5,712 ft | Presidential | 1 route
Feels like -27°F
Below freezing at all elevations
~2.2°F drop per 1,000ft
Best Hiking Window
No safe window exists in the immediate 48-hour period. Monday offers modestly reduced winds (gusts to 65 mph decreasing to 35-50 mph) compared to Sunday night, but temperatures will remain below zero all day and the 1.2 miles of exposed ridge remain extraordinarily dangerous. The earliest conceivable window for experienced mountaineers only would be a carefully timed Monday attempt with an early morning start to exploit the brief midday wind lull — but summit wind chills will still reach -50°F or colder and conditions remain life-threatening. Tuesday brings increasing winds and snow. Most hikers should wait until after Tuesday's system fully passes and a true moderation in both temperature and wind is confirmed.
Trail: Valley Way, Air Line, Gulfside
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts
“Started Saturday with a hike up to Valley Way tent site. Started the rest of the hike early Sunday and made my way towards Adams and then to Jefferson a very slight trail was visible. On my way back the trail leading up to Adams was riddled with postholes that weren't there in the morning. The hike up Madison was well used and a bit longer then I remembered.”
Trail: Castle Trail, Randolph Path, Lowe’s Path
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder
“Used snowshoes the whole time! Broke trail all the way on Castle and Randolph until Lowe’s — deep, saturated powder made for exhausting work. Lowe’s was already packed for a speedy final descent. Beautiful weather out there today!”
Trail: Jewell Trail, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder
“Our crew of 6 started out from the cog lot and put on our snowshoes as soon as we crossed over the tracks. The little tunnel under the tracks is really tiny now even for fun sized folks, so we opted to gracefully climb over instead. The Jewell trail is in really nice shape. Above treeline it meanders a bit off course but it will get you where you need to go and having broken out several trails lately using creative route finding, I am not one to judge. The snow up high was rather unconsolidated. Gulfside was a combination of styrofoam snow, ice, and unpacked powder so spikes or snowshoes worked fine. We just kept on the snowshoes to keep it simple. Jefferson Loop was much the same in terms of conditions. SO many gridiots out there today coming from all directions. Clearly the bat/gridiot signal went out early and we all got the message to hit the Presis. 2 of our crew ventured onto Washington and Monroe to just enjoy the beauty of the day.”
Third highest peak with dramatic Castellated Ridge and spectacular views. Often combined with Adams or Washington for a traverse.
Elevation
5,712 ft
Range
Presidential
Rank
#3 of 48
Difficulty
Very Difficult
Coordinates
44.3042, -71.3167
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