Lookout Ledge Traverse

On a cold but spectacularly sunny day I enjoyed an afternoon snowshoe traverse of Lookout Ledge, one of the great lower elevation viewing perches in the Whites. Located on a shoulder of Mt. Randolph in the less-travelled Crescent Range, it offers an unparalleled view across the Moose River valley to Mts. Adams and Madison, with an especially fine look into the maw of King Ravine.

 

After checking out the winter parking situation at several trailheads in Randolph, I parked in a small plowed area off Durand Road by the old Ravine House site and headed up the Ledge Trail, a moderate to steep approach to the outlook. 

 

There was a softly packed snowshoe track through a foot of powder above the trailhead...

... quickly increasing to 16 to 24 inches as I ascended.

 

There's a wonderful network of Randolph Mountain Club trails on the Crescent Range.

Most of the ascent was through open hardwoods, with the sun pouring in from the south - a welcome change after a month of generally cloudy days.

 

Junction with Pasture Path, which provides a route to Lookout Ledge from the Randolph Hill area.

The last short section of Ledge Trail climbs steeply through spruce forest, with several recent blowdowns.

View of Adams and King Ravine from a small outlook called the Eyrie.

The Ledge Trail meets the Crescent Ridge Trail just above the ledge.

 

Arriving at Lookout Ledge. This perch is on private land, so hikers should be respectful. No camping or fires allowed.

 

The classic Lookout Ledge view.

In addition to the close-up view of the Northern Presidentials, Lookout Ledge opens a vista eastward along the valley to north end of the Carter Range, the Moriahs, Pine Mountain and the southern part of the Mahoosuc Range. 

Shelburne Moriah, Middle Moriah and Mt. Moriah, with Pine Mountain in front.

Mt. Madison.

Mt. Adams and King Ravine, front and center.

Mt. Jefferson and the Castellated Ridge.

While I was enjoying the sun and the views, a local couple dropped onto the ledge, having ascended from the SW via the Vyron D. Lowe Trail. After leaving the ledge, I followed their tracks along a level section of the Crescent Ridge Trail.

In 0.1 mile I turned right onto the unbroken section of Crescent Ridge Trail, hoping to ascend 0.4 mile to the Four Soldiers Path and visit a small outlook up there. 

The breaking was deep, but the cold has kept the snow light and powdery.

I continued partway across a beautiful plateau, but I could hear that the snowmobile trail crossing up ahead was very busy (it being a Saturday), so I turned back.

Because I really enjoyed the mellow grades and open woods of Vyron D. Lowe Trail on a hike last summer, and since I had a broken track to follow, I decided to descend via that route and walk Durand Road back to my car. Partway down, the trail wound through a little set of snow-capped boulders.

There's a fairly long section on this trail that passes through wonderfully open hardwoods.

 

Looking back.

 

The trailhead on Durand Road, by the Randolph Spring. There's plowed space for a couple of cars to park.

The 1.8 mile walk along Durand Road was mostly level and had a few nice views, including this look at the ledgy ridge followed by the Inlook Trail, which I had recently traversed.

The snowy crest of Adams.

Fading sun on Durand Road. During my forty-minute walk only four cars passed by.

A last look at Adams and King Ravine.