy. The weather here can be SEVERE. You must bring a small
amount of winter gear for possible use (MANDATORY - NO EXCEPTIONS). See below for details.
Mt. Washington has some of the worst weather on earth. It is much less likely that we
would run into this in summer or early fall, but it is possible.
Equipment you will need
Boots
sturdy, broken in, hiking boots that give you good ankle support and a stiff sole for rock
hopping. Light weight hiking boots are the minimum acceptable option up here.
Clothing
Hot Weather
Shorts, T shirts, sun glasses, sun block, visored hat, bandanna
Cool weather
Wool or fleece sweaters or jackets, warmer hat
Severe weather (Mandatory Equipment)
Heavy wool or fleece hat or balaclava
Heavy wool or fleece gloves or mittens
Wool or fleece sweater or jacket
long pants
long thermal underwear tops and bottoms
rain suit
Absolutely no cotton clothing in this category! Everything must be wool, fleece, or
synthetic. You need enough winter gear to make it to the next hut, retreat to the last hut,
or retreat off the mountain. You don’t need enough for a real winter trip.
Rain
You also must have something for rain. A poncho is a cost effective solution below
treeline but is at best a nuisance above treeline in high wind. A rain suit is the
preferred solution. Waterproof and breathable is desirable. A cheap, waterproof only, rain
suit would be much better than a poncho. Some design features to look for in a rain suit:
waterproof, breathable, zippers at the bottom of the pants leg, pit zips, dual main
zippers on the jacket, an internal mesh, and a hood that closes around your face. You have
to be able to put the pants on without taking off your boots.
Also because of potential high winds I do not use an external pack rain cover in the White
Mountains, I use a large garbage bag inside the pack. A poncho or loose fitting external
pack rain cover could be dangerous in high winds.
Pack
3/4 or full sized internal or external pack, with a hip belt, should fit you comfortably.
Approximately 3000 to 5000 cubic inches.
Map & Compass
You can get a set of maps from the AMC, Tyvek is recommended over paper. You can also buy
individual maps at Pinkham Notch. Recommend buying the AMC White Mountain Guide book which
includes a set of topographic maps. You don’t necessarily need the guide book (while
you are hiking) but you will need several of the maps in the set (#5 and 6).
Miscellaneous Gear
Sleeping bag liner as a sheet.
Flashlight , extra bulb, & extra batteries
personal toilet gear
toilet paper & trowel
first aid kit (include iodine water purification tablets)
blister supplies
any prescription medication
glasses if you need them to read maps
2 quart water bottles
lunch & snacks
Optional Equipment
camera, extra film and batteries
cards or games
light reading
binoculars
GPS receiver
ham radio transceiver
light weight shorts and shoes to wear in the hut
swim suit (the only place you might use this is at Zealand Falls hut)
keep the weight and volume as low as possible, try to make items do double duty, only
bring items you are sure that you will use
Equipment you DO NOT need
tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, cooking utensils, eating utensils (except for
lunch if desired), water filter, breakfast and dinner
Rental Gear
As some of you who are new to backpacking are beginning to gather, there is a big jump
from day hiking to backpacking. Typically the kind of gear that could be rented, if you
don't already have it, includes: tent, backpack, sleeping bag, and stove. Most of which we
are not even using on this trip. You could rent a backpack for this trip if you don’t
already have one and really don’t want to buy one. Plan on getting all of your gear
ready down here, there won’t be enough time to find places to rent stuff up there.
You would be better off renting it here so you can try the fit. In recent years designers
have been bringing out backpacks designed to fit women more comfortably than a standard
pack for a man. Whether you buy or rent a backpack, make sure it fits comfortably. Just
like boots, if it hurts in the store, it'll kill you on the trail.
Packing Your Pack
Put things that you might need quickly or frequently in outside pockets: maps, compass,
water, snacks, rain gear, etc. For efficiency pack the heaviest items close to your back
and up high for men, somewhat lower for women. You want the center of gravity of the pack
to be close to the center of gravity of your body. A properly fitted, adjusted, and packed
pack will move with you. You should not be fighting it. If balance is an issue, you want
the center of gravity of the pack to be somewhat lower; i.e., for rock scrambling or back
country skiing.
Physical Conditioning
This is not a series of day hikes. This is essentially a week long backpacking trip.
Because we are staying in huts and having two thirds of our meals prepared for us we will
carry about 1/2 to 2/3 of what a backpacker would normally carry. Expect to be carrying 25
to 35 pounds per person all week. Because the terrain is quite steep, try (real hard) not
to exceed 35 pounds. You must be in good physical condition. This trip is suitable for
experienced backpackers and strong dayhikers. This trip is not suitable for beginners and
hikers who are out of shape. Participants must also have good eye - hand - foot
coordination and balance as quite a bit of this hike is above tree line and will involve
some rock hopping. As far as rock scrambling is concerned, it really isn’t any more
difficult than doing Old Rag (at least the trails that I’ve been on which is most of
the ones that we will be doing on this trip).
Pinkham Notch Visitors Center & Joe Dodge Lodge
This is a combined dormitory, cafeteria, and equipment store where people stay before
and after their trips to the huts or during day trips in the area. The accommodations
include 2 or 4 person bunk rooms. Common but separate bathrooms with showers are
available. Excess gear must be kept in your car while you are staying in the huts. The
gear store is open until 10:00 PM and carries miscellaneous gear such as thermal
underwear, hats, gloves, maps, guide books, some film and batteries (limited choices),
snack food, some first aid gear, etc.
The Huts
These are primitive and remote mountain huts. The only way to get there is on foot or
via helicopter. All supplies are brought in this way. Each hut can accommodate about 40 to
60 people. While each hut is different, there are normally two coed bunk rooms, with bunks
stacked three or four high. Each wooden bunk includes a mattress, three heavy wool
blankets, and a pillow. There will be separate sex toilets, one per bunk room. Only Mizpah
Hut has flush toilets, all the rest use privies. There is running water at the huts. The
water at the huts can be assumed to be safe to drink, but its always a good idea to ask
first. Fill your water bottles here each day.
All of these huts are “Full Service” meaning we get a hearty, prepared breakfast
and dinner each day. You must provide your own lunch and snacks. It is possible to
“weasel” lunch. The amount of food that they provide is Enormous. You could use
your desert cake or bread or fruit for lunch the next day if you want. Its probably not a
good idea to depend on this every day. You might forget or they might run out of food
(unheard of).
Each full service hut is manned or “womaned” by a four person crew, referred to
as “Da Croo”. Each of them has to pack in 80 to 120 pounds of food per week
(usually in a single trip) and pack out an equivalent amount of garbage. The women have to
carry the same amount as the men. God I love equality. They can make more trips if they
wish - but nobody wants to do that - that would be too easy. Breakfast and dinner trash is
packed out by Da Croo. Your own personal snack and lunch trash is packed out by guess who
? There are no trash cans. They have enough trash to carry, you have to pack out your own.
You can buy some items at the huts: maps, T shirts, thermal underwear, gloves, hats, candy
bars, very limited selection of film and batteries, ear plugs (yes snoring can be a
problem - if you snore please don’t go on this trip). You cannot depend on buying
needed cold weather gear at the next hut - you might not get that far.
Shuttle Vans
There is a shuttle van service provided by AMC which runs around the White Mountain
area surrounding Mt. Washington. This is typically the easiest way to get to and from the
appropriate trailheads from Pinkham Notch.
Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)
The AMC has been in existence since the 1800’s and has an agreement with the
National Park Service (NPS) to run the mountain huts in the White Mountains. I have been
very impressed with them as an organization. They offer a huge number of workshops each
year on outdoor travel, recreation, etc. Most of their activities take place in New
England but they do cover the Mid Atlantic states as well (NY, NJ, EPA, and MD). I did a
five day snowshoeing and backcountry skiing trip with them last March which was beautiful
and exhausting. I will probably be doing a telemark ski workshop with them this winter.
Appalachian Mountain Club (main office)
5 Joy Street
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-0636
Pinkham Notch Visitors Center & Joe Dodge Lodge
POB 298 Gorham, New Hampshire 03581
Hiking & Weather Conditions: 603-466-2725
Reservations: 603-466-2727
Book & Map Sales: 800-262-4455
Because we made our reservations as a group we got the member price at the huts. You do
not need to be a member for this trip. Members do get a 10% discount on their workshops
which will frequently pay for all or most of the annual membership.
Map & Guidebook Options
- AMC White Mountain Guide, 25th ed. + complete set of maps
(1,2,4,5,6,7,8) for the White Mountains, $16.95
- Individual Maps 5 and 6, about $3 to $5 each
- Single Large Map of Mount Washington, $8.95 shows from Lakes of the
Clouds to Pinkham Notch only
- Everyone must have at least maps 5 and 6
- Paper or Tyvek available
Cost
Estimated cost is a maximum of $310, per person, excluding transportation to and from
New Hampshire, lunches, snacks, books & maps, tips, and any required gear that you
don’t currently have.
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