NH 48 4000 footer in winter: Tecumseh

Saturday, March 17th, 2018
New England 48 4000 footers in winter: Tecumseh
Miles: 4.7 miles (total, out and back hike)
Elevation gained: 2022'
MapMyHike recording

After yesterday's exhausting adventure, I decided to revamp my plans and go with a hike that was guaranteed to be packed out. I checked trail reports and found that Tecumseh's trail was fully packed down, so I packed up and headed out. I got to the trailhead parking right around 7:50am; I managed to snag the last parking spot in the row near the trailhead, as everyone arrived for Waterville Valley's 8am opening. I strapped on my microspikes and headed up the trail.

It was pleasantly packed down, and I made good time up the mountain, passing two people and arriving at the top after about 1.5 hours. It was a very windy day (gusts up to 60 MPH) so snow had been blown across the trail at different points, needing further packing down.

Based on footprints, I was the first person that day to summit. I took pictures and scampered down the mountain, passing ~25 people, and arrived at my car 50 minutes later.

NH 48 4000 footers: Tecumseh

Sunday, September 3, 2017
4000 footers climbed: Mt. Tecumseh (Waterville Valley)
Miles: 5.5 (total, loop hike)
Elevation gained: ~2000'

MapMyRun recording

I got up early and left the hostel by 6:45am, heading toward Waterville Valley ski resort. The edge of a hurricane was coming in, with a cold front, high winds, and a lot of rainfall forecast, but it wasn't supposed to hit the area until at least 11am, so I hiked quickly to beat the storm.

I parked in the resort's Parking Lot #1, and found the trailhead right at the end of the parking lot (see sign above). I hiked for an hour or so, and made it to the summit (where I had to add some layers to block the chill wind). 

The summit was socked in by clouds, but as I hiked back down to my car via the ski trails, I had some beautiful views of the valley with light streaming through the clouds, and enchanting mist-wrapped ski lifts.

Despite the rough, unpredictable terrain on the ski trails, I made it down to my car by 10:30am, and beat the rain by ~20 minutes.