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SCWDC Hut Trip - Daily Hiking Itinerary
No one should leave the hut in the morning until after they have listened to the weather report on the radio. If the weather is good and the forecast is for continued good weather, you can choose an optional route if you wish. Please tell Frank or me where you are planning on going. If the weather is bad or the forecast is for bad weather, we will hike as a group, most likely taking the easiest route. All trail times are taken from the guidebook and are estimates only.
We will climb from lower elevations through different zones until we reach the alpine zone. Each will have its own unique vegetation. One distinct type is the krummholz or "crooked wood" zone. Stunted, gnarled trees will grow along the ground or in the wind shadow of rocks. An excellent reference is the AMC’s Field Guide to the New England Alpine Summits by Stack and Bell.
You will need to use your maps with this itinerary.
Sunday 9/7/97 to Galehead Hut
Longitude 71d 33' 54" West (for GPS receivers) Latitude 44d 11' 16" North
Ride the shuttle to the Galehead Hut trailhead. There is only room for 12 people on the shuttle; the remaining 3 will have to go by car.
via FR 304 (preferred)
Follow North Twin Trail to the top of North Twin Mt. Turn left onto North Twin Spur and follow to the top of South Twin Mt. Turn right onto Twinway/AT, and follow to the hut. This trail crosses the Little River three times. If high water, the first two of three river crossings can be very difficult. You can avoid the first two by staying on the East bank and bushwhacking along the river.
From the trailhead: North Twin Trail 4.3 mi., 3 hr 40 min North Twin Spur Trail 1.3 mi., 50 min Twinway Trail/AT to hut 0.8 mi., 1 hr
Total 6.4 mi., 5 hr 30 min, +3000 ft
alternate via FR 92
We will only use this trail if the other is deemed to be too difficult due to high water. The FR 304 trailhead should be a more interesting hike.
Gale River Trail 4.0 mi., 2 hr 50 min Garfield Ridge Trail 0.6 mi., 35 min
Total 4.6 mi., 3 hr 25 min, +3350 ft
Monday 9/8/97 to Zealand Falls Hut
Longitude 71d 29' 34" West Latitude 44d 11' 44" North
From the Galehead Hut head East on Twinway/AT and climb South Twin Mt.. From here turn right (SE) toward Mt. Guyot. Stay on Twinway/AT as it bears left (NE). Follow Twinway/AT to Zealand Falls Hut, passing several trail junctions along the way.
From Galehead: Stay on Twinway/AT the whole way
Twinway/AT to South Twin Summit: 0.8 mi., 1 hr To Bondcliff Trail: 2.0 mi., 1 hr 5 min To Zealand Mt. Summit Spur: 1.3 mi., 45 min To Zeacliff Trail: 1.6 mi., 50 min To Zealand Falls Hut: 1.3 mi., 40 min
Total 7.0 mi., 4 hr 20 min, -2700 ft
Tuesday 9/9/97 to Mizpah Hut
Longitude 71d 22' 11" West Latitude 44d 13' 11" North
From Zealand Falls Hut there is a choice of routes to Mizpah Hut.
Via A to Z - Crawford Path Route
The eastern end of the A-Z trail may be renamed to Avalon Trail, and go all the way to 302. Crawford Path is supposedly the oldest continuously maintained footpath in America. The people who did this route last year said it took much longer, and while it was the easier route, it wasn't easy.
Twinway/AT East from the hut 0.2 mi., 10 min Zealand Trail 0.2 mi., 10 min A-Z Trail to Crawford Notch 3.8 mi., 2 hr 30 min US 302 0.2 mi., 10 min Crawford Path 1.7 mi., 1 hr 20 min Mizpah Cutoff 0.7 mi., 30 min
Total 6.8 mi., 4 hr 45 min, -900 ft, +2900 ft
Via Eathan Pond - Webster Cliff Route
Cross 302 at Willey House Station, not Willey House Site. This is a very beautiful, very difficult hike. It's a real gut buster. After hiking a relatively easy 7 miles in the morning you will climb continuously and very steeply for at least 4.5 hours. This hike is the equivalent of doing Old Rag and White Oak Canyon in the same day with a heavy pack.
Twinway/AT East from the hut 0.2 mi., 10 min Eathan Pond Trail/AT 7.2 mi., 3 hr 45 min Follow to Willey House Station Cross RR tracks, follow road to US 302 0.3 mi., 10 min Cross US 302, Webster Cliff Trail/AT 6.4 mi., 4 hr 30 min Follow to Mizpah Hut
Total 14.1 mi., 8 hr 35 min, -900 ft, +2900 ft
Wednesday 9/10/97 to Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Longitude 71d 19' 08" West Latitude 44d 15' 32" North
From Mizpah Springs Hut to Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Webster Cliff Trail/AT NE to Crawford Path 0.9 mi., 35 min Crawford Path to Lakes of the Clouds Hut 3.9 mi., 2 hr 30 min
Total 4.8 mi., 3 hr 5 min, +1235 ft
This is a beautiful hike, mostly above tree line. Weather permitting we will do a half day hike up to Mt. Washington after lunch at the hut.
Thursday 9/11/97 to Madison Hut
Longitude 71d 16' 58" West Latitude 44d 19' 39" North
From Lakes of the Clouds Hut to Madison Springs Hut
Crawford Path/AT to Westside Trail/AT 0.9 mi., 50 min Westside/AT to Gulfside Trail/AT 1.0 mi., 40 min Gulfside Trail/At to Madison Springs Hut 5.0 mi., 3 hr 30 min
Total 6.9 mi., 5 hr, -200 ft
This hike is totally above tree line. The indicated trails ultimately lead directly to the hut. You will pass two cabins about half a mile or more off the left side of the trail. Do not go to the cabins. Also a large portion of this hike will involve rock hopping through the felsenmeer or "sea of jagged rocks". We will do a half-day hike after lunch at the hut.
If you weren't able to hike to Mt. Washington on the previous day you could do it today. Although I would prefer to do the half-day hike around Madison Hut, where there are lots of trails. If so you will stay on the Crawford Path until it intersects with the Gulfside Trail, and skip the Westside shortcut.
Friday 9/12/97 to Pinkham Notch
Longitude 71d 15' 13" West Latitude 44d 15' 23" North
From Madison Springs Hut back to Pinkham Notch via a choice of routes.
Via Osgood Trail/AT
Osgood Trail/At to Osgood Cutoff/AT 3.0 mi., 3 hr 5 min Osgood Cutoff/AT to Madison Gulf/AT 0.5 mi., 15 min Madison Gulf Trail/AT to Old Jackson Rd/AT 2.3 mi., 1 hr 10 min Old Jackson Rd./AT 1.8 mi., 1 hr 15 min
Total 7.6 mi., 5 hr 45 min, -2787 ft
Via Star Lake Trail
Star Lake Trail / Buttress Trail 2.1 mi., 1 hr 50 min Six Husbands Trail 0.6 mi., 25 min Wamsutta Trail 1.7 mi., 2 hr Alpine Garden trail 0.3 mi., 10 min Nelson Craig Trail 2.2 mi., 2 hr Old Jackson Rd. 1.8 mi., 1 hr 15 min
Total 8.7 mi., 7 hr 40 min, -1760, +2260, -3294 ft
Saturday 9/13/97
Drive home, or if you didn't get enough hiking, do a day hike up to Mt. Washington or some other location. Mt. Washington is a 4300-ft gain hike from Pinkham. If you're staying another day, you will have to make a reservation for Saturday night somewhere; it's not included in the trip.
Hiking Above Tree Line
When hiking above tree line, you will be totally exposed to the weather. You must have protective clothing with you. To successfully deal with high wind and cold temperatures you must stay as dry as possible.
The trail will be blazed with paint blazes in some places and rock cairns in others. If you are hiking in fog proceed carefully. Stop at all intersections, read the signs if you can find them, check your map and compass; then proceed.
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