Snowfield Traversal

Lore & Background

Beginning the journey at the northern end at Mount Madison, one would pass through the townships of (in order, going in a generally south-southwesterly direction) Low and Burbank's Grant, Thompson and Meserve's Purchase, Sargent's Purchase, Chandler's Purchase, and Bean's Grant (at Mount Pierce), all of which are in Coös County.

In Their Own Story

The classic Presidential Traverse kicks off from a trailhead on U.S. Route 2 or at the Dolly Copp Campground, then claws its way across the great ridge of the range before plunging down to Crawford Notch at the southern end—or you can run it in reverse. Covering roughly 23 miles with 9,000 feet of elevation gain, this route demands you bag the summits named after U.S. presidents. From north to south, that gauntlet includes: Mount Madison (James Madison), Mount Adams (John Adams), Mount Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson), Mount Washington (George Washington), Mount Monroe (James Monroe), Mount Eisenhower (Dwight Eisenhower), and Mount Pierce (Franklin Pierce). If you're short on time or grit, you can trim the distance to 20.4 miles by sticking to standard through trails—but you'll skip the summits and miss the full experience.

Reader's Guide

The basic Presidential Traverse begins from a trailhead on U.S. Route 2 or at the Dolly Copp Campground at the northern end of the Presidentials, crosses the great ridge of the range and ends in Crawford Notch at its southern terminus, or vice versa. A hiker making such a journey would travel about 23 mi, with 9000 ft of elevation gain. By definition, a 'presidential' traverse requires a participant to cross over the summits of peaks named after U.S. presidents. Listed from north to south, they are: Mount Madison, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Mount Monroe, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Pierce. The total distance could be shortened to 20.4 mi by only taking standard through trails, but you would not summit all peaks. A traverse which collects all of the trail-accessible peaks in the Presidential Range includes (from north to south): Mount Clay, Mount Franklin, Mount Jackson, Mount Webster. Adding these peaks increases total mileage traveled and elevation gain to 22.8 mi and 10041 ft. Several minor peaks ineligible for the list due to lack of prominence have no maintained trails leading to their summits. Hiking off-trail is prohibited; however, some hikers have bushwhacked them as part of a traverse. These include: Mount Sam Adams, Mount JQ Adams, Mount Abigail Adams, Adams V. There are several campsites and huts along the route: Valley Way Tent Site (free, first come first served), Madison Springs Hut (expensive, co-ed bunk accommodations), Lakes of the Clouds Hut (expensive, co-ed bunk accommodations), Mizpah Spring Hut (expensive, co-ed bunk accommodations), Naumann Tent Site (inexpensive, first come first served). Hazards include challenging terrain, inclement weather, and costly search and rescue operations. The difference in elevation between the highest point (Mt. Washington summit) and lowest point along a Presidential Traverse is about 5000 ft, but total elevation gain is closer to 9000 ft. Including the principal sub-peaks stretches this to about 10000 ft. The traverse involves about the same amount of elevation loss as gain.

Did You Know?

• Mount Washington long held the record for the highest wind speed ever recorded at the Earth's surface, clocking 231 mph.
• Mount Clay is named for Henry Clay, a senator from Kentucky and contemporary of Daniel Webster.
• Mount Jackson is named not for President Andrew Jackson but for Charles Thomas Jackson, who served as State Geologist for New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island.
• Mount Franklin is named for Benjamin Franklin and is a sub-peak of Mount Monroe.