Announcing a new Meetup for Random Group of Hikers!

What: MT JACKSON, PIERCE & EISENHOWER
When: Saturday, September 14,[masked]:30 AM

Where: AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch
Rte 302 (A few hundred feet East of Mt. Clinton Rd)
Bretton Woods, NH 03575

ALL ATTENDEES MUST READ, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE HIKERS RESPONSIBILITY CODE & LIABILITY WAIVER AS OUTLINED ON THIS WEBSITE.

THIS IS AN ADVANCED HIKES. PLEASE KNOW YOUR LIMITS

ALL ATTENDEES WILL MEET IN THE FIREPLACE ROOM OF THE HIGHLAND CENTER

WE WILL NEED TO SPOT CARS AT THE EDMANDS PATH TRAILHEAD

TOTAL DISTANCE IS 10.07 MILES. TIME IS 7 hr 6 min

starting at Webster-Jackson Trailhead 44° 12' 55" 71° 24' 28"
This trail connects US 302 at a small parking area just south of
the Macomber Family Information Center (Crawford Depot) with
the summits of both Mt. Webster and Mt. Jackson. The trail,
blazed in blue, leaves the east side of US[masked] mi. south of the
Crawford Depot and 0.1 mi. north of the Gate of the Notch.
0.10 mi 5 min +67 ft on Webster-Jackson Trail
0.10 mi 5 min +67 ft This trail connects US 302 at a small parking area just south of
the Macomber Family Information Center (Crawford Depot) with
the summits of both Mt. Webster and Mt. Jackson, and provides
the opportunity for an interesting loop trip, because the two
summits are linked by the Webster Cliff Trail. Sections of the
Webster-Jackson Trail are steep and rough.
The trail, blazed in blue, leaves the east side of US 302 between
the Crawford Depot and the Gate of the Notch. It runs through a
clearing, enters the woods, and passes the side path leading right
to Elephant Head. (Elephant Head is an interesting ledge that
forms
the east side of the Gate of the Notch, a mass of gray rock striped
with
veins of white quartz providing a remarkable likeness to an
elephant’s head
and trunk. The path runs through the woods parallel to the
highway at an
easy grade, then ascends across the summit of the knob and
descends 40
yd. to the top of the ledge, which overlooks Crawford Notch and
affords
fine views.)
to the junction of Elephant Head Spur 44° 12' 58" 71° 24' 24"
0.50 mi 29 min +466 ft on Webster-Jackson Trail
0.60 mi 34 min +533 ft The main trail climbs along the south bank of Elephant Head
Brook, well above the stream, then turns right, away from the
brook. Angling up the mountainside roughly parallel to the
highway, nearly level stretches alternating with sharp uphill
pitches, it crosses Little Mossy Brook, and a side path leads right
60 yd. to Bugle Cliff. This is a massive ledge overlooking
Crawford Notch, where the view is well worth the slight extra effort
required; if ice is present, exercise extreme caution.
to the junction of Bugle Cliff spur 44° 12' 44" 71° 24' 05"
0.80 mi 39 min +329 ft on Webster-Jackson Trail
1.40 mi 1 hr 13 min +862 ft The main trail continues climbing across the
slope, with two short descents, then crosses Flume Cascade
Brook. After a mostly gradual ascent, the trail divides within sound
of Silver Cascade Brook, the left branch for Mt. Jackson and the
right for
Mt. Webster.
1.20 mi 1 hr 15 min +1265 ft on Webster-Jackson Trail
2.60 mi 2 hr 28 min +2128 ft The Jackson (left) branch ascends gradually until it comes within
sight of Silver Cascade Brook, then begins to climb moderately
with rough, wet footing. The trail crosses three branches of the
brook in quick succession. A short distance below the base of the
rocky summit cone, it passes Tisdale Spring (unreliable, often
scanty and muddy). The trail soon swings right and ascends steep
ledges, with several fairly difficult scrambles, to the open summit,
where it meets the Webster Cliff Trail.
to Mt Jackson 44° 12' 12" 71° 22' 32"
1.60 mi 57 min -226 ft on Webster Cliff Trail
2
Distance Time Elev
Change
Trail / Waypoint Latitude Longitude
4.20 mi 3 hr 25 min +1902 ft This trail, a part of the AT, leaves the east side of US 302
opposite Willey
House Station Rd., 1.0 mi. south of the Willey House site. The
parking
area is a stop for the AMC Hiker Shuttle. The trail ascends along
the edge
of the spectacular cliffs that form the east wall of Crawford Notch,
passing
numerous viewpoints, then leads over Mts. Webster, Jackson,
and Pierce to
Crawford Path just north of Mt. Pierce. The section of trail
ascending
to Mt. Webster is more difficult and tiring than the statistics would
suggest,
with a number of ledge scrambles interspersed through the ascent
along the top of the cliffs.
The trail leaves the summit of Mt. Jackson toward Mt. Pierce,
following
a line of cairns running north, and descends very steeply over the
ledges
at the north end of the cone into the scrub, then the grade eases.
The trail enters and winds through open alpine meadows with
views of
Mt. Washington and Mt. Jackson, then turns sharply left and
drops into
the woods. The trail continues up and down over a hump along
the ridge
toward Mt. Pierce, then ascends gradually to the jct. with Mizpah
Cutoff, which leads left (west) to Crawford Path.
to the junction of Mizpah Cutoff 44° 13' 09" 71° 22' 15"
0.10 mi 3 min -18 ft on Webster Cliff Trail
4.30 mi 3 hr 28 min +1883 ft Mizpah Spring Hut (where there are also tentsites for
backpackers) is reached, and the Mt. Clinton Trail to the Dry River
valley diverges right (southeast), heading diagonally down the hut
clearing.
to AMC Mizpah Spring Hut 44° 13' 09" 71° 22' 11"
0.80 mi 40 min +494 ft on Webster Cliff Trail
5.10 mi 4 hr 8 min +2377 ft Continuing past
the hut, the trail soon ascends a steep, rough section with two
ladders, and
reaches an open ledge with good views south and west. The
grade
lessens, and after a sharp right turn in a ledgy area, the trail
reaches the
summit of the southwest knob of Mt. Pierce, which affords a view
of the
summit of Mt. Washington. The trail descends into a sag and
ascends easily through scrub to the summit of Mt. Pierce, where it
comes into the open.
to Mt Pierce 44° 13' 37" 71° 21' 57"
0.09 mi 3 min -56 ft on Webster Cliff Trail
5.19 mi 4 hr 11 min +2321 ft It then descends moderately in the open in the same direction
(northeast) about 150 yd. to its junction with Crawford Path.
to the junction of Crawford Path 44° 13' 40" 71° 21' 53"
Due to hazardous conditions (heavy trail and bridge damages) Dry
River Trail is closed until further notice.
entering alpine zone
1.20 mi 51 min +179 ft on Crawford Path
3
Distance Time Elev
Change
Trail / Waypoint Latitude Longitude
6.39 mi 5 hr 2 min +2500 ft This trail is considered the oldest continuously maintained
footpath in the United States. The first section, leading up Mt.
Pierce (Mt. Clinton), was cut in 1819 by Abel Crawford and his
son Ethan Allen Crawford. In 1840, Thomas J. Crawford, a
younger son of Abel, converted the footpath into a bridle path, but
more than a century has passed since it was used regularly for
ascents on horseback. The trail still mostly follows the original
path,
except for the section between Mt. Monroe and Westside Trail,
which was relocated to take Crawford Path off the windswept
ridge and down past the shelter at Lakes of the Clouds. From the
jct. just north of Mt. Pierce to the summit of Mt. Washington,
Crawford Path is part of the AT and is blazed in white.
Caution: Parts of this trail are dangerous in bad weather. Several
lives have been lost on Crawford Path because of failure to
observe proper precautions. Below Mt. Eisenhower, a number of
ledges are exposed to the weather, but they are scattered, and
shelter is usually available in nearby scrub. From the Eisenhower-
Franklin col, the trail runs completely above treeline, exposed to
the full force of all storms. The most dangerous part of the path is
the section on the cone of Mt. Washington, beyond Lakes of the
Clouds Hut. Always carry a compass and study the map before
starting. If trouble arises on or above Mt. Monroe, take refuge at
Lakes of the Clouds Hut or go down Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail.
The Crawford Path is well marked above treeline with large
cairns; in poor visibility, great care should be exercised to stay on
it because many of the other paths in the vicinity are much less
clearly marked. If the path is lost in bad weather and cannot be
found again after diligent effort, one should travel west,
descending into the woods and following streams downhill to the
roads. On the southeast, toward the Dry River valley, nearly all
the slopes are more precipitous, the river crossings are potentially
dangerous, and the distance to a highway is much greater.
The main parking area for the south end of Crawford Path is
located on the west side of Mt. Clinton Rd. 0.1 mi. north of its jct.
with US 302. The former parking lot on US 302 has been closed,
and Crawford Path hikers are requested to use the Mt. Clinton Rd.
lot because the parking spaces at other lots in the area are
needed for the trails that originate from those lots. For historical
reasons, the name Crawford Path continues to be attached
to the old route of the trail that leads directly from US 302, and
the short path that connects Crawford Path to the Mt. Clinton Rd.
parking lot is called Crawford Connector. In the descriptions that
follow, the trail is described from its original trailhead on US 302
across from the Highland Center.
From Mt. Pierce to Mt. Eisenhower, Crawford Path runs through
patches of scrub and woods with many open ledges that give
magnificent views in all directions. Cairns and the marks left by
many feet on the rocks indicate the way.The trail winds about,
heading generally in a northeasterly direction, staying fairly near
the poorly defined crest of the broad ridge, which is composed of
several rounded humps. the trail crosses a small stream in the
col, then ascends mostly on ledges to the jct. with Mt. Eisenhower
Loop, which diverges left. The trip over this summit adds only 0.2
mi. and 300 ft. of climbing and provides excellent views in good
weather.
to the junction of Mt Eisenhower Loop 44° 14' 14" 71° 21' 03"
0.40 mi 23 min +353 ft on Mt Eisenhower Loop
6.79 mi 5 hr 25 min +2853 ft This short trail parallels Crawford Path, climbing over the bare, flat
summit of Mt. Eisenhower, which provides magnificent views. In
2009 the AMC trail crew installed new wooden steps and ladders
on the trail.
Mt. Eisenhower Loop diverges from its southern junction with
Crawford Path at the south edge of the summit dome, climbs
easily, then turns sharply left in a flat area and ascends steadily to
the summit.
to Mt Eisenhower 44° 14' 26" 71° 21' 01"
0.38 mi 11 min -330 ft on Mt Eisenhower Loop
7.17 mi 5 hr 36 min +2523 ft From there, it descends moderately to a ledge overlooking Red
Pond (more a bog than a pond), then drops steeply by
switchbacks over ledges, and passes through a grassy sag just to
the left of Red Pond. It climbs briefly to a junction left with
Edmands Path.
to the junction of Edmands Path 44° 14' 33" 71° 20' 42"
4
Distance Time Elev
Change
Trail / Waypoint Latitude Longitude
2.90 mi 1 hr 30 min -2405 ft on Edmands Path
10.07 mi 7 hr 6 min +117 ft Edmands Path climbs to Mt. Eisenhower Loop near its junction
with Crawford Path in the Eisenhower-Franklin col. This trail
provides the shortest route to the summit of Mt. Eisenhower and a
relatively easy access to the middle portion of Crawford Path and
the Southern Presidentials. The last 0.2-mi. segment before it
joins Mt. Eisenhower Loop and Crawford Path is very exposed to
northwest winds and, although short, can create a serious
problem in bad weather. The ledgy brook crossings in the upper
part of the trail can be treacherous in icy conditions. Though
erosion has made the footing noticeably rougher in recent years,
the trail retains what is probably the most moderate grade and
best footing of any comparable trail in the Presidential Range.
From Mt. Eisenhower Loop, a few yards from Crawford Path,
Edmands Path crosses the nose of a ridge in the open on a
footway paved with carefully placed stones. It then enters the
scrub and contours around the north slope of Mt. Eisenhower at a
nearly level grade, even ascending slightly, affording excellent
views out through a fringe of trees. It descends a short, steep
rocky pitch, crosses a small brook running over a ledge, and
descends to pass through a tiny stone gateway. The trail angles
down the mountainside on a footway supported by extensive rock
cribbing. It descends steadily, undulating down the west ridge of
Mt. Eisenhower, carefully searching out the most comfortable
grades. After a long descent, the trail crosses a wet area and
merges to the right with an old logging road. It turns sharp left to
cross Abenaki Brook on a bridge and runs nearly level across two
small brooks to the trailhead.
to Edmands Path Trailhead 44° 14' 57" 71° 23' 28"
The Edmands Path climbs to the Mt. Eisenhower Loop near its
junction with the Crawford Path in the Eisenhower-Franklin col,
starting from a parking lot on the east side of the Mt. Clinton Rd.
2.3 north of its junction with US 302 and 1.5 mi. south of its
junction with Base Rd. and Jefferson Notch Rd.
10.07 mi 7 hr 6 min +117 ft Totals

Check it out!