Sometimes a hike doesn't work out as planned, but instead turns into something better. My plan was to start at Appalachia and snowshoe up the usual Link/Amphibrach/Randolph Path/Spur/Hincks route to the Randolph Mountain Club's Gray Knob Cabin and the nearby excellent view point known as The Quay. When I headed in on my usual late morning start, the snowshoe track on The Link was pretty chopped up by bare boots, and I figured that would only get worse at higher elevations with deeper and softer snow. The track on Air Line was pretty solid, so I changed plans and decided I would trek up to the Knife Edge on Durand Ridge for its great views.
The lower part of Air Line leads through fine open hardwoods.
Backcountry skiers had been having some fun here.
This area is sometimes referred to as the Air Line Glades.
When I reached the junction with Short Line, the snowshoe track split in both directions, and each track was quite choppy from bare boots. The Air Line looked worse, and I figured the long steep sidehill section would not be pleasant, so I chose Short Line, wondering if this track would eventually lead to the standard Gray Knob route at the junction known as Pentadoi, or head into King Ravine.
A half-mile climb led to the long, traversing Randolph Path.
This section offered pleasant, easy snowshoeing.
When I reached the junction where Short Line diverges left for King Ravine, only a minimally broken track continued ahead on Randolph Path. A few test steps revealed that there would be ample opportunity to plunge into deep snow off the edge of the soft track. I decided that 0.8 mile of semi-breaking would take too much time and energy. And having tweaked a knee in a spruce trap up on Mt. Field a week earlier, it would be best to avoid unexpected plunges.
So I would follow the track into King Ravine
as far as I could go. Having just been in there last summer, my memory
of the tricky boulder scrambles was fresh. I hoped I could advance at
least far enough to get a view of the headwall and out to the north.
The track, originally made by some backcountry skiers and a snowshoer or two, was quite messy from bareboot divots, but the snow was soft enough that I could smooth it out somewhat with my snowshoes.
Other than one short, ugly sidehill, the approach along Short Line was quite mellow, especially with the rocks of summer well buried.
Nice open woods in the lower part of the ravine.
First glimpse up to the western wall of the ravine.
Arriving at the junction with King Ravine Trail. The cushy snowshoeing will soon be ending.
Mossy Fall in its deep winter garb.
The first of many cool boulders on the floor of the ravine.
Warning sign well down in the woods.
The trail climbs steeply to the main floor of the ravine. I bypassed a tricky scramble up a steep icy ledge by following a firm ski track through the woods to the left. I remembered from my summer trip that once past this, I would be able to get some views before the main section of boulder scrambling.
At this spot, in the summer, Daniel Newton and I were able to negotiate a short off-trail route out to a flat-topped boulder with views up to the headwall and out to the north. I probed very carefully with my poles and tested each step as I squeezed through a few boulders out into the open. I was pleased to find that the snow around the boulders was much more consolidated than the snow in the woods down lower.
Made it! With a good view up to the headwall. The one downside in this north-facing ravine is that it loses sun early in the afternoon. On the plus sign, it kept the snow from getting wet and soft in the sun.
Zoom on the prominent gullies on the right (west) side of the headwall. These have been named by climbers and backcountry skiers. On the far left is Iced Out Gully. To the right of the dark circle is The Muffin. The wide snowy gully in the center is Great Gully, which is the route of the wild Great Gully Trail. In the spring late-melting snow forms the shape of the number "7." To the right of Great Gully is a variation used by skiers in its lower part when the narrow middle of Great Gully is choked by an ice flow. On the far right is part of West Gully. If you look closely in the upper part of Great Gully, you can see two climbers.
A closer look. They were the source of the bareboot tracks. This is a serious snow climb at a very steep angle, a definite no-fall zone. A few years ago a climber suffered a fatal sliding fall in Great Gully. It is also a treasured descent for backcountry skiers. There's also, of course, significant avalanche danger on these steep slopes. The Mount Washington Avalanche Center had rated avy danger as low (but not non-existent) on this day.
My flat boulder perch also offered a fine view out to the north to the Pliny and Crescent Ranges and part of the Pilot Range.
The three Weeks peaks, Mount Cabot, The Bulge and The Horn.
A snowshoe hare had apparently checked out the view.
A wide-angle view of the ravine walls.
On the west wall is a rarely-skied gully known as PF Flyer.
RMC's Crag Camp overlooks King Ravine at a spot known as Upper Crag.
The climbers angled left out of Great Gully and were heading for the ridgeline.
I was amazed at how much easier the trail was with a very deep and fairly firm snowpack. This was one spot where I needed mindful foot placement due to caverns between the rocks.
What a treat to have a packed trail through the boulders!
A narrow but easily manageable passage.
This was the only other tricky spot, where I resorted to a knee crawl to get up a steep rock next to a deep hole. On the way down, it was a short butt slide to a stable platform.
I was very pleased to make it up to the main floor of the ravine and the junction with Chemin des Dames. Going into King Ravine in winter had never been on my list due to a healthy respect for the boulder scrambling. Random route choices and a deep snowpack made it possible.
Looking up to the east wall and the route of Chemin des Dames.
Ahead, beyond the junction with the alternate Subway route through and under the boulders, looms the impressive headwall.
Entrance to The Subway. Now that would be a rather scary challenge in winter!
Continuing up the King Ravine Trail.
Zoomed.
Zoomed some more, with the gullies fully revealed.
Unfortunately the two climbers had trashed the track through the deep snowpack up here. I can't imagine why you wouldn't use snowshoes for the approach to the gully climb when there is a four-foot snowpack on lightly-used trails.
This spacious ledge is a nice objective for a summer hike into the floor of the ravine.
It was getting late, but I wanted to check out the mellow lower section of the Great Gully Trail, which over its full length rises 1,700 ft. in 1.0 mile!
Beyond this junction, it looked like the King Ravine Trail hadn't been touched all winter.
Oh, man, what a mess - this could not have been pleasant.
For 0.1 mile or so, Great Gully Trail meanders through firs across the broad floor of the ravine.
Then the skier and climber track diverged off trail to the right into a lower angle snowfield at 3900+ ft.
An alpine feel here, with a view out to the north.
Black Crescent Mountain and the talus slope once known as the Crescent Scar.
Another angle on Crag Camp.
Looking up to the gullies. Iced Out Gully on the left, The Muffin left of center, and the top of Great Gully just right of center.
East Gully, Iced Out Gully and The Muffin (L to R).
Sun on The Gateway, where King Ravine Trail emerges atop the headwall.
Heading back down Great Gully Trail. Note the blue blaze almost at snow level.
Wild crags on Durand Ridge.
Weaving down through the boulders, x 2.
Sunset from the Short Line.
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