Spring '08 Presidential Traverse

[Scared But Eager]

Wanna do a mid- to late-June traverse, and have been trying to educate myself. Is there a choice between Valley Way and Tuckerman's Ravine on Washington, or is Tuckerman's off the route? Also, what is the best source for route-finding?

Thanks, and good luck to all.

[Bill O]

If you were doing a traditional traverse than Tuckerman Ravine would be out of the way. In addition, the Tuckerman Ravine Trail is often closed (just in the ravine) well into the month of June due to dangerous snow and ice conditions.

Valley Way is at the north end of the route and this is usually the start or end of the trip, depending where you start.

I'm not sure what you mean about route finding. The best guidebook and maps are in the White Mountain Guide. As for actual route finding just follow the trail. They are well marked and generally easy to follow with blazes below tree line and rock cairns above tree line. You only run into route finding problems in the densest of summer fog or winter white outs.

[Brad]

If you were doing a traditional traverse than Tuckerman Ravine would be out of the way.

Bill, what is the traditional traverse route?

[Bill O]

Something connecting Crawfrod Notch to Appalachia, in either direction.

You could certainly put together a traverse that includes Tuckerman Ravine but it would be hard to hit all the Presidentials if that was his goal.

[mtruman]

From our research before our 4-day version last summer (hut to hut rather than the death march) the most common route seems to be Valley Way, Gulfside, Crawford Path (from North to South). Airline is the common alternative to Valley Way. We went back to Crawford via Webster Cliff and Webster-Jackson (rather than straight down the Crawford path) since we spent the last night at Mizpah and hit Webster and Jackson on the way down. You probably wouldn't want to add the extra distance if you are doing it in a day. This is the best site that we found with details of a Presidential Traverse: http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/presidential-traverse.html

You can check out my photos here if you want one set of views of the route. Note that these are not the typical views as we somehow managed to get 4 straight perfect weather days which is pretty much unheard of for the Whites in July. The good news about a one day traverse is that you only need one day of good weather http://picasaweb.google.com/mtruman4...ey=9WiVzzeNIqg

No matter which route you take or how you do it this is an awesome trip. Good luck!

[Brad]

Something connecting Crawfrod Notch to Appalachia, in either direction.

You could certainly put together a traverse that includes Tuckerman Ravine but it would be hard to hit all the Presidentials if that was his goal.

I guess I came pretty close doing this south to north when I was in my teens. I do not recall the trails but we started at Crawford and did all the peaks going north. On a different trip we went from the Kanc just outside of Lincoln to Crawford as a Pemi traverse. All of that area is beautiful.

[Scared But Eager]

Thank you, gentlemen. I kind of suspected Tuckerman's Ravine was not part of the traverse, and that the trail would be well marked. One concern I am hoping to address is forehand knowledge of "escape routes" in the event of mishap - e.g., sprain, break, pull or worse, knock on wood.

[Scared But Eager]

Thanks a lot, Mark. Looks great.

[KD Talbot]

As far as escape routes go, and as far as your route goes for that matter, pick up one of these maps:

http://www.mountwashington.org/store...dcf9b16f406078

If you buy it here it will help out the Obs.

While Tuckerman and Amonoosuc Ravines can be considered escape routes, keep in mind that Huntington Ravine IS NOT!

KDT

[Scared But Eager]

Elevation gain seems like a wash so why north to south? Is it b/c Crawford's an easier way down than Valley Way? And how does Airline compare to Valley Way?