Elevation gain: 4250 feet
Trails used: Davis Path, Stairs Col Trail, bushwhack.
Highlight(s): Davis Path, canister on the summit of Stairs Mountain-East Peak, views from the lower ledges of Mount Crawford.
The first day of winter. I actually took this day off about a month ago as Brian and I were planning to head out and tackle a peak or two for the winter season. Brian had a family emergency which worked out for him, as the weather forecast called for heavy rain to hit New Hampshire by mid day. My original plan was to hike up the Davis Path, head towards Stairs Mountain-East Peak first, then backtrack and hit Stairs Mountain, and finally Mount Resolution. The only issue would be the bad weather for the day, which I did not manage to avoid. After gearing up quick, I headed towards the Davis Path start point to begin my long mileage hike day.
Stairs Mountain-East Peak is located in Sargents Purchase, New Hampshire. There are no trails that go to the wooded, view-less summit of Stairs Mountain-East Peak so it requires a combination of trails and a bushwhack to reach its high point.
Stairs Mountain-East Peak is on the New Hampshire Two Hundred Highest List.
I parked at the Davis Path Trailhead parking area, geared up quick (to try and beat the rain) and headed down the road to begin the hike.
You cross the Bemis Bridge, which spans the Saco River as you continue along towards the start of the Davis Path.
The Saco River, which is pretty low at this time of year and no sign of ice yet.
The Davis Path trail kiosk as you are entering the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness.
This rock section along the Davis Path, which seems to get longer and better looking every time I hike this trail.
One of the steeper sections of the Davis Path just before you come out on some ledges just below the summit area of Mount Crawford.
The views from the ledges below the summit of Mount Crawford looking towards Mount Hope, Bear Mountain, Bartlett Haystack, and Mount Tremont.
The views from the ledges below the summit of Mount Crawford looking towards the Attitash Ski Area (notice the lack of snow) and Mount Parker.
As I continued along the Davis Path, I looked back and got this picture of the summit of Mount Crawford. The rain was still holding off for now. I started encountering snow and ice from here to the Stairs Col Trail junction.
The views looking towards Crawford Notch (with the rain clouds moving in) from the ledges below the summit of Mount Crawford.
The view looking back towards Stairs Mountain as I descend the Stairs Col Trail.
I descended the Stairs Col Trail, where most of the deeper snow was located, to a point where I would start the bushwhack to the summit of Stairs Mountain-East Peak.
The woods on the bushwhack were open to start, but got a little more closed in as I neared the summit of Stairs Mountain-East Peak. The rain started right around this point too.
The canister register on the summit of Stairs Mountain-East Peak (elevation: 2967 feet).
Heading back up the Stairs Col Trail as the pouring rain is turning the snow into mush.
I headed back down in a steady rain, sometimes a bit heavy and made it back to the stream crossing which was only slightly higher than when I first crossed.
I thought about staying on task and hitting the two other peaks I was after, but with the steady rain and cooler temperatures, I was starting to feel the cold rain soaking my clothing. Plus, with an almost four mile walk back to the car and me getting a pretty good leg crap and it was not a difficult choice to make. Once I was back to the car, I cranked up the heat to get warm and dry and made the long drive home.
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