1st Time Climbing Mt. Washington Part 2

[Breeze]

Yep. +/- 22 miles Round Trip via Great Gulf Wilderness. Isn't that what you wanted? Something with an overnight?
Don't ask us here to make it easy for you. It isn't easy even from Hermit Lake, at 8.4 miles, but the routes from Hermit Lake have all the steeps within a day trip, even if you want a tent site/overnite option.

You need to corroborate < on your own> the advice being given here. None of us are lying or mis-representing the challenges . Only you can prepare yourself for where you want to go and what you want to accomplish.

Breeze

[Brad]

Here is a view of Tuckerman Ravine headwall from the top of Lion Head. The Headwall is behind me - the waterfalls can be seen just to the right of me. To the right of the waterfalls is the trail that cuts way over to the right side of the headwall - then zigs back towards the waterfalls (where I took the prior picture) and then up to the ridge. Checking a topo map will show you how steep it is where the trail goes.



This picture was end of July last year. As soon as we got above treeline the wind picked up and it was cold when we stopped.

[mtruman]

The Tucks headwall looks a lot tougher from Brads picture than it is. We went down that way last year (up Lion Head). It's basically like a long set of very steep steps. Nothing technical. This is still a very physically demanding hike if you aren't used to going up and down mountains (and if you legs/knees aren't in good shape down can be tougher than up). Best thing is to get out and hike some smaller mountains first to see how you do. Lots of people do Mt Washington every year so don't get scared off - just get ready.

Here's one more picture of the route mid way down the headwall (with a couple of the folks from here on the way down with us) last year to give you a little better perspective. Pics from complete hike are here if you're interested: http://picasaweb.google.com/mtruman4...eat=directlink

[FisherCat]

Also, don't feel you have to go in and out on the same route. Feel free to mix it up a bit. My wife, though already a hiker, did her first ascent of W when we went up through the Great Gulf, up the headwall and summited, then used a combo of Nelson Crag Trail and Wamsutta Trail to drop back down into the Gulf and exited on the Great Gulf Trail from there. Wamsutta is an awesome, wild & rugged trail, but lots of fun. (this was some time ago, but I believe its in the 16-18 mile range round trip)

[climbabout]

so it seems like everyone is saying the great gulf trail is the one i would wanna do considering camping in the woods and getting up to the summit? u said it climbs really steep at a certain point but is it do able for us? anyways i think great gulf looks like a hit. im going to talk with my friends and try to figure if maybe they wanna take a direct aprroach to climbing the mountain rather than going on this epic journey it seems like great gulf will be lol.

My posts stated that I thought the legal camping sites in the great gulf would be a great experience on their own - but the trail after the campsites is EXTREMELY steep and I would NOT recommend summiting via this route for a first timer or with a heavy pack. The trail that I said was very doable was tuckerman ravine - that is your best option for camping (at hermit lake shelters - just below the ravine) and then leaving your camping gear at hermit lake and summiting via tuckerman ravine trail.
Tim

[rockin rex]

This post has enteries from some of the folks that know this mountain better than most. I myself have camped in the great Gulf many times and have hiked every trail out of there up to the ridge. There is NO EASY trail out of the Great Gulf. Some the the steepest trails in the Whites leave from the Great Gulf up to the Ridge with the Great Gulf trail up over the headwall being the steepest. Believe me you don't want to carry full packs up the Great Gulf trail unless you are in Awesome Shape and very experienced. From what it looks like, you guys want to be able to camp by yourselves and climb Washington. Tuck's is your best bet but if your set on going into the great Gulf than just base camp. That is the way that I always do it. Set up a base camp on a LEGAL site in the Great gulf and then just day pack it to the summit and back. This gives you MANY options on which trail to ascend and descend. My thought with your experience would be to ascend via the Wamsuttea and to descend via the Spinx. With day packs this is a very nice loop (in good weather) You DO NOT want to descend via the Great Gulf Trail. This post is full of EXCELLENT information. Don't camp illegal. You will get a ticket.

[Pawtown]

does anyone have a good informative picture of the great gulf's headwall?

[climbabout]

does anyone have a good informative picture of the great gulf's headwall?

Here's the best on I can find.
Tim

[rockin rex]

Picture pretty much sums it up. The trail goes straight up towards where the cog smoke is. As can be seen from the picture it is Extremely steep!!

[Pawtown]

ok this headwall looks very intimidating...WOWZERS! i got some other pics also from googling...damnnn...now lemme get this straight when ur climbing the headwall its pretty much like slowly walking level to level in a crack going up the mountain...no ropes or cliff climbing is needed right?