A Mt Jefferson Try in January

I actually wished to climb Mt Jefferson (5712′) this month, however some issues are extra vital than bagging a peak. Many people associate up on probably harmful hikes, particularly above treeline, however when push involves shove, are you keen to show round and hike out in case your associate calls it a day and wishes to show round?

My mountaineering associate and I had been monitoring a possible climate window for Mt Jefferson for just a few days. Single-digit temperatures had been forecast, however we all know the best way to costume for excessive chilly within the White Mountains (NH). The issue is the wind and wind chill, particularly on Mt Jefferson which is all the time very windy. Jefferson is adjoining to Mt Washington within the northern Presidential Vary and the prevailing wind blows in from the northwest, proper into your face, alongside our supposed route.

The climate window we had been monitoring confirmed winds dropping all the way down to 25-30 mph on Friday afternoon, which is on the excessive finish of my most popular wind velocity vary (in winter), however nonetheless doable. When you stand up to 40 mph, the wind makes it troublesome to stroll and may blow floor snow round creating whiteout situations. It is advisable placed on a balaclava and ski goggles for face safety, lest you get frost nip or frostbite on uncovered pores and skin.

The primary winter path to Jefferson includes climbing the Jewell Path previous treeline to its junction with the Gulfside Path. From there, you comply with Gulfside north, cross the Monticello Garden, and climb up the Jefferson Loop Tr to the summit. The entire spherical journey hike distance (ranging from the Cog’s hiker lot) is 9 miles with 4150′ of elevation acquire. In actuality, it’s more durable than that as a result of the hike requires 4 miles of above-treeline publicity, which in winter, means hazard. When you get harm or disoriented within the fog, nobody goes to come back for you for a very long time.

The day of the hike, we met at 7:30 on the Cog’s hiker lot which costs an extortionist amount of cash, $10 per particular person to park – not $10 per automotive. We pay it as a result of it shaves 2 miles off the route. We suited up and headed out rapidly, conscious of the truth that we wished to get again beneath treeline earlier than darkish. The temperature on the vehicles was 6 levels and about 8″ of dry powdery snow had fallen within the previous days. There hadn’t been any journey experiences posted on NewEnglandTrailConditions concerning the trails we deliberate to hike, so we introduced snowshoes as a result of we anticipated we must break path as much as treeline.

My mountaineering associate and I’ve been mountaineering collectively for over a yr and in two winters, so I knew she was strong. We’ve a simple rapport and I belief her judgement. We each knew going into this hike that there was a 50-50 probability we’d flip round due to deep snow, excessive wind, or chilly temperatures. We mentioned it however determined to present it a shot anyway. We’re each making an attempt to complete the White Mountains 4000-footer grid and must summit Jefferson in January since we’ve climbed it not less than as soon as in each different month of the yr.

We hiked as much as the stream crossing initially of our route which crosses the headwaters of the Ammonosuc River to get to the beginning of the Jewell Spur Path. It’s not signed anymore, however this facet path results in the Jewell Path. I do know it nicely as a result of I was the USFS volunteer path maintainer for it.

Nobody had crossed the stream for a while and there weren’t any tracks to comply with. So I placed on my snowshoes and appeared for the thickest ice, hoping it will maintain me, as I crossed. Snowshoes assist on this circumstance as a result of they assist unfold your weight over a wider floor space. I gingerly stepped ahead listening for a telltale crack, however the ice held and I made it throughout safely. My associate adopted my footsteps and shortly we had been snowshoeing by way of the woods to the Jewell Path Junction.

We instantly began having the break path in powder. It hasn’t laborious snowshoeing, however while you strap 5 lbs of snowshoes in your toes, you begin to really feel it fairly fast. We alternated main and breaking path as one does. I rapidly placed on a tough shell jacket and raised the hood as a result of there was a ton of snow within the tree branches above the path to forestall it from falling on me and taking place my again.

We turned onto the Jewell Path on the path junction and began climbing nearly instantly, rapidly gaining elevation. The Jewell offers a reasonably gradual, however constant climb to treeline, which is without doubt one of the causes I prefer to climb it. It’s nicely protected against the wind by vegetation and straightforward to comply with. That ends at treeline, nonetheless, when snow obscures the cairns resulting in the Gulfside Path and it may be very troublesome to comply with.

We climbed and climbed, snowshoeing up the path because the snow received deeper and deeper with elevation. It was very chilly and I had 4 layers on – a wool t-shirt, a baselayer and mid-layer Patagonia hoody, and my laborious shell. I used to be even carrying lengthy underwear beneath my softshell pants, one thing I hate doing, and go to nice lengths to keep away from. I used to be additionally hitting off my inhaler since I get cold-induced bronchial asthma when the temperature drops beneath about 10 levels.

My associate drained finally and I took over the path breaking till we handed the unlawful campsites close to treeline and the alpine zone warning signal which barely poked out above the snow. The snow deepened within the krummholz after which we had been at treeline, at a outstanding rock at 4600′.

We ate some meals, drank our scorching water, and had a go-no-go convention. The wind didn’t seem unhealthy, however the summits had been clouded over and it appeared like we’d must hike to Jefferson within the fog. My associate was additionally utterly drenched in perspiration from the climb and I may see that she didn’t have 4 miles of publicity left in her tank. I actually wasn’t going to hike out to Jefferson alone in these situations, so we made a plan to bail and hike out.

I in all probability would have determined to proceed to Jefferson if I’d had a 3rd reliable associate with me, as a result of I knew my associate may have simply and safely descended on her personal. However I didn’t, so it was a simple name to descend together with her and name it a day. Jefferson is just not going anyplace and who is aware of, possibly I can nonetheless climb it this month if the climate cooperates.

Our hike happened simply 2 days after an area hiker died whereas trying a Pemigewasset Traverse. The newspaper accounts state that he was mountaineering with two different companions, who determined to give up within the horrible situations, whereas tragically, he continued on. That incident was actually on our minds on our hike and little doubt, influenced our choices to show round and be conservative in our determination making.

Beneficial Guidebooks and Maps:

SectionHiker is reader-supported. We solely become profitable if you are going to buy a product by way of our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear critiques, newbie FAQs, and free mountaineering guides.