Eisenhower (4780 feet)


Monday, July 22, 1996

My first Presidential!

The weather was absolutely perfect today. It was clear and cool, but not cold. There was a nice breeze blowing at the summit, but it was not particularly windy. Today was possibly the best hiking day of the summer so far. I was lucky to be actually hiking on such a day! (Side note: On the radio I heard that only two days before on the summit of Mt. Washington the wind speed had averaged 100 mph with gusts to 150 mph, the temperature was in the upper 20s, and it was snowing. You've just got to love the weather in the White Mountains!)

Today I climbed via the Edmands Path. The trail head was well marked and easy to find. There was space for many cars and many were there today. I enjoyed noticing all the different states represented on the license plates.

The trail was level at first until it reached a stream crossing. The trail then turned to parallel the stream for a while and began to climb. The climb was steady but never particularly steep. I could hear the sound of the train whistle from the Mt. Washington cog railroad as I climbed.

As the trail approached the treeline it veered to the north and skirted the top of a ravine. There were some very exceptional views of Mt. Washington and Mt. Jefferson from along the trail. The trail crossed a couple of small streams (well... they were small at that elevation at least!) that plummeted down into the ravine below. I've got to believe that there were some nice waterfalls down there someplace.

The trail then rounded the shoulder of Eisenhower and, crossing the treeline into the region of alpine tundra, connected with the Eisenhower Loop just steps away from the Crawford Path. I followed the Eisenhower Loop to the summit.

The top of Eisenhower was a broad dome of ground with a single, large cairn at the precise location of the summit. I stood on the cairn just to be sure I could say that I really was on the top, and then I ate lunch. The view was excellent in all directions. Mt. Franklin, Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, and Boott Spur were all in the foreground and perfectly visible. Many other of the White Mountains were also easily visible. In the distance I could readily make out the distinctive shapes of Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield back in my home state of Vermont.

The hike down was uneventful but overall it was an excellent trip.

Return to the 100 highest list.


© Copyright 1996 by Peter C. Chapin.
Last Revised: August 4, 1996