This trip is becoming a MITOC tradition in its third year! Join us on an overnight, above treeline, two day long tour of the best of the Northern Presidentials. We will depart Boston very early (like 4am) on Saturday, spend Saturday night at the RMC Crag Camp Cabin, and return Sunday night. The total distance hiked over both days will be 18-20 miles, with 7,300’ of elevation gain. Physical fitness and love of adventure required!

The hike

On Saturday we will start at the Appalachia trailhead and hike ~3 miles with 3000’ of elevation gain to Crag Camp. After we claim our spots in the cabin we will evaluate conditions and hike either Mt Madison (5,367’) or Mt Jefferson (5,712’), with possible addition of Mt Adams (5,793’) to either of these, for an additional 4.5-5.5 miles and 2200’ of elevation gain. We will return to the cabin for a delicious backcountry dinner and plenty of bad jokes and good stories. On Sunday we will hike whichever peak we did not choose on Saturday, again for 4.5-5.5 miles and about 2200’ of gain, and then hike out from Crag Camp back down to Appalachia, reversing our initial ~3 mi and 3000’ hike in. This is a strenuous two day route and requires endurance and efficiency. We will practice using crampons, self arrest techniques with ice axes, and cooking on backcountry stoves. Here is a map.

The cabin

This is a great intro to winter camping, as we are staying in an unheated cabin. The RMC Crag Camp cabin has amazing views of Kings Ravine, an outhouse, and is $25 per person per night-- bring cash!

Note: the forecast predicts a heavy snowstorm on Saturday night, with up to 16-17” of snow falling on the higher summits. This trip plan may adapt to the weather both before the weekend and while we are out.