Date of Hike: 1/24/16
Crawford Path: 4.1 miles / Mount Eisenhower Loop: 0.7 miles / Crawford Path: 1.2 miles / Webster Cliff Trail: 0.2 miles / Crawford Path 3.1 miles
Total Miles: 9.3 (3,582 feet elevation gained) Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Trip Report:
- On Sunday I met up with Bob (organizer of MMD 50K, click here for the 2015 run report) and his dog Bode (American Water Spaniel) for a fun hike up to Mount Eisenhower and Mount Pierce. The weather could not have been any better as it was in the high teens to mid twenties with the wind only gusting on one short stretch just above the Pierce / Eisenhower col, and again on the summit of Mount Eisenhower.
- For hikers wanting to tackle the 4,000 footers in the winter, Mount Pierce is the one to start out on. It has a real gentle grade all the way up to the summit and the trail is almost always well broken out. You get pretty spectacular views from the summit area for very little effort, and you usually get a taste of the wind up there for the final few hundred feet to let you experience what awaits you if you choose to continue above treeline to Mount Eisenhower.
- When not too windy, like Sunday, the trail between the two peaks (Crawford Path and Mount Eisenhower Loop) is an easy out and back with stellar views. With the lack of snow and lots of foot traffic from the previous two days we were able to bare boot it all the way to the summit of Eisenhower with ease.
- Throughout the day we didn't see many hikers as one would usually see because of the football game that afternoon, so it was a quiet and enjoyable day out on the trails and nice to catch up with Bob.
Crawford Path: 4.1 miles / Mount Eisenhower Loop: 0.7 miles / Crawford Path: 1.2 miles / Webster Cliff Trail: 0.2 miles / Crawford Path 3.1 miles
Total Miles: 9.3 (3,582 feet elevation gained) Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Trip Report:
- On Sunday I met up with Bob (organizer of MMD 50K, click here for the 2015 run report) and his dog Bode (American Water Spaniel) for a fun hike up to Mount Eisenhower and Mount Pierce. The weather could not have been any better as it was in the high teens to mid twenties with the wind only gusting on one short stretch just above the Pierce / Eisenhower col, and again on the summit of Mount Eisenhower.
- For hikers wanting to tackle the 4,000 footers in the winter, Mount Pierce is the one to start out on. It has a real gentle grade all the way up to the summit and the trail is almost always well broken out. You get pretty spectacular views from the summit area for very little effort, and you usually get a taste of the wind up there for the final few hundred feet to let you experience what awaits you if you choose to continue above treeline to Mount Eisenhower.
- When not too windy, like Sunday, the trail between the two peaks (Crawford Path and Mount Eisenhower Loop) is an easy out and back with stellar views. With the lack of snow and lots of foot traffic from the previous two days we were able to bare boot it all the way to the summit of Eisenhower with ease.
- Throughout the day we didn't see many hikers as one would usually see because of the football game that afternoon, so it was a quiet and enjoyable day out on the trails and nice to catch up with Bob.
The Crawford Path ascends easily up along the western side of Mount Pierce
Bode with his colorful booties waits patiently for us
The trees get smaller as the Crawford Path gains the ridge at the Webster Cliff Trail junction
After and easy three mile walk up a 'snow ramp' a hiker is greeted with an incredible view of the Presidential Range
Bob and Bode head north on the Crawford Path towards Mount Eisenhower, once called Pleasant Dome
Bode leads the way up Crawford Path
Bob catches up with us as we make our way along the Crawford Path
Bob and Bode on the summit of Mount Eisenhower
The Presidential Range
Mount Monroe and Washington as seen from Mount Eisenhower
Zoom-in of Oakes Gulf headwall and the Boott Spur
Bob and Bode leaving the summit
Bob and Bode lead the way off the summit cone of Mount Eisenhower
The Crawford Path south to Mount Pierce
The afternoon sun shining brightly over Mount Pierce's summit
View from Mount Pierce
Mount Eisenhower, Franklin, Monroe, and Washington
Zoom-in of Mount Washington
Your blog is getting me extra stoked about my own trip next week. Thanks! Two questions: Do you know what brand of booties Bode is wearing? I need to get my dog outfitted with new footwear. Second, did the Webster Cliff short detour offer something special worth skirting off Crawford Path? Was it well marked where to rejoin Crawford and not continue on to Mt. Jackson? I was planning just to go up and down Crawford, but now I'm wondering about adopting your route instead. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Lucy,
DeleteI think the dog booties were from ruff wear, they work well for Bode, they didn't fall off and he never was bothered by them. Bob says the key for him is to put them on each paw quickly and start walking so the dog has no choice but to start walking and get used to them right away!
As for the short detour on Webster-Cliff Trail, that is were the summit of Mount Pierce is located, just a few hundred feet up the start of that trail. As for the trail junction, they are marked with big signs and cairns, plus with the snow levels so low this winter there is no issue following trails up there right now.
Hope you have a great time up there next week!
I felt the same 'stoked' feeling that Lucy did. Awesome pics and great job with your blog! Have bagged Pierce last winter, but would like to add Eisenhower, and I'll likely follow your itinerary later this month. Think some snow will still remain then? It's a weird kinda winter.
ReplyDelete-- Alex D. from PA
Hi Alex, glad you liked the pics and the report. Hope you get a great day with light wind when you head to Eisenhower so you can enjoy the views, they're crystal clear from there in the winter!
Delete