Presidential Traverse

The Presidential Mountain Range is the focal point of the White Mountains in central New Hampshire. Composed of eleven peaks, this range is known for its extreme weather with Mt. Washington at the pinnacle. The summit of Mt. Washington has seen some of the coldest temperatures and highest wind speeds ever recorded.

Preparation

The infamous Presidential Traverse is a thru-hike (point to point) with over 20 miles between the starting and finishing locations. At approximately 9:30 P.M my best friends Alex, Nolan, and I met at the southern trailhead. We had not seen each-other for over a year making it a welcomed reunion.

We left a vehicle at this trail head and all piled into the second car to head to the northern access point of the traverse. We got re-aquatinted on our 45 minute trek north. Upon arrival, we pitched our tents, cooked a luxurious feast consisting of ramen and pre-cooked sausage links, and crawled into our sleeping bags ready for the day ahead.

The Crack of Dawn

With over 20 miles of trail and 8,000 feet of elevation between us and our final destination, our journey began at 4:30 A.M. Our trek began well before sunrise with a straight vertical ascent out of the parking lot. As the sun began to rise the dense forest surrounded us.

Rising Above the Trees

As the sun broke over the horizon, a completely new landscape was exposed; giving us

a glimpse of the day ahead of us. A warning sign making us aware of the dangers ahead humbled us. With determination and composure, we continued onward into some of the most impressive terrain found on the east coast!

Hitting Stride

We began to settle into our hike. With our first five miles under our belt, the full scope of the journey ahead became brutally apparent.With two summits and 3,000 feet

of elevation behind us, a small fraction of our goal had been completed and fatigue began to set in. At this point, our first view of Mount Washington came into sight. The summit of the North East is often recognized as the halfway mark of the traverse. Our watches read, 9 A.M. (4 hours into our hike).

Persistence

As morning faded to afternoon, the trek continued to be strenuous. From Summit to summit, the end did not seem to be getting closer. Snacks became our fuel and motivation to continue onward. The surface of the trail transitioned from dirt to a field of boulders.

The summit of Mount Washington was at our finger tips. Step after step, we looked forward to reaching the climax of our journey, the top of the North East.

Our efforts began to feel senseless as we began to encounter cars, trains and people completing shorter day hikes. The trail faded from tranquility to chaos. Lines of hikers added to our struggles providing yet another obstacle between us and the finish line.

At the pinnacle of the White Mountains we indulged in our much deserved lunches. We nestled ourselves at the foundation of the weather station hiding from both the wind and the mobs of people.

Packing up our gear, we realized we made a mistake. Both wasting precious daylight and letting our bodies get cold seemed to have put a dent in our morale. The sun was sitting lower in the sky and many miles of trail still remain in our future.

Golden Hour

As the sun began to lower in the sky, we gained a burst of energy in the enchanting sunset. This was a sun set that truly defined the meaning of golden hour. It felt like a fairy tale. Watching the winding trail follow the ridge line for as far as our eyes could see, our boots lifted step after step as our minds were lost in the setting sun.

Peak after peak, the presidential range does not let up. Although we had already reached the highest point of the hike, there was plenty of elevation to be gained.

The colors of the sky evolved with the descending sun. Gold has faded to orange, yellow, pink, and purple. The rolling mountain landscapes painted layers across the vista.

One peak lay between us and the final decent to the southern trail head. We scrambled to the concluding crest to watch the sun fall below the horizon.

Darkness

The glory and energy from the setting sun has dissipated. Darkness has set in. As the descending trail fell below the tree line, our head lamps lit up the rugged trail. Our bodies were experiencing true fatigue. Quitting seemed like the easiest route; yet, it was not an option. The dropping temperatures laid a slick layer a dew across the forest floor adding to the challenge of safely arriving back at the car. The trail felt like it was never going to end. The darkness was disorientating and we began to doubt the trail would ever come to an end.

The Finale

Through the distant forest I couldn't believe my eyes. Lights tracked across the horizon. It could only have been one thing, the road. Before we knew it, we stood at the edge of a mountain high way set below a full sky of stars. A short jaunt down the road, we melted into the car and took off our shoes. The smell was not pleasant but we were too tired to care.

My Garmin read statistic that I couldn't believe. 27 miles. 8,000 feet of elevation. Over 15 hours on trail.

This hike far exceeded my expectations in terms of difficulty. Hiking the Presidential Traverse with my best friends will always remain in my memories. The day came to an end on a note that none of us were proud of; spending $40 at the McDonald's drive thru dollar menu before crawling back into our tents.