On a cold and windy day I headed up to Randolph for a snowshoe loop over a series of lower elevation Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) trails. The highlight was the little-used trail known as Cliffway, which leads past three viewpoints, two of which provide a unique angle on King Ravine. Along the way I set snowshoes onto twelve different trails.
There were no cars at the Appalachia parking area when I pulled in at 11:00 am - a rarity. A short distance up Air Line, I turned onto a gentle section of The Link, swishing through a couple inches of fresh powder atop a thin packed base.
The Link passes by an extensive maple sugaring operation with a special use permit from the Forest Service.
Memorial Bridge over Cold Brook.
On to The Amphibrach, one of the most pleasant trails in the Northern Presidentials.
A short side path leads to Cold Brook Fall.
Excellent snowshoeing on Amphibrach, with 4-6" of new powder atop a beautifully packed track. This is part of one of two main routes used to reach the RMC's winterized Gray Knob cabin.
First tracks.
As I turned onto the Monaway, I knew the trail breaking was about to get a whole lot harder.
It looked like no one had been on this trail all winter.
Slow going in deep unconsolidated snow.
Beautiful wintry forest.
No January thaw this year.
A picturesque winter day.
Approaching the junction with the Ladderback Trail. Monaway bears left here.
Reaching the junction with Cliffway. This "pleasure path," along with Monaway, Ladderback Trail and Along the Brink, was cut in 1933 by longtime Randolphian, the mapmaker Louis F. Cutter.
The snow was shallower and the breaking easier in the conifer forest on this shoulder of Nowell Ridge.
One of the objectives for this hike was to check on the state of the viewpoints. First up was King Cliff.
Looking good!
On the L, Mt. Madison peers over Durand Ridge. King Ravine is well-displayed. On the R, wind-driven clouds and snow are whipping across the summit of Mt. Adams.
A scene along Cliffway.
At the next viewpoint, Bog Ledge, the view has become partly restricted. Still pretty nice.
After another 0.3 mile Cliffway reaches north-facing White Cliff.
To get the open view here, one must go onto the path known as Along the Brink. At 20 yards long it may be the shortest named trail in the Whites. Its name is literal, and the west end of it is potentially dangerous in winter.
I dropped down to the safer middle part of the trail from behind, and enjoyed the view of the Pliny Range behind the western end of the Crescent Range. L to R are Mt. Starr King, Mt. Waumbek, and the three peaks of Mt. Weeks.
Directly across the valley is the Crescent Range. L to R: Mt. Randolph, Lookout Ledge (below), Mt. Crescent, and part of Black Crescent Mountain, showing a talus slope known as "Crescent Scar."
Leaving Along the Brink and heading back to Monaway on the Ladderback Trail.
Along the Ladderback Trail.
In the hardwood section of Ladderback Trail I found the deepest snow of the day.
This short trail is named for Ladderback Rock.
Fabulous downhill 'shoeing on Amphibrach.
Just for fun, on the way back I followed Beechwood Way/Sylvan Way/Fallsway/Maple Walk and Valley Way, concluding a very enjoyable 5.3 mile loop.
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