Trip/Event Location: Crawford Notch, NHUS
Trip Leader(s): Gandalf , JDNnh
Max # People: 15
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Strenuous
Trail cuts through miles of ridgetop boreal forest, popping out for excellent vistas! We will hike up and back on the Webster Cliff Trail [Appalachian Trail] to reach the summit of Mt. Webster [3,901'
Take I-93 North to exit 35, take US 3 north, make a right onto US 302 [traffic light], drive past Mt. Washington Hotel and AMC Highland Center, and reach trailhead about 1 mile south of Willey House Recreation Area. We are driving a blue FJ Cruiser.
We began this trip at 10am on a Saturday morning. The day began with ominous clouds but the sun broke through with great windy weather for the entire day. After a quick meet and greet the group began an ardous ascent up to the ridge. With much huffing and puffing we got to our first ledge with wonderful expansive dramatic views down into Crawford Notch.
The mountains were splayed out in spendor. We could pick out Mt Carrigain, Mt Willy, Chocorua, The Twins and Bondcliffs. A happy lot we were! On the ridge we were buffeted with 30 mph winds. AHHH, so cool and refreshing on this 90 degree day.
The trail cuts through borreal forest and pops out on ledge vistas along the ascent to Mt Wesbster. This included testing our scrambling skills up steep rocky chimneys. We reached Mt Webster at 1:30pm. We had a late lunch and as luck would have it some hunky Appalachian Trail through hikers came by - Oh-La-la, what eye candy! (See Pictures)
After lunch we packed it up and retraced our steps back to our cars for a total of 6.3 miles and a 2700 foot elevation gain for the day. Most of us headed back to Waterville Valley for a swim in the Mad River, a well deserved meal and some cold libations.
Outdoor Fitness Level: Very Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Easy to Moderate
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate
