| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Washington, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Lion Head Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 22, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Not as crowded Sunday as it was Saturday for Seek the Peak. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lion Head Trail is a rough descent. The scrub belt west of the Alpine Garden junction is gnarly more often than not and easy to trip or get cuts in the ankles and shins. The very rough terrain above that belt and especially ascending to Lion Head make this trail much preferable for ascent. Tuckerman's is beautifully kept and such a beautiful trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A good number of dogs out, and all seemed happy. Tuckerman's would be a much better route for dogs, as there is water to the top of the headwall. Lion Head is pretty dry past the Winter Route junction. |
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 | Bugs: |
Non-existent until about 5:30 pm. Some pesky bugs starting in the upper reaches of the Lion Head trail descending, with a good amount of bug activity on the Tuckerman trail after rejoining from Lion Head. Shooable, but annoying - didn't wear or bring spray. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
A few articles of clothing along the way, usually left in prominent places, in hopes of reclaim. I found a bag of little carrots at Tuckerman Junction and scarfed them up - trail magic! |
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 | Comments: |
My first time up Tuckerman, and I have a new favorite trail. So wondrous and gorgeous, and it just kept getting better the higher you climbed. Boott Spur is so much prettier from the upper reaches of the summit cone ascent than it is from below, looks grand from about 5900'.
Descent via Lion Head was anti-climactic, partly, I'm sure, b/c I was pretty whupped from the ascent, partly, too, b/c it is a very rough trail in most places, with a brief respite between Alpine Garden and the Head itself. A couple of the scrambles were quite daunting - it's remarkable to me that the trail guidebooks go on about how difficult the Ammo Trail is, especially on descent - and it is, I agree - but don't similarly stress the roughness and difficulty of some of Lion Head's scrambles. I'd rate it a significantly more difficult trail than Ammo.
In any event, this was a beautiful day with pretty clear views to 50 miles in most directions and the ability to make out, somewhat faintly, mountains to about 75 miles. I couldn't get over how beautiful Tuck's is - it deserves its reputation and I can see why it's by a good margin the post popular hike up the mountain - I'll be back many times, for sure, good fortune allowing. It was a fine end to a very nice Seek the Peak weekend. |
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 | Name: |
Chris Stratton/Driver 8 |
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 | E-Mail: |
christratton@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-07-23 |
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 | Link: |
 https://facebook.com/arkie.in.ct |
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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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