Presidential Traverse

“Is anyone interested in a Presidential Traverse in Mid-March or early to mid-April? I just moved to lovely Burlington, VT and this is on my hit list of hikes/climbs. Also, if anyone wants to get out for a weekend of hiking in the Northeast, let me know.

Cheers,
Chowda”

“Chowda. Congratulations on moving to Burlington - what nice little city!

I'm not likely to have time for a traverse in March or April. You might want to check out the hiking and backpacking Meetup groups for New England. There is a backpacking group I've never hiked with that is doing a travers in April: http://www.meetup.com/New-England-Backpackers-Meetup-Group/calendar/2009-03

Right now, I'm day hiking at places within 3 1/2 hours of Boston. I probably won't be backpacking until after the Spring semester is over and I turn in grades - but I'll almost definitely do some backpacking in Vermont. I like Vermont backpacking. I did the Long Trail a couple times, and have gone back a couple more times for weekend trips on the LT.”

“Cool - thanks pedxing. Zip me an email when you're ready to hit the trails...or mountains :) I'm very excited to be back in the Northeast.”

“Presidential traverse? Is that the one 5.13 on Mt rushmore?”

“Chowda - where you living before?

There are several good on line boards for New England and there are a number of hiking and backpacking meetups that do some great trips (although, unless you know the leader it pays to assume there will be no one on the trip who knows anything you don't; i.e. don't expect to be able to rely on anyone elses knowledge and skills - I guess thats not any different from a TT trip).

Since you're in Vermont, I can't resist linking to my LT journals:

http://www.trailjournals.com/pedxinglt
last edited: 2/28/09 2:39:55 PM”

“don't expect to be able to rely on anyone elses knowledge and skills.

hope he has the experience. presidentials ain't no joke.. march/april isn't out of the clear just yet not that it really ever is..

good luck though.


http://www.trailjournals.com/pedxinglt ouch but will check it out further. thanks”

“I stopped at Madison hut on my one winter Presidential hike this winter. Timing and weather weren't right for me to hit the Madison summit.

Offtrack: my northbound LT journal has more pics and nothing uncomfortable:

http://www.trailjournals.com/PedxingLT07/

I'd be happy to hear feedback on either of them or the Northville-Placid in between.”

“Chowda: I'm planning a last day of winter hike in the Whites. I figure the longest day + Daylight Savings time will make it easy to do a good day hike without getting up to early or worrying about running out of daylight. Right now its just 1 friend and my dog, but I posted it as a "meetup."

Its about as far for me as it is for you. Right now we are talking about Wiley, Field and Tom or the Wildcat Ridge - but are open to other ideas. I want something substantial (8 - 15 miles and a few thousand feet of gain), but nothing not a butt kicker.”

““I stopped at Madison hut on my one winter Presidential hike this winter. Timing and weather weren't right for me to hit the Madison summit.

last time i was there i was coming up from Osgood. I could see the hut when i got past the krummholtz but when i got to the pass (near hawker jnctn), i almost got blown off the mountain. i sat it out for a while (the GG was like a cauldron) and then turned back. this wasn't in the winter either.”

“In September '02 there was death from hypothermia on Madison, in '86 a man died on Madison from hypothermia in August.”

“i read the book and i've seen the list @ pinkham. i think most deaths in the presidentials have occurred in the summer.”

“Pedxing - cool, would love to join you if the date works. I would also love to hit the LT this spring/summer. Thanks for sharing your journals - can't wait to read them. As for experience, I climbed Mt. Washington over Xmas in 07' and spent 8 days on Rainier this past March 08' but couldn't summit due to severe white out conditions. It was a Denali Prep course - learned a lot. I also climbed a bit in Colorado in May of 08'. Offtrack - your comments are well received. I wouldn't go off unless I were with competent people who really knew the area and the mountains. I'm in great shape physically, have all the proper gear and knowledge of using it, but I am still 'soft' on mountaineering experience...but looking to gain more.”

“cool. looking forward to some pics and your report. :)”

“Oops I should have mentioned March 19 - it is a Thursday so hard for a lot of people to make. I work every other weekend, so weekday hikes are great for me.

Right now just 3 of us are comitted to going and Wiley, Field, Tom loop is top choice.”

“I was up last June, and did those peaks. The views from Wiley down the notch are just super. Don't forget to stop off at Avalon on your way back down, there's a nice rocky viewpoint overlooking Saco lake.”