Mt. Washington - Tuckerman Ravine Trail, fire road, bushwhack, Alpine Garden Trail, Lion Head Trail, Nelson Crag Trail, Old Jackson Road - 6-20-2015

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Mt. Washington, NH

	Trails:	Tuckerman Ravine Trail, fire road, bushwhack, Alpine Garden Trail, Lion Head Trail, Nelson Crag Trail, Old Jackson Road

	Date of Hike:	Saturday, June 20, 2015

	Parking/Access Road Notes:

	Surface Conditions:	Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular

	Recommended Equipment:

	Water Crossing Notes:

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	All of the the actual trails were well maintained, now obstructions. Nelson Crag may need a haircut in a couple years.

	Dog-Related Notes:

	Bugs:	Few to speak of anywhere on the hike .

	Lost and Found:


	Comments:	Washington via Raymond Ravine bushwhack, then a descent via Nelson Crag, RGoH party of 4. We found outdated instructions in old AMC WMG editions to not be particularly valuable in helping with the bushwhack. In particular is the problem of how one "counts" the waterfalls (there are 3-10+ depending on how you count them), forest growth change, and the difficulty of seeing where the falls are if you get away from the creek even a short distance (which you'll have to in order to get around the ledges). This is what we did, and were successful and pretty happy with it, about 2 hours bush with a strong group: Beginning at the wooden bridge on the fire road to Harvard Cabin, about 0.1 east of Raymond Path, we ascended the left side of the creek, finding short stretches of herd path to the large 1st cataract (with two runs, 18-20' each) in just a short distance, fairly easy going. We then crossed the brook at the foot of cataract bushed up parallel to the R side of the creek through extremely thick sprawling timber and brush and crossed back over the creek below the 2nd large cataract. We then ascended around some ledges to the L of the creek, again through very thick stuff and turning back at a couple dead ends, eventually coming back to the creek near the 3rd large cataract ("Bridal Veil") with the distinctive overhang ledge. We easily crossed behind the falls under the overhang without getting wet, bushed R and up parallel to the creek (thick brush) to a point above the last big ledge. From there, we bushed straight up the creek bed, passing some long snow patches which covered the creek, staying to the left of the snow bridges. Going along the creek was easy at first then a little more difficult as the brush began to encroach but pleasanter than the surrounding tuckamore hell. We came to a point where there is a very obvious talus slope to the east of the creek, shaped like an upside down 'T.' There were 2 cairns there at the edge of the creek, which we decided to trust, turning right onto the talus, then left uphill on the talus along the trunk of the 'T' and ignoring the horizontal talus straight ahead (the arm of the 'T'). From the top of the talus, it's a tough wade northwesterly through very dense tuckamore just a little over 0.1 to the open alpine zone. From there it's an easy hike over rock and mostly thin brush to the Alpine Garden Trail. Overall: the ledges around the falls are steep and very slippery, we found it best and safest to go around them but keep not far from the creek so as not to miss the falls and opportunities to walk along the edges of flatter ledges and the creek itself where the brush is thinner. I doubt one side of the creek is better than any other--it's all rough and dense and steep. Above the falls, the creek bed is the way to go, though probably not possible in high water (we had moderate summer flow). One of us was wearing sturdy leather boots and did not get wet feet. Keep an eye out for the cairns and talus to the R.--do not follow the creek bed all the way up (or you'll go through much more brush than is good for you). (From the alpine zone, we could see another possible option where a tributary bore L near the last large snowpatch to a semi-open area N of Lion Head--which could be quicker but then again tuckamore always looks friendlier and less dense from a distance!). Strongly recommend long sleeve shirts, pants, hat for head protection, and safety glasses, keep hiking poles tucked tight to pack or don't bring them at all. Even with all that you'll get scrapes. Rest of the hike was fairly tame by comparison, W on Alpine, up Tucks, down Nelson. We started 8:30am, finished around 5.

	Name:	Shoeless Paul

	E-Mail:	pgagnon999@outlook.com

	Date Submitted:	2015-06-20

	Link:	https://meetup.com/random-hikers/events/223048941
		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.