Mt. Tecumseh
Where: Mt. Tecumseh, Waterville Valley, NH
When: November 2, 2021
With: Solo
There are a number of reasons why this hike happened. It came up in conversation during Halloween with a neighbor who hikes, it's slightly closer than other peaks in NH, I'm in something of a lull of activities as the high school sports I cover for HCAM have moved into their post-seasons so my schedule was open, the weather looked good, peak foliage (and the crowds) had passed... But the clincher was that when the updated elevations of the NH peaks are made official next year, Mt. Tecumseh's height will be less than 4000 feet. As of today however, it is still on the official list of 48 NH 4000 foot peaks, so I decided to claim it for my #25.
I'd set the alarm for 6AM, but had a restless night. When I got up to use the bathroom and saw it was 5:47, I decided to call it a night. I dressed, put together a lunch, grabbed my gear and was out the door at 6:06. An accident on 495 led to an interesting detour through Littleton, but in general it was an uneventful ride north. I pulled into Lot 1 at the Waterville Valley ski area at 8:42, parking next to a truck already there. As I pulled my gear together and laced up my boots, another car pulled in next to me, but I was gone before he opened his door. It was 8:48.
The temperature was cool (32F) but comfortable, and I began the hike in a base layer and fleece pullover. Blue skies with a few clouds and no breeze to speak of made for perfect climbing weather. I got a trailhead photo, negotiated an immediate stream crossing (a good flow, due to recent rains), and began making my way up the trail. It was quite moderate going to start, and the first of the famous stone steps soon made their appearance. It seemed like half of the trail's length had these wonderfully constructed steps. My neighbor says he's met the man who maintains them, and they are a wonder to behold. It's difficult to comprehend the years of painstaking effort and dedication that's gone into creating them.
A second stream crossing stumped me for a bit. The crossing itself wasn't bad, but I couldn't find the continuation of the trail on the other side. A carpet of autumn leaves covered the forest floor, and it took me a few moments to find the path. The route then passed through a beautiful beech forest, where I was passed by another hiker. Presumably the guy who'd pulled in to the parking area after me. He carried a light pack and wore trail runners rather than boots. We exchanged greetings and I took the opportunity to pause while he continued on. I glanced after him and noted he'd broken into a trot. I drank some water and shed my fleece, stowing it in my pack. Shortly afterward, the trail dipped down a good bit to a third stream crossing. Stone steps led down to the water, then up the opposite side.
At this point the trail began to climb in earnest. Interestingly, I was able to keep up a constant, steady pace, without the occasional stops I usually take. Maybe the trail wasn't as tough, or perhaps I'm in better shape (not!), or it might be because I had been using my hiking poles the entire hike. I typically stow them in my pack on the climb, and break them out for the descent, but for some unknown reason I wound up carrying them when I started. Rather than stop and stow them, I extended them and began using them to steady myself and propel myself up the trail.
A bit after the stream crossing, a side trail lead to an opening in the trees, with the ski slope just beyond. The main trail made a turn away, and I went a few steps up it before something made me look back and notice a sign post at the junction that I'd somehow overlooked. I retreated back to it and found a small sign - "View". Never one to pass up a "view", I followed the side trail out to the slope, and sure 'nuf, there was a view. The ski slope in the foreground and the Tripyramids in the distance. Well worth the short detour.
Back on the trail, there were more stone steps. Lots and lots of stone steps. In spots, there were signs of recent work to maintain them. Finally, I looked up one set of steps and saw daylight! The summit was nigh! At the top of the steps the path eased considerably, and soon came to another side path. A sign there indicated the summit was 0.3 miles further, but gave no indication of where the side path led.
A bit more walking brought me to a split in the trail I'd been looking for. A recent trail report I'd read had mentioned it, saying both routes led to the summit, and a sign at the split indicated the same. The path to the left climbed from the split, while the right fork started going downhill. I was tempted to take the high road, but the low road was blazed yellow...the continuation of the trail I'd been on all morning. I figured I'd go that way, and return on the blue-blazed other path.
I began regretting the decision as the trail continued to drop. After all the climbing I'd done, I hated giving up any elevation. In addition, the trail seemed to be going further away from the summit. I stopped and checked my trail map app just to be sure I was on the right route, but it confirmed all was well, so I continued.
Eventually the trail turned toward the summit and began climbing. It wasn't too much longer before I emerged to the summit area. It was just before 10:30AM, so an hour and 40 minutes for the climb. An older man was there, sitting and enjoying the view. His water bottle cover indicated his name was Ed Hawkins. We greeted each other and he tossed me a few Snickers mini bites. While I took some photos, we chatted. He asked where I was from and pointed out the peaks we could see. He seemed impressed that I could identify the Tripyramids. As we talked, I noticed a few flakes of snow in the air. First flakes of the season for me.
After a bit Ed rose, hitched up his pack, and departed. As he headed out, he offered a few pointers for the return trip, telling me about a side path to a view point and suggesting I follow the Sosman Trail (the blue blazed "high road") out to the ski slope, and walk down the slope for the views and the change of route. I'd planned to follow the Sosman back to the fork, but wasn't keen on walking down a ski slope, but said I'd consider it. I stayed on the summit for a bit after he left, taking pictures and toasting my climb, but the wind picked up, the sun went behind some clouds, and it began to get quite chilly. I'd already put my fleece back on, but it wasn't enough. Though I had a jacket in my pack, I decided I'd just get going, figuring I'd warm up soon enough once I began walking. I started down at 10:45AM.
I headed down the Sosman trail and quickly came to the side path Ed had mentioned. It led to a view and an obvious bandit campsite. I was still pretty cold though and didn't linger at either spot. Back on the trail, I passed a couple of guys making their way up, then a few steps more got me to the split and back on to the Mount Tecumseh trail. A few steps after that brought me to the mystery side trail I'd seen on the way up. Blue blazes confirmed it was the continuation of the Sosman trail, heading out to the ski slope. I didn't give it much consideration at all, and just kept going back down the trail I'd followed up.
The stone steps made for quick descending, and I soon caught up with Ed, making his way carefully down the trail. We had another quick chat, then he turned his attention to two young women ascending the trail. As I passed by them, I heard him asking them where they were from. A short while later, a large brown dog came bounding up the trail to me. It turned and returned down when a call rang out, and I soon met up with an older couple and a second dog. Also large, it had a shaggy white coat, covered in mud!
I kept up my quick pace, bouncing down the trail (and the steps when they were available). In fairly short order I was back to the first of the stream crossings. As I climbed up out of the streambed's gulley, I know the worst of the descent was over. I relaxed a bit and made note of the beautiful stand of beech trees that surrounded the trail. A woman came out of a side trail, pointing out a skier's hut she'd just checked out. She said she'd hiked the mountain many times, but had never noticed it before (hidden by leaves?). She asked about the weather up top. Another hiker appeared a bit further along, a man hiking solo and wearing headphones(?). He said he'd had the day off and decided to go for a climb.
There was one more encounter with other hikers, a young couple, and then I was back at the trailhead. It was just noon, and my walk down had taken an hour and 15 minutes (25 minutes less than the climb). I counted 11 cars in the lot, and had noted 12 people other than myself on the trails. I made quick work of stowing my gear and changing my footwear before aiming the car back toward home. I landed back home at 2:30.
After thoughts:
Hike length: 5.2 miles
Elevation gain: 2,283 ft
The AMC White Mountain Guide says 2 hours 20 minutes to the summit. It took me an hour and 40 minutes.
Stuff taken, not used: jacket, hat, gloves, microspikes, map, headlamp, emergency bag, power stick for phone, most of my food (ate it when I got back to the car), most of the water!
