Two Favorites in One Hike: Eisenhower and Pierce

Total Distance:
    Trailhead to Eisenhower: 3.3 miles, 2750 ft elevation gain
    Eisenhower - Pierce: ~ 1.7 miles
    Pierce - Mizpah Hut - Trailhead: 3.3 miles
    Total: 8.3 miles
Time: not a clue, 7-ish hours including a couple of long breaks and taking our sweet time

Eisenhower and Pierce are two of our favorite summits - somewhat closer to home than many others, enjoyable trails with fair grades and perfect mileage for us, and above all, awesome views.  These two have a charisma, a buoyant vibe I can't quite describe but love.

Luckily, our friend Dan also has a love for these two and his dog Molly needed them for her 48's so he suggested we do a traverse.  Tango stayed home to help Erick with his homework and munch on all the stellar frozen treats I made for him while the Heathen Dingo* and I headed north.

We met at the main lot for the Crawford Path around 7:45 AM, which is really at the Crawford Connector on Clinton Rd, barely up the road from the AMC Highlands Center.  Parking at the Center is for guests only but the Crawford Path begins across the street from it.  The Connector joins with the main path at .4 miles.  The other option for dayhikers is to park at the Crawford Depot (on the other side of the Highlands Center) and road walk.  It was cool, sunny, and I was stoked for the promise of great weather. We were treated to a symphony of whines from the impatient dingo ladies for the brief, bumpy 2 mile drive to the Edmands Path trailhead.  Both of these lots fill up very early, hint hint!

Eisenhower (4760')
Edmands Path (2.9 mi), Eisenhower Loop Tr (northern side) (.4 mi)

The girls were almost immediately off trail together.  Molly was wearing her Ruffwear Approach Pack for the first time after a strike against all forward movement when she first wore it according to Dan.  Add in affection from strangers and the sound of chipmunks luring her into the woods and she quickly forgot about it.  While the girls did their thing, we enjoyed a very mildly graded trail and good footing.  It was a little damp and a bit rocky at times.

Being that the trail lacks intersections to serve as markers and I'm terrible at recording time or gauging distances, my notes aren't very useful but with the help of the 4000-Footers of the White Mountains, I know it was around 2.2 miles that the trail began to require a little more knee-bending over larger rocks  or the trail itself was smooth rock and we passed the last water source, which ran with the rocky trail for a few yards.

*The weather gods looked kindly upon us but ALWAYS be prepared
for abrupt changes when traveling above treeline*

Just shy of the junction with the Crawford Path, we walked out of the trees and onto a narrow stretch of boulders.  We could see the AT wind up to the north towards Monroe and Washington and the bald hump of Ike's summit was to our immediate right.  The Eisenhower Loop Trail led us the last .4 miles up to the wide summit.  The trail is short but fun - an alpine path of fine gravel carved around and over rocks that keep travelers away from the low alpine plants.  The views in every direction, even down, are fantastic.

All that's left to reach the summit.  For perspective,
there is a tiny blue dot near the top that is another hiker.

Unfortunately, I overexposed the photos todaybut the sky was brilliantly blue
with puffy clouds providing a wonderful sense of depth.

Very near the summit

The ladies were less than pleased with the amount of time we spent at the busy summit but we had very good reason.  Saturday was Flags on the 48, a yearly memorial to 9/11 where a flag is raised on each of the 48's and, while we were unofficial participants, we were lucky to be there when the team arrived and raised the flag.  All around us, I could see flags on other peaks through my binoculars.  Powerful isn't quite the right word but I'm sure many readers can understand the emotional impact of taking a moment to reflect with the US flag flying high above us at 4,760 ft.

FOT48 Team arriving, summit cairn to the left

View facing south.  Center is the Eisenhower Loop Tr and just off to the right outside of the photo is Pierce.

Eisenhower - Pierce
Eisenhower Loop Tr (southern side) (.4 mi), AT/Crawford Path (1.2 mi), AT/Webster Cliff Tr (.1 mi)

Ty finally crossed the line between antsy and stressed so we departed, Ty prancing along ahead. The other side of the Loop was as steep as our ascent but fun to navigate.  Between Ike and Pierce officially became one of my favorite ridge walks.  It is mellow and entertaining.  It took us over smooth rock surfaces and through scrubby trees, teased us with views (especially to the west), and required some fancy footwork here and there when damp.  Alas, it was quickly over and when we turned a corner, there was the sign for the Webster Cliff Trail.

Pierce (4312')
Webster Cliff Tr (.7 mi), Mizpah Cutoff (.7 mi), Crawford Path (1.5 mi), Crawford Connector (.4 mi)

View back towards Pierce from the AT near the junction with the Webster Cliff Tr

A moment later we were on the summit of Pierce.  There were two flags, the first on a ledge just shy of the summit and one beside the summit.  We took our photos, chatted with a pair of women who had just begun their 48's journey and moved on, choosing to visit the Mizpah Hut on the way down. (Going straight down Crawford is easier and shaves a few steps off the mileage.)

View of the first flag from the Crawford Path

The Webster Cliff Trail was the toughest part of the day.  It was rocky, damp, and sometimes steep.  Still fun, as we hadn't challenged ourselves much that day!  It was nice to spend some time outside the Mizpah Hut under the increasingly cloudy sky.  Of course, Ty tried to waltz right through the open door....  We relaxed for awhile and checked out the Nauman Tentsite.  I decided we must spend a night there next year.  From the hut to the Crawford Path (Mizpah Cutoff) is far less steep than the section above but plenty wet and rocky.  My camera's battery died at the hut so no photos but much of the way back is already described from the last time we visited Pierce.  It was an enjoyable and quick hike down.  The girls let loose, chasing more little critters than on the way up, and taking their sweet time about coming back to the trail too! (Don't worry, we could hear the critters yelling at them from far up in the trees!) Carolina Dogs have a natural affinity for outdoor pursuits, a light double layer coat that makes them adjust well to all seasons, and impressive endurance.  For these reasons, they often make great hiking dogs but we have to spend quite of bit of time training to combat their other natural instinct - to chase!

This was a great hike and very, very dog approved!  Tango wasn't feeling 100% and I wasn't sure how warm it would be along the ridgeline or he would have enjoyed this one too.  We got extremely lucky with the weather; your experience may differ (noteworthy for the 2 miles spent above treeline).  Eisenhower is a great first foray into the alpine zone for green pups. (Pierce falls somewhat in the alpine zone as well but hardly enough to begin acclimating them, I don't think.)  The whole traverse might be a little long for dogs new to hiking, depending on what other activities they do regularly but that's not for me to speculate, one can always turn around.  The mountains will always be there!  Overall, the terrain offers better footing than many other trails in the Whites, which would allow for strong hikers to make this a half day adventure or, like us, take in the wonder that is the Southern Presis's.  Water is plentiful on Edmand's Path, can be obtained at the hut, and within .5 miles of the Crawford Path trailhead.  Both peaks and the AT are popular and you will likely encounter many other hikers.  We probably met about a half dozen dogs as well.  Everywhere but from Pierce's summit to the hut is easy-going as far as 4K's are concerned, and you're in the Presidential Range no less!  You can also bypass Webster Cliff Trail altogether by sticking with the Crawford Path.  Beautiful weather, fun trails with friends, and lots of compliments about Ty and my tattoos had me smiling all day (but this is about the dogs, right?!)

Mark this day - a Tybee smile caught on camera, so it must've been a great hike!

*Our suspicion is that Ty is a Carolina Dog mix, a unique and primitive breed.  They're also known as American Dingos, hence her nickname, no Aussie dingos here!

CD's also make great Ruffwear models!

A Weekend Away: Mount Garfield and Jigger Johnson Campground

             Photo of Ty and Tango courtesy of Dan S., Princess Piper's photo was taken by Liz W.

Mount Garfield via Mt Garfield Trail
Ascent: 8:15 - 11:30
Summit: 11:30 - 12:30
Descent: 12:30 - 3:30
Mileage: 10 mi

This past weekend was intended to be our second attempt at an overnight trip to the Bonds but we scrapped it again and instead decided to hike Garfield then spend the night at a campground.  Our hiking party included Linda, Liz, Dan & Molly, and our new foster pup, Piper from Saving Carolina Dogs.  I had spent the week fretting about the heat, Ty's paws, Piper's youth... but in the end decided everyone was coming.

From left to right: Tango, Ty, Piper

We hit the trail at 8:15, Ty and Molly streaking off ahead with Tango in tow.  Early light filtered through the trees and the dirt trail made for easy walking.  It continued as predominantly dirt over the first water crossing, which was shallow and easily traversed over stepping stones.  Piper was unsure and got a little lift to get her started.  After that, she was a pro!  If memory serves me correctly, there were two additional water crossings, all shallow and easy, even after the previous day's rain.  In a couple of places, the running water and trail briefly ran together.

Piper evaluating her options

After the trail left the sounds of running water behind, it climbed gradually and the trail became much rougher.  This is where my description is likely to become skewed, as this is when I started carrying Piper off and on, affecting my perception of the hike's difficulty. (This was done due to her young and still developing bones, not because she was tired by any means!) My recollection of this hike was that it was fairly easy, that we had done it in less than five hours, including nearly an hour at the summit.   But carrying a six month old Carolina Dog puppy is not quite the same experience!  Rocky sections were interspersed with nearly flat stretches of dirt trail, for which I was grateful.  It never became very steep; carrying Piper was extra work but never exhausting or difficult.  At times, it was broad (two people wide) and showed evidence of its former use for some sort of vehicular travel (I heard tractor somewhere?).  The slowly winding switchbacks also lend to the trail's easy grade.

Typical terrain variety:

The rest of the group was kindly awaiting
our arrival!

Shortly after the intersection with the Garfield Ridge Trail, as warned in the guidebooks, it became steep and hands were helpful but not necessary for climbing over waist-high rocks.  Little Piper wanted to do this section on her own and so, with lots of aid from the Web Master's handle, she scrambled her way to her first four thousand footer!

The summit was fairly busy, and for good reason; the views were stunning.  I spent plenty of time spinning around and I still don't think I took it all in.  I definitely didn't get enough photos, as if they could do justice anyhow!  What I wish I spent more time doing is trying to identify surrounding peaks.  Off to the right, Franconia Ridge was obvious and I was amused by the singular mound that is Owl's Head.  (Owl's Head is a remote and generally not well-loved 4000 footer that we had some interesting experiences on.)  After some time, we migrated to a large, flat, exposed rock slab that made a perfect seating area just below the summit (on the other side of it) where we had a little more privacy/less distractions (read: opportunities for the dogs to go begging strangers).  The tentsite (and a shelter?) is somewhere in the vicinity but I forgot to look for it for future trips.

Standing on the end of the old fire tower base, pano starts to the left and sweeps right over to Owl's Head and Franconia Ridge (below)

Testing continued for the Web Master Pro

Molly giving Piper tips on being a trail dog

Dan's become the official dog whisperer of our group hikes!

At our semi-private viewing area, we snacked, took photos, and met some other hiker dogs.  Not until later did I realize it was blissfully bug free as well, something I promise not to take for granted again!  Piper even climbed inside a spruce for a nap before we loaded up and headed down.  The rockiness presented some challenges, whether I was carrying or being pulled by Piper but all went well and we were able to jog to catch up to the group on several occasions.

At some point, Piper and I fell far behind the humans but Ty, Tango, and Molly returned to escort us back to the trailhead.  They were perfect guides for Ms Piper, who did phenomenal in her own right and was the first to fall asleep in the car.

Sled team in the making!?

As this was meant to be a weekend camping, we had our tents and sleeping bags ready and opted for the nearest campground I had a vague familiarity with: Jigger Johnson on the Kanc, just west of the intersection for Bear Notch Rd (closed in winter but offers spectacular views and also beautiful for fall leaf peaping by the way!).  To my delight, the campground had more of a laid back celebratory vibe than the quietude of start of the season, as it was last time we visited when I was much more paranoid about any little noise the dogs made.  This time, there were lots of dogs being walked, cornhole bags being tossed, and one droning little vacuum cleaner.

After picking up "essentials" (Woodchuck cider, hummus, chips....) and doing a quick, bare bones setup, this was a great way to relax and still be in the mountains.  The dogs were comfy and sleepy, as were we and after looking through the day's photos by the fire, we were all asleep within an hour of sunset.  I had the girls in my tent and after a short lived coup during which they seized control of my sleeping bag, we were in our rightful places and even the alert little dingo ladies slept well until the pre-dawn 5 o'clock hour.  We had all left the rain flies off to see the stars. Our experiences varied we but agreed it's getting quite cool at night despite it being August.  With the pups still tired/recovering, we were able to stop for breakfast and an errand before heading home, happy to have spent the better part (and best weather) of the weekend in the Whites.

Tybee: irritating squirrels across New England since 2009

My tent...

...Tango's tent.  I think he enjoyed having a human to himself!

At the time of this post, it costs $24 per night for a site plus $5 for an additional vehicle.  Info can be found here.  Sites are all within a reasonable (30 second - 5 minute walking distance) of a potable water spout, bear-proof dumpster, and toilets.  (FYI the bathrooms are flush toilets but do not have soap or lights so bring your hand sanitizer and head lamp at night!)  Sites are big enough for RV's and it's obvious some folks spend an extended amount of time camping.  Our spot fit our two cars and three tents with plenty of room to spare, really enough to throw a football around, had we brought one. Each site also includes a fire grate (3 configurations for grilling or roasting marshmallows) and picnic bench.  Being wooded sites, there were plenty of places to tether the dogs (they have begun to learn how NOT to entangle themselves) but we got lucky and there was a clearing in the tall pines where we set the tents up for stargazing.

This shows about two thirds of the campsite.  
Picnic bench and fire pit to the left, driveway behind me

Trail dogs turned camp dogs