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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Washington, NH
Trails
Trails: Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Huntington Ravine Trail, Nelson Crag Trail, Crawford Path, Southside, Alpine Garden Trail, Lions Head Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, October 12, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking early at Pinkham, but the lot badly overflowed during the day, all along Rt. 16 despite the signs directing folks to where they should park. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The larger ones are on bridges, the smaller ones on the Huntington Ravine Trail were fairly easy rock-hops. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: The turn off of the upper fire road back onto the actual trail proper on the Huntington Ravine Trail wasn't clear, and we ended up cutting back over when we noticed the trail off to the side of the road. Otherwise, no maintenance issues on this route. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: I would NOT take a dog up the headwall of Huntington Ravine. No water above treeline either. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I was asked what trail we should take to Washington, and I proposed Huntington Ravine. Imagine my surprise when I didn't get any disagreement! 2 other Northeast Peakbaggers joined us, and off we went for the toughest of the New Hampshire trails. The climb up the boulders at the start was fun, but took a lot longer than expected. And then was the actual headwall. Scramble after scramble, many with little for hand- or footholds, significant exposure on many, this one lived up to its billing. With teamwork and taking our time, all 4 of us made it up fine, aside from the conk on the head one of us took on a rock outcropping early on the climb (which luckily didn't seem to do as much damage as we initially feared). What a beautiful day for it though! After climbing that headwall, nothing else on the day seemed hard, though the climb down Lions Head was as tedious as I remembered. The summit, as expected, was an absolute zoo. The long line of pushy tourists to get a picture at the sign is ridiculous, so even though we had a Trailwright's 72 finisher and a first-time ascender of Mount Washington with us, we passed on the line and thus the pictures at the sign. What a fun day! Congratulations to Theresa on the finish, and to Erin for an EPIC way to ascend Washington for your first time! Thanks as well to Tom for coming along and using your prior experience on Huntington's Ravine to help us less mountain-goat-like climbers get up this beast!  
Name
Name: madmattd 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-10-13 
Link
Link: https://mattshikes.blogspot.com 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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