WINTER PERFECTION ON MOUNT TECUMSEH: 2/14/17

A snowshoe climb of an old standby...temps in the 20s, zero wind, a softly packed snowshoe track, a snow-caked forest, sharp-edged views...winter at its best.



A nice snowshoe track in the hardwoods.

An old yellow birch, at the top of the hardwood zone.

Preview of the summit view from a ski trail partway up.

Wintry corridors.

There was a respectable snow depth on the ridge.

The folks who broke out the trail (thank you!) busted through some drifts.

It's great when the blazes are at shin level.

The trail split below the summit. The right fork on Mt. Tecumseh Trail is seldom traveled in winter.

From the Sosman Trail, peering down at Bald Mountain and the Haselton Brook valley.

I hiked the last bit up to the summit with peakbagger extraordinaire "Hiker Ed" Hawkins, completer of 6 4K grids, 80 4K rounds overall, and a number of other feats. Ed runs the website 48X12.com.

Ed takes in the view towards the Osceolas.

The Osceolas and the whitened Presidentials.

Deep drifts provided some winter-only vistas around the summit area.

Expansive eastern views today.

A zoom on the remote Lost Pass area under Mt. Whiteface.

High clouds made it a world of grey and white.

The Tripyramids, with the North and South Slides both visible.

The sun returns.

Hoodoo trees.

A snowshoer enjoys the NW vista.

The views get even better...

The sweep of the Sandwich Range.

A peek at Sandwich Dome.

The little-visited Livermore Pass area, between Mt. Kancamagus and Scaur Peak.

It was very hard to leave, but after more than 2 hours in perfectly comfortable temperatures, it was time to visit another spot.

This blaze will disappear after the next snowfall.

A short bushwhack led to the southern viewpoint; with the deep drifted snow, there was no sign of the summer side path.

Looking down Tecumseh's south ridge.

Creased terrain on Sandwich Dome.

Vast southern horizons.

The Green-Hogback-Fisher Mountain group, speckled with snowy ledges.

Looking east.

A Black Hawk helicopter on a training mission kicked up a snow squall on the big north ledge of Dickey Mountain.

It was warm enough here to sit comfortably on my pack in the sun.

The inside of a frosted forest.

Moosilauke behind West Tecumseh.

Late afternoon light.

Osceola illuminated.

The Four Pyramids (Scaur Peak and the Tripyramid summits) from the ski trail viewpoint.