Summary

This loop hike is one of the most exciting and challenging hikes in the Whites! This is 2 of 3 hikes we’ll be doing as part of the Denali Challenge.

We’ll start hiking up the Tripyramids at 9AM from the Livermore Road trailhead using the Mount Tripyramid loop trail with its north and south slides. That said, if everyone who signs up can get a mountain bike, we’ll ride up to the official start which will save us time and get to ride down! Thus, we’ll start an hour later at 10AM.

We would be mountain biking on a wide logging road so you don’t have to be expert mountain biker. We rarely mountain bike. This is not single track. They rent mountain bikes at the Waterville Valley Town Square. [Note that if you ride a mountain bike it will not count if you plan on doing this hike to count towards completing your 4,000 footers.] Don’t feel pressured to get a mountain bike, we’ll be OK with walking it but we’ve found its more fun cutting the distance walking by using a mountain bike. We hide our mountain bikes and pick them up once we loop back for the exhilarating ride down!

The slides offer the best views…the Middle Peak has a fine outlook!  It’s an 11 mile loop where we climb up the three Tripyramids, North Peak [4180], Middle Peak [4140], and South Peak [4100]. Elevation gain is 3,000 feet. Some hikers will be uncomfortable on the North Slide. We scramble up exposed slabs requiring liberal use of hands. Once we reach the ridge, we’ll hike up the three mountains and descend down the gravelly South Slide.

This is our second hike on our quest to complete the Waterville Valley based challenge where we hike five 4,000 footers [non-4,000 footers allowed] equaling 20,000 feet (Denali is at 20,328') claiming the title "Alive after five"!

Waterville Valley’s proximity to some of New England’s highest peaks makes it a great hiking destination.  With more than a dozen 4,000-foot peaks surrounding Waterville Valley, hikers are being challenged to climb five of them in a single weekend [non-4,000 footers and six is allowed] in a fun hiking event known as the Denali 5 Summit Challenge.

In order to meet this challenge, we will be hiking Welch [2605’] and Dickey [2724’] on Friday; the three Tripyramids, North Peak [4180], Middle Peak [4140], and South Peak [4100] on Saturday. On Sunday we’ll finish with a hike up to Snows Mountain [2800’].  

If you would like to join us on this challenge, sign up for all three hikes we have posted for this weekend. There is no fee to participate in the Denali Challenge. Pre-registration is recommended but not required. Please e-mail jcobbett @ waterville.com to pre-register.  Registration is from 6-8PM on Friday in the Town Square next to the info booth. Hikers will receive a welcome goody bag and hiker card.

On Sunday, after we hiked up Snows Mountain, we will turn in our finished cards at the Info Booth in Town Square. 

You will need to be prepared with sturdy hiking boots, at least 2-3 liters of water, lunch, snacks, bug spray, rain gear, and other clothing appropriate for the weather. No blue jeans, cotton shirts/sweaters, etc.

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house [with Wi Fi] near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday night and/or Saturday night if you choose to participate in the Denali Challenge. It’s $25 for Friday night and $35 for Saturday that includes dinner. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. Space is limited so email ASAP to reserve a bunk!

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

The trailhead is at the large parking area for Livermore Road [Depot Camp], near junction of West Branch Road and Tripoli Road near Waterville Valley. From NH 49, 10.3 miles from Exit 28 off I-93, turn Left onto ski area access road and in 1.2 miles turn Right onto Tripoli Road. In another 0.6 mile turn Right onto West Branch Road, cross bridge, and bear Left into parking area. We’ll be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.