#33 #34 Tripyramids with Alex

Saturday, 2/18/17, 9:04AM

After 50+ inches of snow this week, breaking trail from Waterville Valley to the Tripyramids was a long, hard day (especially because the above freezing temperature made the snow sticky and heavy).
Alex and I hiked up Livermore and Scaur Ridge; across the ridge to North Tripyramid and Middle Tripyramid; then back the same way.
It took us 8 hours to cover almost 13 miles. We broke trail on Scaur Ridge Tr, then again between North and Middle Tripyramid. Just before North Tripyramid, we met William Fogg and Eric Sweet in a group of 6 that came up Pine Bend Brook Tr from the Kanc. After stumbling around in the wood between the two peaks, we all crowded together on Middle Tripyramid attempting to take photos of each other. Only saw 2 other people (a man and woman with 2 dogs) the entire day.

Stats:

• Peaks: North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid
• Weather: warm (40+ F), some wind on the ridge (but not the 45mph as forecast)
• Parked: Livermore Rd lot
• Trails: Livermore Rd, Livermore Tr, Scaur Ridge Tr, Pine Bend Brk Tr, Tripyramid Tr, and back
• Time: 8h9m 
• Distance: 12.7mi
• Track: GaiaGps

An overview of my Single Season Winter 48 with links to all the trip reports is here.


Scaur Ridge is where the going got tough (but we kept going). The trail climbed steeply for 2 miles to Tripyramid ridge through heavy, deep snow. It was tiring so we switched leads several times. Even changing places was difficult in the deep snow, but totally worth the effort. Amazing how much easier and faster the second person could hike.

Before Scaur Ridge Trail, the first 2 miles was easy going on a groomed ski trail (Livermore Rd). The next mile or so on Livermore Trail was harder because of the soft snow, but still very flat and made easier by a ski track from the day before. (I was very relieved when we returned the same way and saw that the skier had not come back to find his track trashed. Alex pointed out that the skier had followed the filled-in snowshoe track, so really had nothing to complain about anyhow.)


Scaur Ridge Tr soon got much steeper.


Scaur Ridge provided a few views of Mt Washington in the distance. It was nice to be hiking under a blue sky after several weekends of cloudy weather.


We finally reached Tripyramid Trail and it got much easier because 8 people had come Pine Bend Brook Trail and packed the ridge for us. We caught up with a couple and their dogs a bit before North Tripyramid and then William Fogg's group of six (including Dave Fogg, Eric Sweet, and Steve Mason) near the summit.

Just after the summit?


Much of the trail from North to Middle Tripyramid was like this. When we didn't lose the trail, we were fighting through the snow laden branches, so we're got thoroughly soaked. Temps in the high 30s F didn't help.


From North to Middle Tripyramid we had to break trail again. Navigation was tricky because the blazes were at or below the snow level. We looked for a corridor between the trees but often couldn't see it because the snow laden branches bent across the trail obscured the path.
It was warm so I was hiking in just a wool base layer and got soaked from the snow falling on me as I fought my way through the branches.


At places the woods were wide open and easy to navigate, which probably means we were off course. Ha!


From Middle Tripyramid, looking across to Waterville Valley, where we started our hike.


Is that Signal Ridge climbing Mt Carrigain from the right?


From atop Middle Tripyramid. Hmmm. What peak is this?


Middle Tripyramid got crowded as the Sweet/Fogg group got there right on our heels. With eight of us on the tiny summit clearing, it was a wonder no one slipped down the steep bobsled run while we snapped photos of each other. William Fogg made an amusing video of their hike, which includes the summit photo I took of them on Middle Tripyramid. One of their crew took this photo of Alex and me.

Here's a photo I took of their group on Middle Tripyramid. The sixth hiker soon joined us and I took a photo of the entire group using one of their cameras.

With just a base layer, I started to get chilly, so Alex and I soon took off. The return trip was much faster and easier--no trail breaking, no navigation issues, mostly downhill. All the same, we were dragging by the time we reached the parking lot, and getting out of the car after a 15 minute drive involved lots of groaning and aching muscles.


Another dramatic view of Mt Washington.

North Slide is a challenging ascent in the summer. A couple winters ago, Alex climbed it sort of by accident in his snowshoes. By the time he realized it was dangerous to continue, it was way too dangerous to turn around and go back down. He invited me to hike it with him sometime next winter, but... 

"Some hikers will be uncomfortable on the North Slide, and it is potentially dangerous and should be avoided if wet or icy." ...and... "The loop over the slides is hazardous in winter and not recommended for the great majority of winter trampers." --The 4000-Footers by Smith and Dickerman

The home stretch! Just two miles on Livermore Rd before I can drop my pack and sit down in a comfy seat (of my CRV). Aah!