Presidential Traverse
By John Klebes
With the weather on our side, eight of us started out on our "Death March" of the Presidential Traverse on Saturday, June 21st, 2003. Starting from the Appalachia parking lot around 4:30 a.m., we were certainly not the first climbers as we reached a packed parking lot. Thanks to the summer solstice we had no need for headlamps as we started up in beautiful weather. We made quick work of the 3500-foot climb to Madison Spring AMC Hut via the Valley Way Trail.
From Madison Hut we broke up into three groups with Ann Marie and Mike traveling the AT looping around the summits, and the rest of us breaking into a fast and a slower climbing team. After my mandatory cup of coffee at the hut, we ran up to the spectacular summit of Madison with views for miles in every direction. From Madison we made the rocky traverse over Mt. Adams, through Thunderstorm Junction and into Edmands Col.
We were using radios to stay in touch between our three groups, and in Edmands Col, we got word that Sam had turned her ankle on the climb over Adams. We regrouped in Edmands Col, and Sam and Josh reviewed some of the options that where available if Sam could not finish the traverse. After icing the ankle in a snowfield that we had to cross getting to Jefferson, she felt better, and Josh and Sam were able to continue on to the summit of Mt. Washington and exited via the Ammonoosuc Ravine to the car we had spotted at the halfway point.
Ed, Rick and I, followed by Al, continued on to summit Jefferson, through Sphinx Col to Mt. Clay, and on to the summit of Mt. Washington. All the while coming in and out of radio and visual contact with Ann Marie and Mike as we leapfrogged each other around the summits.
On the summit of Mt. Washington we were greeted with crowds of people cheering on the road racerunners that had come up the auto road - another annual tradition on the Summer Solstice. I also got a chance to meet up with the "Highpointers Club," which I am also a member of, and was able to participate in a group picture. Highpointers Club members were on the summit for a memorial service and the spreading of ashes of one of our founding members.
On the way down to Lakes of the Clouds AMC Hut we met up with Richard Harris and Bob Morgan, who where climbing Washington as a day hike with the PVHC White Mountain Sampler group. It was a real treat to meet them midpoint in our traverse. At Lakes our group met back up with Ann Marie and Mike, and got word that Al, Josh, and Sam were on their way up Mt. Washington.
With many miles still to go, Ed, Rick and I headed out over Mt. Monroe, Mt. Franklin, and Mt. Eisenhower. What fantastic views in all directions and great weather we had - a real treat for the White Mountains. At this point, Ann Marie and Mike would be traveling down the Crawford Path, followed by Al, after a quick stop at the summit of Mt. Pierce. Meanwhile, Josh and Sam had made the summit and traveled down via the Ammonoosuc Ravine, so it was just the three of us left heading over the last long stretch of the southern end of the traverse. We headed up Mt. Pierce and down to Mizpah AMC Hut and on to the summits of Mt. Jackson and Mt. Webster. Heading down the Webster-Jackson Trail we were very tired, but with a successful 25-mile traverse, felt a real sense of accomplishment. Ed, Rick and I finished about 7:45 p.m. Having completed the traverse in 15 hours and 15 minutes, we beat book time by well over two hours. Mike and Ann Marie had hiked a total of 17.6 miles and 5760 ft of elevation gain. One could not have asked for a better weather day, better company, or better views. While each of us did a slightly different hike, all of them were major accomplishments, and I'm proud to say we have some hardcore hikers in this club. Well done, Ed, Rick, Al, Ann Marie, Mike, Josh, and Sam!
- John Klebes