Presidential Traverse

Hiking each summit in the White Mountains named after a US president

Outcome: Caught in a snow storm on Mt Adams!

Overview

Seven Presidentials, the minimum route

• Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Monroe, Eisenhower, Pierce

Common bonus summits, not actually named after presidents

• Clay and Franklin lie between the Presidentials
• Jackson and Webster are on small extension to the south

North to south in a single long day is typical (12+ hours moving)

• Front load the highest climbs
• Don't mess around with winter camping overnight
• Appalachia trailhead at north end to AMC Highland Center in Crawford Notch
  • Half hour drive apart

Main stretch is all above tree line for ~12 miles

• Only 3 structures providing solid windbreaks
  • All closed in winter
  • Madison Spring Hut, Mt. Washington Observatory, Lake of the Clouds Hut

Daylight

At Mt Washington:

Weather

Update in Littleton before leaving cell service:

• General Bretton Woods (south trailhead) weather
  • Google Weather
  • Weather Underground
• AMC Backcountry Reports
• Mt Washington Observatory reports
  • Current Summit Conditions
  • High Summits Forecast
  • Valley Forecast
• NOAA National Weather Service
  • Doppler Northeast
  • Doppler National

Parking

South: Crawford Connector Trailhead

• Maintained by US Forest Service
• Off Mt Clinton Rd, just above NH 302 and the AMC Crawford Notch Highland Center
• Self-deposit box, $3/day

Several shuttle services also exist

• Trail Angels Hiker Services (FB)

Camping

Camping permitted above treeline during winter on 2+ feet of snow, 200+ feet from water

• Prohibited year round in Cutler River drainage area (east side of Mt Washington)

North end: Valley Way Tentsite

• Maintained by US Forest Service

South end: Nauman Tentsite

• Maintained by AMC

Route

Detailed segments for out & back trip

• Day 1 (evening): Crawford Connector Trailhead to Nauman Tentsite (2.5mi)
• Day 2 (all day): Traverse south to north, ending at Valley Way Tentsite (~13mi)
• Day 3 (all day): Traverse north to south, ending at Nauman Tentsite (~13mi)
• Day 4 (morning): Nauman Tentsite to Crawford Connector Trailhead (2.5mi)

CalTopo Map with routes and markers

Prologue

• Mt Clinton Rd parking lot trailhead
• Crawford Connector east .3mi
• Crawford 1.4mi, white blaze
• Mizpah Cutoff .6mi
• Nauman Tentsite

South -> North

• Nauman Tentsite
• Webster Cliff Trail north .8mi
  • [cross Mt Pierce]
• Crawford Path east/north 1.1mi
• Mt Eisenhower loop .7mi
• Crawford Path .9mi
  • [cross Mt Eisenhower Trail]
• Mt Franklin loop .1mi
• Crawford Path .4mi
• Mt Monroe loop .6mi
• Crawford Path .1mi
• Lake of the Clouds Hut
• Crawford Path 1.5mi
  • [cross Dry River Trail]
  • [cross Tuckerman Crossover, Camel Trail]
  • [cross Davis Path (old Crawford Path), Westside Trail, Southside Trail]
• Mt Washington Observatory
• Gulfside Trail north .7mi
  • [cross Cog Railway, Great Gulf Trail]
  • [cross Westside Trail]
• Mt Clay Loop 1mi
• Gulfside Trail .6mi
  • [cross Sphinx Trail]
  • [cross The Cornice]
• Mt Jefferson Loop .7mi
  • [cross Caps Ridge Trail, Castle Trail, Six Husbands Trail]
• Gulfside Trail 1.2mi
  • [cross Edmands Col Cutoff, Randolph Path]
  • [joins Israel Ridge Path]
• Israel Ridge Path east .1mi
• Lowe's Path east .2mi
• Airline Trail north .4mi
  • [cross Mt Adams]
• Gulfside Trail .3mi
  • [cross Airline Trail Cutoff, Valley Way Trail]
• Madison Spring Hut
• Gulfside Trail east .4mi
  • [cross Parapet Trail, Pine Link]
• Mt Madison summit
  • [gone too far at Watson Path]
• Return west/south Gulfside Trail .4mi
• Madison Spring Hut
• Valley Way Trail north .9mi
• Valley Way Tentsite

Escape Routes

Commonly accepted escape routes:

• Edmand's Path
• Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
• Cog Railway
• Jewell Trail
• Lowe's Path
• Valley Way

Do not go east, most of the trails are very steep in places and often unbroken

• Lion's Head and Boot Spur workable with prior experience

Castle Trail and Caps Ridge off Mt Jefferson should be avoided

• Exposed on ridges for long stretches
• Challenging ice & rock scrambles (the castles and caps)

Travel

Last real dining options coming in from the west are in Littleton, NH, e.g., vegetarian options:

• Maia Papaya
  • 2161 Main St, Bethlehem, NH 03574
  • Mon--Thurs 7am--3pm; Fri--Sun 7am--5pm
• Alburritos
  • 406 Union St, Littleton, NH 03561
• Littleton Diner
  • 145 Main St, Littleton, NH 03561
  • 6am--8pm
• Chang Thai Cafe
  • 77 Main St, Littleton, NH 03561
  • Mon--Fri 11:30am--3pm, 4pm--9pm; Sat--Sun Noon--9pm

Links

• Wild Outsiders---lots of maps and notes
• Crawford Connector to Mt Pierce---details on south prologue