Monroe, Washington, and Clay
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May 21, 2016
Katja, Marc, Janet, and I slept in a bit at Parker's Motel as we did not get to bed until 01:00 after the long drive from
Ottawa. Nevertheless, we arrived at the trailhead at 08:30 and started hiking up the Ammonoosuc River in a little bit of a
bleary eyed fashion. A pretty trail wound upwards through the forest and occasionally upon rock slabs along the river. As
we got higher, some sections of the trail were icy and we swapped in and out of spikes for these sections. Ice was melting
quickly in the warm sunshine though, and it should not be too long before the true summer hiking season begins. Once
above treeline, all remnants of ice was gone as we climbed up to the Lakes of the Clouds hut and took a quick break before
climbing the last stretch up to the summit of Monroe. There was hardly a breath of wind so we sat down for a little while
for a sandwich and enjoyed the view. The hike over to Mount Washington was pretty straight forward and we me a lot of
people hiking up here, many of them on the second day of a Presidential Traverse. The summit of Washington was easily won
and we arrvied amongst throngs of people who had taken the train up to the top. We waited in line for a summit photo and
then headed inside the train station in search of beer. No beer was found, but coffee and clam chowder was had for a
substitute. After a long break we continued on along the ridge, with one of the cruxes of the day being a scramble over
the cog railway tracks. Marc and I decided to take a side trip up to the summit of Mt. Clay, while the girls headed down
the Jewell Ridge. After a short scramble, we had our summit, at which point we turned straight down the talus blocks and
made our way back to the trail via the most direct route possible. A while later we caught up to Kat and Janet, after
which the four of us hiked together for the long descent back to the parking lot. Finished the day after about nine hours
with beer and good home cooked food back at Parker's.
Ascending the Ammonoosuc Ravine trail.
One of many pretty waterfalls along the way.
Snowspine, fortunately short lived.
Approaching Lakes of the Clouds hut.
Monroe summit awaits.
Katja's first Presidential summit.
Looking over at Washington, our next goal.
Approaching the junk filled summit of Mount Washington.
Marc and I, highest point in the North-East.
The easy way up was very active today.
Crossing the cog tracks.
Approaching the summit of Clay through a lovely alpine meadow.
Looking back at Washington from the summit of Clay.
Descending the Jewell Ridge at the end of the day.
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