We'll be hiking Mount Pierce (4,310') and, if time and conditions allow, Mount Eisenhower (4,760') via the Crawford Path. Both Presidentials with exposured summits and great views (assuming there are any that day). The day will involve some "type two" fun, but likely also some type one.

8.6 miles and 3300' elevation gain. The trail is smooth and rises steadily, but conditions are likely to be poor and variable following mixed precipitation Saturday and another overnight freeze, making this a difficult hike. We'll likely snowshoe at times and hike in microspikes or just boots with snowshoes on our backs at other points. We might be the first group to do this hike after the Saturday precipitation, so we'll be finding out trail conditions in real-time. If you have an adventurous spirit, a propensity for "type two fun", and would consider yourself fit enough for a 10-mile, 3500' hike in average winter conditions, you should be fine fitness-wise; otherwise you're likely to have a bad time. You don't need to have snowshoed before, but this shouldn't be your very first winter hike in deep snow or difficult mixed conditions. Please reach out if you have any questions about your fitness and readiness!

We will be above treeline briefly on Pierce and again for a significant amount of time on Eisenhower. It is likely to be cold (5-10F) and windy (30-40mph, gusting higher; windchill could be as low as -20F) so everyone will need a FULL FACE COVERING (goggles and balaclava or other lower-face covering with no gaps). We will check face coverings at the pretrip meeting, so make sure you are able to bring yours. You don't need to have experienced windchills as low as we are expecting, but you should have at least been out before in either the temperatures or the wind we are expecting so that you have some idea what to expect. Again us know if you have any question about your experience and readiness!

This trip will have a mandatory pre-trip meeting at 6pm on Thursday (before the safety lecture) in the MITOC Office (W20-461).