btowne33

Jefferson

How about some bouldering?

Looking over to Adams. Jefferson is directly behind.

I examined the routes to Jefferson and wanted to not follow some previous hikes and needed more of an adventure. Caps Ridge Trail was calling me. It was only 2.5 miles to the top due to a Forest Road having access to 3000 feet above sea level. However, the trail is comprised of 3 largely exposed mountain tips, or caps, that must be scaled hand-over-hand like bouldering.

On the way down was a bit dicey and I had to slide on my butt for some of it and after a while it wore on my knees. I swear every 5th rock was wobbly, so I had to make sure that my foot placement was good. I hit the trail around 6:30 AM in a t-shirt and shorts with the sun behind the mountain.

As I got above tree line the sun was in my face and the views were all around. Mt. Washington was off to the right in all his glory. The first view was on top of some large round rocks that had round divots in them that were formed back when a glacier was melting on it. I said that story to a father-daughter and they were not as impressed as I was… to each his own. All the views from here on out were pretty spectacular and I stopped every few minutes or so to catch my breath and look around. The Cog Railroad took off at 8 AM and I could see it climb up the ridge and it would let out its whistle every 30 minutes or so. Even after the Caps, the rock hopping continued all the way to top of Jefferson which is very slow going.

I sat on the summit and looked at my old friends of Washington and Adams and thought how delighted they would be that they would be symbolically close still, with Jefferson, in the form of these beautify mountains. Rather than turn around and head back the same way, I headed down the back side of Jefferson and towards Washington on the Loop trail, then Gulfside, and back to Caps Ridge. Let me tell you, that little jaunt was just spectacular on the 'Alpine Garden'. Everywhere just miles of mountain grass, alpine flowers, and cairns like lightbulbs leading the way. I took time with this area and smiled at the surroundings. I took a bunch of pictures and videos and had fun with the time. Sunny, no wind, and in the Presidential range… I could not be happier. Then it changed on the descent, but still that Alpine Garden made it all worth it… even with all the bouldering.