The day after my Moosilauke hike I got to the Ammo Trailhead
around 5:00 AM. One other car in the lot and soon another fella arrived and
started preparing for the day. I headed out in the dark and opted to wait to
put on snowshoes. I ended up barebooting the first two miles of the trail. It
was just hard enough that I wasn't sinking in and provided just enough
traction. The good times couldn't last and I finally had to throw on snowshoes
a bit before the Gem Pool.
The steep stuff quickly put me in my place and I had to throw my shell on due to snowmelt from the trees. Temps climbed to the upper 30s by the time I reached the Lakes of the Clouds hut. That fella and another pair passed me on the ascent - they were going directly to Washington but I was headed to Monroe first. The climb up wasn't bad though just enough of a pain with snowshoes near the summit.
I thought I'd had a chance at clear skies on Washington but by the time I returned to the hut it was in the clouds and would remain, at least until I was well down from it. The hike up to Washington was just wonderful, quiet with mild temps surrounded by mist. The wind picked up near the summit and I didn't linger long up there. The wind, which had been mild up to this point because a bear as I continued down the Gulfside Trail. Not sure snowshoes were the best choice for this part but they were a choice. The mix of snow drifts and bony sections meant you were always going to regret wearing something.
The descent via Jewell Trail was slow. I was very tired generally and my right knee, which isn't in great shape currently, was beginning to ache. It felt like spring once I hit the trees, as my shell got quite wet from the melting snow. This was a good hike, but it took a lot out of me and put me in my place about my conditioning, winter hiking wise. Winter 48 peaks #38 & 39.
