Sunrise

Mount Washington Sunrise Hike 2022

“You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.” Rene Daumal

Meeting at 12:30am at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, we began our journey via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. Head lamps were needed as the moon was barely seen over the Carter Moriah Range. Maintaining a steady pace, we made excellent time as the we reached Hermit Lake in about an hour. There in silence we refilled water, snacked, star gazed and prepared for the headwall of the ravine.

Climbing the head wall was amazing as the sky began to lighten enough to make out the head wall, Wildcat Mountain, The Lion’s Head and The Boott Spur. The waterfall on the headwall was deafening, and the presence of the wind became noticeable. With our head lamps we could see many flowers that, had gone by in southern regions, were now just blooming. It almost felt like we were stepping back in time. Once the steepest portion of the hike was done, we crossed over the ravine falls and crested the rim following a very wet trail (steady flow of run off). The last portion of the accent was climbing the mountain’s cone up to the auto road. Walking up the long stairs to the observation building, Cog Railroad and Auto Road staging areas and the summit itself was like walking into a ghost town. No one was around. The summit was silent! No lines of tourists, not intercoms with announcements, or train whistles. Just the wind. The sky was clear and the stars were amazing.

At the summit we changed into drier gear. Camp stoves came out and began to boil water for tea, coffee, and food. The sky quickly lightened and right on time the sun rose. Bright red and illuminating the summit, the Alpine Garden, and the Great Gulf slowly appeared. Low areas near the rivers had fog but otherwise the surrounding summits were clear.

Shortly after sunrise we began our decent back to the world below. The hike down with natural lighting was much easier. We crossed to the Lion’s Head and then down to Hermit Lake. As we entered the tree line the human traffic began. Once we returned to the Tuckerman Trail, scores of hikers were making the trek up. All shocked that we had already been up and were returning.

This was a great adventure. We were able to see life on the trail from a different, an enlightening, perspective. A great challenge with amazing sites. The best part of all was the awesome group of travelers.

See you at the next trail junction

nhclimber03264

Sorry but do to Scheduling conflict the dat eof this hike has been changed to August 20, all other details remain the same.

Mt Washington: elevation (highest point) 6,288ft, distance to highest is 4.2 miles, total trip distance 7.34 miles.

For Trail descriptions refer to the AMC guidebook or attached ALLTRAILS link.

http://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/mount-washington-sunrise-loop-04ecb1f

This trip is considered STRENOUS.

• AT NIGHT (HEADLAMP REQUIRED)
• Steep grade
• Consistent and steady pace
• Distance/elevation
• Not advised for first time hikers

Group will meet at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center 12:30 am and depart up the trail at 1 am SHARP. Sunrise is at 5:45am (Full Moon on August 11th 2022)

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74505

PREPARATION/WHAT TO BRING: White Mountains can have unpredictable and extreme weather changes year-round. It is recommended that hikers have extra dry clothing and wind protection. Always have water and food. If you need suggestions on what to bring, PLEASE ASK!!

It is also highly recommended to bring a BLISTER KIT (DIY kits online).

For this trip it is important to bring along flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor.

Group Size It is not fun leaving folks out of trips.

• If you cannot attend, PLEASE cancel so others may join.
• If you are on the waiting list, please contact me days prior to the trip, most likely there is room and if needed this trail will allow us to break the group into two smaller groups.
• Dogs are the FULL responsibility of the owner and cannot interfere with the hike or the participants. This hike may not be ideal for dogs because of other dogs and hikers.
• This trail is narrow and steep. It is up to the owner. A leash (close at hand) is highly recommended (also required in WMNF).

Decreasing the impact to the environment is always a priority! Please plan to “carry in and carry out” all items. It may also be possible to collect other hikers’ debris along the way.

Weather: If weather is a concern any updates or cancellation information will be posted by the Thursday prior by 6pm. If there is a cancellation, it will include a rescheduled date so participants can watch for that opportunity.  For the current weather on this hike use the following link: www.mountwashington.org

Safety is a priority! Any time a hiker is injured or lost a HUGE team of volunteers is dispatched to aid in the search and rescue efforts. No one wants to be injured or put other in harms way. Always be prepared. Know your limits. Any questions feel free to contact the hike leader.

Group will meet at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center 12:30 am and depart up the trail at 1 am SHARP.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74505

Because of trip preparation the trip leader is unable to provide a ride for this trip.

There are a variety of OVERNIGHT accommodations in the local area. Contact hike leader if you need details. Any group overnight accommodations will be posted if available.