Presidential traverse hut-hut

[Snowboarder4206]

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: Hey im planing a presidential traverse trip this summer. Not sure when yet but im just seeing if anyone is interested in going. Id rather not go alone and most of my friends are too lazy for a big trip like that LOL. Ive been hiking for years in the WMNF but ive never done the whole traverse and would really like to. probly gonna be a long weekend, end of june-early july. Not sure which route im gonna take but i have a few ideas. Get back too me if any one is interested in going, would really enjoy some company. :beer: :beer: :beer:

[Ispoiler]

I intend on doing the traverse one of these weekends, I would rather not stay in the huts though.

[NtrentT]

I might be interested with another person or two to tag along...

What is the time commitment? How many days?

[skicdave]

Our summer is fully booked... getting back to do a hut-hut is on the todo list though for next year.

I suggest for a three day jaunt doing... Madison Hut - over Adams to Gray Knob - over Jefferson, Clay, Mt Washington to Lake of Clouds - then over to Mitzpah Hut for the fourth night.

You could opt to skip the night at Gray Nob though. Big hike from Madison to Lakes... requires good weather too. For a 2 day do Mitzpah to Lake of the Clouds, then up and over Mt Washington before heading down. (toss in a visit to look down the headwall at Tucks). Can't beat these hikes if you love being above treeline. Highly recommended and always memorable.

[ATP]

The MadHut-Lakes traverse won't be as painful if you're not on a peak-bagging mission (which I guess is often the point of a Presi traverse). With no peaks, it's nine miles of relatively easy ridge walking. If the weather's halfway decent, I can never bring myself to skip Adams (which I consider the finest summit in the range), but Jefferson I can do without. And pardon the heresy, but I've skipped Washington most of the times I've done that particular traverse, because I didn't see the point in hiking to a socked-in parking lot in the sky.

The Grey Knob overnight also sounds like a good option, since that gives you an extra day in the nicest part of the range, but you'll want to get there on the early side and/or make that night a weeknight, so you don't fall victim to RMC's first-come, first-served lodging system.

Another notion is to save Washington for a day trip of it's own, although that would leave you in the Lakes madness for two nights. Late June in the Alpine Garden is a delight.

Patrick