Mount Tecumseh: 3/10/25

My plan for some off-trail snowshoeing out by the Tripyramid slides went awry when I discovered a major binding malfunction on one of my snowshoes as I was getting ready to head out on the Livermore Trail. Plan B was a climb of Mount Tecumseh, which I knew I could do without snowshoes due to a rock-hard track, though with a couple inches of new snow it would have been nice to have them.

 

There were a number of boot tracks and some snowshoe tracks already in the top layer of new snow when I started out late morning. Despite the previous week's rain and thaw, the two crossings of Tecumseh Brook were still locked in.

My favorite part of the Mount Tecumseh Trail is the lower elevation ramble up through a fine hardwood forest. In here the sun was bright and the new snow was wet. I stuck with bare boots knowing that the snow would clump up on spikes. By late afternoon the top layer was slushy.

I switched to spikes for the steep descent to the second brook crossing, and they did clump on that pitch and on the climb up to the side path to the ski trail viewpoint. This was a great day for views.

Above the outlook, the top layer of snow became powdery - no more clumping - for the relentless 1 mile, 1300-ft. ascent to the ridgecrest.

Though Tecumseh is considered an "easy" 4k peak, this section is a long grind. I exchanged greetings with several descending hikers, some who were in snowshoes.

Near the top of the climb I stopped to chat with Tom Penders, an accomplished New York hiker who has competed the Adirondack 46 grid and is closing in on his White Mountains 4K grid.

The end is in sight up there somewhere.

There will be no going off trail without snowshoes.

The summit loop split.

Angled climb along the Sosman Trail.

Framed view over Tecumseh's West Peak.

Looking down on Bald Mountain, a spur of West Tecumseh. Carr Mountain and Mount Kineo in the distance.

Open firs on Tecumseh's summit ridge.

The summit clearing was one huge hard-packed snowdrift, and the views were excellent. The Osceolas are nearby to the north. South Hancock and Mount Carrigain poke up between the main summit and East Osceola.

Looking east across Waterville Valley to the Sandwich Range high peaks.

A closer look at Tripyramid, with a good view into Avalanche Ravine between Scaur Peak and North Tripyramid. Mount Passaconaway peeks out to the right of South Tripyramid.

View over Livermore Pass to Kearsarge North, Bear Mountain, the Moats and more.

Sandwich Dome.

During my prolonged summit stay, I chatted with Amber and Bryce, out for an afternoon stroll. Amber recently completed an epic 21-hour solo Pemi Loop and was heading out on a Presidential Traverse the next day.

The Presidentials remained socked in the whole time, but after a while the Carters emerged, seen here to the right of East Osceola.

Three-way junction at the summit.

 

 

 

 

 

Parting shot.

Moosilauke from the Sosman Trail.

Patterns on Tecumseh Brook.

What might be the champion yellow birch of the Tecumseh hardwood forest. Near the bottom of the trail I ran into Andrew Soares, co-holder of the speed record for ascending the White Mountain 4000-footers in winter, heading up for a quick after work climb. It turned out to be a pretty good hike for Plan B.