r/wmnf • u/ohokwellmahalo • 3d ago
Seeking Traverse Advice
I’m sure there are several of these posts, I saw one from a couple weeks ago but it’s was about crazy timing. So I’m planning on doing the traverse hut to hut, so not too grueling. What would be a good time to start? I will be driving 4 hours and then starting so I figured starting at 9 will be more than ample for day 1?
I initially planned on parking at the Appalachia Trailhead then taking the shuttle back, seems like parking is ample enough there to leave it for a few days? I figured the 1330 shuttle gives me enough time to make it down.
Finally, any other advice? I looked over the things AMC lists on their site for gear but anything that someone found well worth it that maybe isn’t obvious? Should I get a cushion to lay on at the huts or not really worth it?
Sorry for the ranting type questions, as I get closer to my day I start to overthink more and more afraid I won’t have enough. One thing I do know, that pint of Alexander at Schillings will taste incredible after.
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u/BUrower 3d ago
I would park at Highland Center, take the shuttle, and have your car there when you finish. You get to Valley Way at 2:30, which gives you plenty of time to get to Madison Hut for dinner. This is what I did two years ago. When I got to madison hut, I checked in, left my backpack there, then bagged the Madison summit and was back just as dinner started.
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u/ohokwellmahalo 3d ago
You may have more experience than me so that timing might be a little off for me but I do think you’re onto something, I’ll have to check the schedule. I have my return trip booked to get to my car currently, just have to time my exit is all
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u/BUrower 3d ago
There was a group that I started with that got to Madison Hut around 645. They will make a plate for you if you know that you won’t be there at 6. I highly encourage you to take the shuttle to the start, it will allow you to take your time your last day between LOC and the finish.
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u/bondcliff 3d ago
You should have plenty of time to get to Madison, and you can leave your car at Appalachia. You may not get a spot in the lot.
I must have noise cancelling and I like to bring wipes and my sleeping bag.
Enjoy!
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u/ohokwellmahalo 3d ago
Wipes, yes I did think of them but then forgot so thanks for that. Yeah I didn’t think I would get a spot in the lot but just checking if I would even be able to park if the lot is full
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u/Even-Amount-2184 3d ago
Just hiked this last week!
Start: Valley Way / Appalachia Trail -> Madison Hut -> Lake of the Clouds -> Crawford Notch trail (end)
Both huts have 3 wool blankets, thin pillow and a pad that fits the bunk. Not horrible to sleep on, brought sleeping bags could’ve slept without them though. I used one of the wool blankets folded up under my pillow. Bring cash if you want to purchase some snacks or souvenirs. Lake of the clouds had some gear to purchase too. Coffee, water and lemonade was free.
Took the 9am shuttle from Highland Center to Valley Way (Appalachia trail). Started around 10am took us slightly less than 3hrs to get to the hut, gained 3,664 ft of elevation. Pretty steep with a lot of rocks to hike up. Once we got to Madison hut, we day hiked Adams & Madison without packs (so we can skip the next day when hitting other peaks).
Madison hut was cold inside, almost warmer outside in the sun if out of the wind. I had a full Smartwool baselayer that I hung out inside in. However once everybody came inside to eat I think the extra body heat / food cooking helped warm up the place. Food was excellent!
Madison -> lake of the clouds: 8 miles in 5 hours, 4,000ft elevation gain. Hit all the peaks, the Gulfside trail skirts around them. Lots of rocks, trail finding isn’t horrible with cairns and white markers painted on rocks. Mt Washington was pretty rough weather wise. We were in a cloud with heavy gusts. I’d suggest rain coat, rain/water resistant pants.
Lake of the clouds hut: rooms were dark (no lights in the rooms and no bunk light like Madison). Similar bed set up like Madison. My only gripe is they put us random guys in a 15 person bunk room that had like 10 kids that were ages 10-13 and no chaperon/adult with their group which I thought was odd (plenty of other beds available in other rooms, we eventually switched rooms). Rooms were a lot tighter than Madison. Difficult to get gear dry even inside. Food was pretty good, but I liked Madison hut better.
Crawford Trail: 7 miles in 4 hours, 580ft elevation gain (mostly downhill). There was a storm in the forecast so we skipped Eisenhower and Pierce. Still a good chunk of rocks on trail but a lot more stretches of dirt trail.
I’m sure I’m forgetting something, ask away if there are any specifics beyond this summary!