New Hampshire Off The Beaten Path Tips by mtncorg

MADISON GULF TRAIL

Madison Gulf is a side cirque off the northern walls of the Great Gulf, separating the peaks of Mt Adams from Mt Monroe. Parapet Brook tumbles down alongside the trail. This trail ascends from the Mt Washington autoroad to the Madison Hut in 4.8 miles, the last mile doing so in a very vertical fashion, requiring scrambling and handholds - very much like your normal Slovene mountain trail except withoutthe occasion iron peg you find in Slovenia;-] The trail is the shortest way between Madison Hut and Pinkham Notch. It is not recommended for backpackers - due to steepness - or wet weather conditions - due to slick rock conditions and stream crossings. Along with the Six Husbands trail and the Huntington Ravine trail, the Madison Gulf trail is considered to be the most difficult - and potentially dangerous, in bad conditions -in the Whites.

Phone: (603) 466-2721

Website: http://www.outdoors.org/

MT MADISON

This is the last Presidential peak in the range. At 5367 feet, slopes drop away over 4000 feet to the north and the east. In the pass between Mt Madison and Mt Adams - the Presidential neighbor to the west - lies Star Lake, near which is the AMC's Madison Hut - room for 50 guests, originally built in 1888 and rebuilt after a 1940 fire. The Hut is 6 miles from Mt Washington and 6.8 miles from the Lakes of the Clouds Hut - both via the Gulfside/Appalachian Trail.

Phone: (603) 466-2721

Website: http://www.outdoors.org/

MT ADAMS

This is New England's second highest peak at 5774 feet. There is a great variety of mountain features to be found on this peak: steep glacial cirques enscribe and encircle its base; sharp ridges fall off on its sides. Grand views are enjoyed from its alpine slopes far above the timberline. Other memebers of the Adams family cam be found on subsidiary peaks: Mt Sam Adams - 5594 feet, to the west; Mt Quincy Adams - 5410 feet to the north. The Gulfside/Appalachian Trail skirts the summit to the north but short sidetrips up the Airline or Israel Ridge trails gain the top.

Phone: (603) 466-2721

Website: http://www.outdoors.org/

MT CLAY

5541 feet high, the AMC considers this only a shoulder of Mt Washington and thus doesn't include it in its list of New England peaks above 4000 feet - climb all and you can become a member of their Four Thousand Foot Club! Since the peak is only a shoulder, a non-presidential name is given - Clay, a senator from Kentucky through whose support John Quincy Adams became the first son to follow his father's footsteps as President. Some of the range's best views can be had from atop here - gained via a short sidetrail off the Gulfside/Appalachian trail.

Phone: (603) 466-2721

Website: http://www.outdoors.org/