A rare day this summer: sunny skies, cool Canadian air, low humidity, and no smoke haze. The Mount Washington Observatory reported 130-mile visibility. Getting up high for long-distance views was a must. I hadn't been up the Glen Boulder Trail since 2000 - the last of several years during which the AMC Four Thousand Footer Committee maintained the Davis Path from the GBT junction down to Mt. Davis. In particular, I wanted to revisit the views from Slide Peak, peering into the Gulf of Slides and looking out to the south and west.
I started out from the newly expanded loop parking area for Glen Ellis Falls and Glen Boulder Trail.
The first part of the trail, across the floor of Pinkham Notch, is deceptively easy.
The first of many steep pitches, leading up to and then around a cliff.
Higher up, the trail crosses two branches of a brook, one of them below a small cascade.
Then there's a long, steep climb to treeline, which is at a low elevation on this trail. The ascent to Glen Boulder is 1,750 ft. in 1.6 miles.
A welcome sight is this welcome sign.
Right at treeline, there are three ledgy scrambles in quick succession. The first is the trickiest.
Scramble #2.
Looking down at the first two scrambles.
The first open views on this crystal-clear day, looking at Wildcat and the Carters.
Scramble #3.
Glen Boulder in sight above.
Getting closer.
Looking back to the north.
Glen Boulder looming.
Looking south down the Ellis River valley.
The next 0.4 mile climbs in the open over steep and rough terrain of ledges and boulders.
It's a workout.
Eastern ridges of Mount Washington.
Peering down into a trailless minor ravine with scrub and boulders on its floor. On its north side is a trailless open ridge. On the left Boott Spur rises above the headwall of the Gulf of Slides.
Looking back down the open ridge.
Back into the woods for 0.6 mile, starting at 4350 ft.
The side trail to the spring is signed and well-worn.
Even in this dry season, the spring was running.
Back into the open at Slide Peak (aka Gulf Peak, 4806 ft.), looking south. Wow! Rocky Branch Ridge in the foreground, Moat Range in the center distance, Sandwich Range on the right. This peak has only 16 ft. of prominence, but since it is a named summit, it's on the Trailwrights 72 list of peaks.
Waves of mountains.
Looking SW. Mount Carrigain in the center.
Looking WSW towards the Southern Presidentials, the Willey Range, and Twin and Franconia Ranges.
Unique to Slide Peak is the vista of Boott Spur rising above the scarred headwall of the Gulf of Slides. This slope is a huge snow bowl in late winter, beloved of solitude-seeking backcountry skiers.
Looking down the valley below the Gulf of Slides, drained by the New River. In the distance I spotted several 4000-footers in the Rangeley, Maine area.
Down-look.
From Slide Peak, Glen Boulder Trail runs right along the rim of Gulf of Slides, a wonderful walk.
Back into a patch of scrub.
From here to the Davis Path junction, Glen Boulder Trail mostly weaves uphill through gorgeous alpine meadows.
Looking back at Slide Peak.
Junction with Davis Path at 5175 ft.
To my mind, the descent along this broad open shoulder on Davis Path is one of the finest alpine walks in the Whites. Before you is the sprawling backcountry of the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness, with countless peaks lining the horizon.
I descended a short distance to the Wilderness boundary, took a seat on a trailside rock, and savored these views for an hour in perfect weather conditions. Views extended as far as Sunpee Mountain in New Hampshire and Mount Snow, Dorset Peak, Mts. Abraham and Ellen and Camel's Hump in Vermont.
Looking back up the trail to the junction, with wispy cirrus overhead.
From a little farther down the trail, Mounts Franklin and Monroe and the top of the Oakes Gulf headwall.
Close-up of Monroe.
I could easily have spent another hour here, but a long, steep descent awaited.
Descending towards Slide Peak in late afternoon sun.
Sun and shadow on Gulf of Slides headwall.
Summit cairn on Slide Peak.
View down Montalban Ridge and the Rocky Branch valley.
Shadowed ridges.
The lower two miles of Glen Boulder Trail beat you up on the way down as well as the way up.
Approaching Glen Boulder.
Portrait.
Parting shot before scrambling down into the trees.
