White Mountain Trip, July 3 - July 6

Info

We'll be doing the Presidential Range in the White mountains. It is approximately a 30 mile loop with about 10,000 ft of elevation over three days. While hard, it has some of the most picturesque trails in the East coast.

Dates and Times

Trip Dates: Thursday 7/3, 2 PM - Sunday 7/6

Times: We leave at 2 PM on Thursday from the Columbia Gates at Amsterdam

Trip Meeting: Monday June 30 at 8 PM at the Lou Gehrig Lounge at the Gym.

Eligibility

This is a hard trip. Not only do the Whites have the tallest peaks on the East coast, they are also the most dangerous because of its shifting weather conditions and wind. Additionally part of the trip is above the treeline. The weather will probably be OK, but we need to be prepared for extreme windy and cold weather, and make a quick run for tree cover if we are exposed above the treeline and we run into freak weather.
So you can only come on this trip if you are very fit and you have been on hilly multi-day trips carrying a full pack. This is not a trip for first-timers or for people who haven't gone up 3000 - 4000 ft in a day with a full pack. So unless you have come on rigorous multi-day camping trips with the club, or are used to very rigorous multi-day rips with full packs, please wait for an easier trip to sign up.
You also need to attend the meeting on June 30 to come on the trip as we'll work out the route and logistics then. At the meeting we'll figure out

What equipment is needed from the coop (tents, packs, bags, pads), and coordinate getting them.
What food we paln to take along. The people responsible for food will work out the details.
Logistics
Details about the trip itself and what to expect.

Signup

The Trip cost is $60 and includes food . The trip-size is limited to 10 (groups larger than 10 are not allowed to camp or travel together in the Whites). This is the current list of people on the trip.

Name	Email	Tel	Responsible For
Ian Halim	ian.halim@gmail.com	301 704 2620	Driving, Route Conditions, Water
Raj Kumar	raj@cs	212 854 0513	Route Planning, Logistics

The Logistics

We'll meet on Monday 6/30and work out food and equipment. A couple of people will collectively get food for the whole group. This is typical of what we carry. A couple of others will coordinate getting any equipment that people need from coop (a place in Columbia we can rent stuff from). A couple of others will work out the logistics: the exact route, reservations for parking etc, last-minute weather reports, trail-conditions etc. We'll meet at 1:30 PM Thursday and leave promptly at 2 PM. The estimated driving time is 5 and a half hours. We'll stop to eat a quick dinner on the way and reach a parking lot around 8 PM. The camp-ground is 3 easy miles from the parking-lot, so we'll hike for an hour to the camp-ground Thursday night (in the dark, so bring a flashlight or a headlamp). We'll reach the camp-ground and setup camp around 9 PM. We'll aim to get back there after lunchtime (around 2 PM) Sunday. We'll have to carry breakfast for 3 days and lunch, dinner for 2 days. There usually is plenty of water available along the way.

Travel

We leave from 116 and Amsterdam at 2 PM Thursday (9/27) and drive to NH. Mapquest estimates a travel time of five and a half hours. Since we'll stop to get a quick dinner on the way, we should reach Lincoln Woods around 8 PM.

The Hike (The Presidentials)

Thursday night we'll park at the Lincoln Woods visitor Center, and camp at the Franconia Brook Tentsite. Friday night we'll camp at the AMC Galehead Hut, and Saturday night we'll camp at the Liberty Spring Tentsite. The exact details will be worked out closer to the trip.

Thursday

Thursday Total	3	300	1

Friday

Friday Total	11	4000	10

Saturday

Saturday Total	10	2800	9

Sunday

Sunday Total	8	1200	5.5

Day-by-day Summary

Day	Distance	Elevation Gain	Estimated Walking Time
Thursday	3	300	1
Friday	11	4000	10
Saturday	10	2800	9
Sunday	8	1200	5.5
Total	32	8300	25.5

Summary

In total we'll be doing 32 miles, and gaining more than 10000 ft in elevation and we'll be trekking over 25 hours with full-packs over three days. Make sure you are up to it.

Weather

On average, around this time of the year the daytime temperatures of this area range from 50 - 70 degrees F (10 to 20 C) and the nighttime temperatures range from 30-45 degrees F (-1 to 7 C). Mt. Lafayette is th highest peak we'll be going over (at 5260 ft). Live weather information can be found here.

Equipment

You'll need

Individual

Cold weather clothes: hat, mitten/gloves, fleece/sweaters
Wet weather clothes: waterproof jacket, pants
Sleeping Bag/pad
Comfortable Backpack
Boots, liner socks and thick woolen socks
Non-cotton layers

Container to hold 2-3 quarts of water
Unbreakable mug, plate, fork/spoon
Flashlight/headlamp
Toilet-paper, toothbrush
Dinner or cash for dinner Thursday night

Collective

Tent
Stove, Gas
Bear-bag
Rope
First-Aid kit
Water purification

The coop has sleeping-bags, pads, backpacks and tents we can borrow for a nominal amount. Individuals are responsible for things borrowed from the coop. You can contact Coop by emailing coop@columbia.edu.

Do not bring

Textbooks
Personal Electronics (if you bring a cell-phone, keep it turned off)
New boots
Your own food
Heavy cameras

Optional

Suntan lotions
Insect repellants
Personal medication
Sandals

Miscellany

Links

AMC
Whites
Trail Conditions

Summer 04 Trip

In Summer '04 we went to the Presidential Range in the Whites. Here are pictures from then. Fall 04 Trip And a thanks to Jaffrie Perrotti (jap2145) for suggesting the route.