| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Washington, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Cog Railway Maintenance Road, Gulfside Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, September 15, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Huge lot, $10 daily fee. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No water until Observatory. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Another stellar day for the Whites and any peaks, I hope everyone reading this was able to get out and enjoy today. The Cog parking lot was about half full at 8:30, and there's a $10 fee for daily land use which is fair enough. I'd originally planned to go up Jewell Trail but on the drive up the Base Station Road I decided to do something crazier so I started slogging up the sand/dirt/semi-gravel road parallel to the Cog - I spent the first half hour of my climb sliding back about a third of each step up, this was with only one pole so hate to think how hard it would have been without any. The first decent place for a stop-and-snack is at Waumbek Station at 3800', so that's 1100' feet so far - the rest of the trail is a slightly less straight-up than the bottom portion, but that first real pitch was grueling. The traction was better a little closer to the tracks - less sand, cinder and scraps of metal - but footing started getting more attention-worthy as elevation is gained, and although the larger rocks are as secure as anything higher up, lots of ankle-rolling potential with the sand/debris underfoot. However, about a third or so from summit the Observatory's tower structures come into view on the right, which was a great psychological boost. Steepest part was definitely at Jacob's Ladder (37 degrees) but if you're made it this far you're through the real mess. This trail soon joins Gulfside Trail for another half-mile or so hike to the summit, and what a day to be up there - sunny panorama with trace clouds, minimal wind, temps unseasonably balmy and spectacular views for great pics - sorry I can't post them, I'm not tech savvy. Maybe 70 folks on top, 2 AT NOBO's passing by while I was there and one doggie who'd been to over to Clay and was going to get a ride down on the Cog. The hike down was a piece of cake on the sandier surface, but no shade on way up or down and of course no water. The second hiking pole would have helped downward since my feet slid out a few times but it was essentially a cruise down by any standards. Took me only 2 1/2 hours up, an hour on top, then 2 hours down - what a way to celebrate my 66th birthday and also bag my 25th 4000 footer of the year, even if half of those were repeats. But then again, repeating summits is often the best thing about them! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING A DOG ON THIS TRAIL - paw-shredding terrain, no water, no shade and no point. |
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 | Bugs: |
Nada |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing |
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 | Comments: |
I can't wait to see how much more great weather Mother Nature allows us this autumn - ENJOY, ALL! |
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 | Name: |
JIVEHONKY |
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 | E-Mail: |
jivehonkey@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-09-15 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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