Here's a trip report from Views from the Top of a hike on the same main day nearby, in the Northern Presidentials,
with photos on Facebook (I stayed below treeline):
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.p ... -12-1-2012
toddnick wrote:Sounds like fun; I can't wait to hike NH for the first time come Memorial Day. Had to be beautiful with frosting on the mountains, though I prefer just boots to having to use microspikes.
Just made reservations at Dolly Copp this morning for my final 3 nights (5/30, 5/31, 6/1)
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Every Memorial Day I've been in White Mntns there has been snow beginning about 4,000 ft. If it is a good snow winter, there will be an icy spine down the middle of the trail from snowshoers. The improvised glissade!
There was some boilerplate ice under the snow on my hikes this past weekend. I was very happy to put on spikes.
scott-atl wrote:the white mtns are as rugged as anywhere i've hiked. didn't care for the fee based hikes and drive. didn't have the extra money at the time.
Do you mean the $3 iron ranger at trailheads? A lot of those are gone; the agency did not meet its own terms (e.g., signage, a paved area for cars, ...). The $5 weekly pass works well. And those holding the Senior Pass or America the Beautiful Pass do not pay. It's been a thorn in the side, and those ticketed have (often) simply sent the parking fee (not the ticket amount) directly to the ranger station with an explanatory note.
paul wrote:I live a few hours away from the whites but I don't get up there that much. I mostly go in the winter to X-country ski. Been meaning to try winter hiking up there but need to get more equipment first (like winter boots, spikes and clothing).
I haven't done hard-core winter hiking; do not own plastic boots or Grivel 12-pointers or double mitts or a face mask. In the shoulder seasons I use my regular hiking boots plus Microspikes, gaiters, and thermal pants, and I'm set for a few hours of dealing with snow (borrowing snowshoes from AMC). Nov, Jan, and May are turning out to be good months.
It's a wonderful place.