From the trailhead looking into Crawford NotchThe trailhead sign needs some TLCNot long after starting, side trail to Elephant Head. Definitely worth the .2mi outFrom Elephant Head, looking down Rt 302 toward AMC Highland Center and Saco PondThe trail up Webster Jackson is rocky and rooty.Another side trail. This is much short and, again, worth the tripView from Bugle Cliff, similar to the Elephant Head view but a bit higherThe split to go toward Jackson, which most do, or Webster, which will be me 🙂A steep drop, maybe 100 yds reaches the stream bed, the first thing that catches your eye is the way out straight up the other side. It’s steep, but worth itThe sun was just coming over Silver Cascade. It was running high and the pool was glistening. A great morningIt was tough to get a shot without too much sun glare. In person, it was amazingThe route up Webster Branch is almost always wet, but that makes for lush moss and bare treesWet and roots, the trail follows hearty ledge nearly the entire route to the summitThe top of the Webster Branch, just around the bend is the summit.1mi to the summitFrom the summit, the views are amazing in all directions. Looking across the Crawford Notch at Mt Willey, Mt Field, and Mt Tom, and Mt Avalon in there tooIn this view, can see the train trestle(left) and Mt Washington Hotel(top right)Looking the other way, views to Signal Ridge and Mt CarrigainLeft to right, Mt Willey, Mt Field, Mt Tom across the top. In the shadow on the right is Mt AvalonThe ridge walk toward Mt Jackson is a nice stroll, albeit wet todayOne of a couple steep pitches to get up Mt Jackson. They are not bad and have decent hand/foot holdsTopping out on Mt Jackson, the puffy white clouds add nice depth. Through the trees I can hear some chaosThere were about 45-50 people on the summit. There was a large group that spent the night at the hut as their annual ‘schools out’ retreat. Sounds like they had fun, but people and gear were everywhere.I did chat with one kind person who wasn’t part of the big group but stayed at the hut also. She said was fun, high energy night. She was working through the NH48 and 52WAV. She did offer some good tips on the Belknaps too, for which I am gratefulFrom Jackson looking up up the Presidentials. The white spec is the Mizpah AMC hut and my next stop. Beyond that, rises up to Mt Pierce, right of that Mt Eisenhower, Mt Monroe, and Mt Washington at the clouds.After crossing a stretch of bog boards, looking back at Mt JacksonFrom the bog, looking out over the Dry River WildernessStopped to capture this little guy making his way out of the sunAt the Mizpah Cutoff junction, almost at the hutThe large Mizpah HutThis is my first time stopping when it was open.The welcoming staff and the smell of baked goods always draws me inThe corridor to the restroom and sleeping quarters.One of the many bunk roomsA few of the rooms had bunks 3 highLeaving the hut toward Mt PierceThe summit cairn on Mt PierceMt Eisenhower and it’s bald summit rising up in the foregroundContinuing on to the junction of Crawford PathViews from Crawford Path, which I contemplate continuing to Mt Eisenhower or drop back down. The clouds kept getting thicker and darker so I made the tough choiceSome of the upper parts of Crawford Path were a stream bed.A kind memorial along the Crawford PathGibbs Falls sign post has seen better daysGibbs was flowing nicely into the pool below.Crawford Path plaqueAMC Mizpah signageMore Crawford Path signage a the trailheadAnd finally the end of the lineA short road walk from where I popped out back to my car, closer to the notchStopped in on this little trail. Was always curious where this went.The Saco Lake trail loops around the lakeIt looks like that triangle stone shrunk a bitNice trail work on this short loop pathA view from the road I just walkedIt skirts the lakeStrange feature.. let’s check it outTough view for the short steep climbIt does have hand rails thoughA busy beaver has packed this one itLupine still in bloomLupine fill the field in from of the AMC Highland CenterPlenty of hikers out this morning. The end to a fun trek
Looks beautiful. Looks like you had a great day.