--5 mi RT--
--#48--
Over the past week, we've experienced A LOT of rain and even snow in northern NH (yes in May!) Finally a break comes with promises of blue skies. It was really windy and chilly all day but it didn't prevent my friends and I from hiking our first 4,000 Footer of the year (for some, it was their first one ever!)
Mt. Tecumseh is located in Waterville Valley. Take Exit 28 off from 93 n/s. Follow that road until Tripoli Road on the left. Follow it until the ski area. Turn onto the ski area road and park in lot 1. (no fees). The trail-head is located next to the parking area.
When I was planning this, I wanted to hike something bigger but not too crazy. So I decided to hike Mt. Tecumseh since its the smallest on the 4,000 Footer's list reaching at 4,003 feet.
On our drive down, the Presidentials and Franconia Notch were covered with snow. I was worried that this mountian would have as much snow as Cannon Mountain did, but thankfully there wasn't! The weather was beautiful, the leaves on the trees bright green.
From the amount of rain we got within the past week, I'm surprised the stream we had to cross wasn't any deeper! It was still difficult finding rocks to step on to get across.
There was A LOT of mud...this wasn't even the worst! My hiking boots are covered in mud!
This is from the first view point (and I think half way point)
It was SOOOO steep...pretty much the majority of the hike was like this!
The summit is at that clear opening in the upper left hand side of this picture
LOOK AT THIS VIEW! :D
I'm making this picture bigger because it's a little difficult to see Mt. Washington in the distance, covered in snow. What a beautiful sight!
Group photo!
When we got to the top, two other hikers were up there. Then gradually more and more hikers reached the top, not even 10 minutes after us. It was crazy how close together all 21 (YES 21) of us hikers reached the top within close time coming from all different trails. The summit quickly became busy and was just too much. On our decent, there were many more hikers climbing up.
I LOVE stopping and talking to other hikers. Everyone is so friendly! Most were surprised we began our hike at 8 AM. At that time, we were the only car in the lot.
Love this :) It was a great photo op.
This hike was challenging because of the steepness. I personally feel hiking other larger mountains are easier than this!
But get out there and hike!
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