I hiked up the Champney Falls Trail off the Kanc to the top of Mt. Chocorua today, accompanied by a friend. This was my first hike in the Whites over a completely snow-covered trail, and it was probably as mild as it could be. The temperature at the parking lot was about 35 °F.
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| approach to summit of Mt Chocorua |
The trail was completely covered in packed snow, so the going was very easy. I wore microspikes, which provided plenty of traction. I think it could probably be done bare-booted, but it would also probably be annoying and slow going.
Trail conditions are very good right now. There are just a few tricky bits. As you get into the switchbacks near the top, there are some short sections that are covered in thick ice. Also, once in a while I'd see a footstep where the snow had been completely scraped away to reveal a thick layer of glassy ice. None of this is a problem when using microspikes. With the forecast calling for rain this week, though, it wouldn't surprise me if the trail becomes much more slippery and difficult very soon.
The only slightly scary part occurs when you get to the top. Chocorua is very exposed, and I find it nerve-racking when the trail at the top goes clambering up and over some blocky rocks. It is definitely worth the effort, though!
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| view from top of Mt Chocorua to Carter Ledge |
We got lucky today. It can be extremely windy at the top of Chocorua, which would make for a brutal windchill in the winter. However, there were just a few mild gusts at the top.
I just bought a brand new winter jacket at EMS, yesterday (yay, sale days!). I wore it on this trip. I only wore a long-sleeved shirt underneath, but even so, it turned out that I was overdressed. I hiked with my jacket unzipped for most of the trip, and even then I really felt too warm.
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| USGS survey marker at the top of Mt Chocorua |
I ran into a bit of a problem about halfway up the trail. I started to feel some rubbing at the back of my left ankle, and I could tell that I was developing a blister. This happens to me a lot, far too often! Usually, I bring blister packs on my hikes, but I had forgotten to do so this time. I didn't want to turn around... I searched through my pack. I didn't have much extra stuff - a whistle, compass, emergency poncho in a mini-bag, etc. This was all packed into a plastic shopping bag from the grocery store. I thought about using the mini-bag that held the poncho as a makeshift bandage across my ankle, but was worried that it would shift around too much once I started moving again. My friend said "why not try the plastic bag?" Hm! I pulled off my boot and sock, and wrapped the bag around my foot and ankle, so the bag covered my foot starting from the arch and going all the way up my ankle. My friend helped me put the sock back on over the bag, which squeezed the bag in place. Then the boot went back on. It seems crazy, but this worked! I noticed that the bag stuck to my skin due to a bit of moisture, and it stopped the skin on my ankle from being rubbed directly. This might get too sweaty in the summer, but it was perfect for winter conditions.
This was my second hike to the top of Mt. Chocorua. I took the Liberty Trail last time. That approach to Chocorua seems steeper and more difficult than today's. The Champney Falls Trail has a mere 2,250 feet in elevation gain, as compared with the Liberty Trail's 2,700 foot gain.
