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| Descending from Mt. Madison, APC and morning frost in distance |
It was a cold night but we got through it... Gotta "drop a tent" in Madison Hut.
Looking out the window, we found that the last remnants of the cold front that dampened our Presidential Range traverse the day before was greeting us on the morning of our last day in Whites. We skipped out of Madison Spring hut just after breakfast in order to beat the rush of other hikers up the Osgood Trail to the peak of nearby Mt. Madison. Intending to go up and over the summit and return to the car via the Watson Path, we bore full backs to the summit -- packs made even heavier by yesterday's wet clothes and jackets.
Although the forecast for the day was a return to beautiful sunny weather in the valley below, the early hours at higher elevation saw very cold temperatures and high winds. Having packed wisely, we each still had a full set of dry, warm gear to wear during the ascent. We rock-hopped over frost-covered boulders up to the summit, relying on dry wool socks on our hands because our mittens and gloves, unfortunately, were still soaked. At the top, we realized that the winds were blowing from the north. A descent via the Watson Path would have us descending into the wind over slippery rocks for a 1/2 mile or more. Not a good idea.
Thus, we decided to retrace our steps back to the hut and descend via the tree-covered Valley Way.
Would have been a lot easier had we just stowed our packs and done a quick up and back of the summit without 50 lbs on our backs. Oh well.
Peak: Mount Madison
Elevation: 5,367 feet (Gain from hut: 542 feet)
Distance: 1 mile round trip to summit (+ 3.7 mile descent back to car)
Route: Osgood Trail, Valley Way
Conditions: Party sunny, windy, 30 degrees F
Looking out the window, we found that the last remnants of the cold front that dampened our Presidential Range traverse the day before was greeting us on the morning of our last day in Whites. We skipped out of Madison Spring hut just after breakfast in order to beat the rush of other hikers up the Osgood Trail to the peak of nearby Mt. Madison. Intending to go up and over the summit and return to the car via the Watson Path, we bore full backs to the summit -- packs made even heavier by yesterday's wet clothes and jackets.
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| Huddled for breakfast in a chilly Madison Spring Hut |
Thus, we decided to retrace our steps back to the hut and descend via the tree-covered Valley Way.
Would have been a lot easier had we just stowed our packs and done a quick up and back of the summit without 50 lbs on our backs. Oh well.
Peak: Mount Madison
Elevation: 5,367 feet (Gain from hut: 542 feet)
Distance: 1 mile round trip to summit (+ 3.7 mile descent back to car)
Route: Osgood Trail, Valley Way
Conditions: Party sunny, windy, 30 degrees F
