The flat-topped peak known as Mount Resolution, located on Montalban Ridge in the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness, is one of the most interesting peaks in the White Mountains, with several ledgy and gravelly scars and slides on its flanks. I hadn't climbed it since 2008, so a visit was long overdue. Another objective was to visit, and, if feasible, climb the largest ledge-and-gravel slide scar on its SW flank.
With the upper end of Jericho Rd. (aka Rocky Branch Rd.) closed, the shortest route to Resolution is via the Davis Path, passing by Mount Crawford and Crawford Dome.
Bemis Bridge over the Saco River.
View upstream to Mounts Webster and Jackson.
History of the Davis Path.
Welcome to the Wilderness.
After an easy initial section, Davis Path begins a long, relentless climb. In the first half of this grind, there are many rock steps constructed by AMC trail crews.
I believe this is some of the painstaking rock work performed by Nathaniel T.P Davis and his crew during the original construction of this 15-mile trail as a bridle path in 1844-45. After work was completed on the initial section past Mt. Crawford and on to the base of the mountain beyond, Davis despaired of ever completing his trail and temporarily abandoned the project. But he soon returned with renewed resolve to see the route through. In honor of Davis’ newfound determination, Samuel Bemis, a Boston dentist who summered and later lived at “Notchland,” the intervale at the base of Mt. Crawford, applied the name “Resolution” to the peak where the work was resumed.
The upper half mile of the climb to the ridge is badly eroded in places, with poor footing, especially on the descent.
The first outlook is reached at 1.9 miles, after an ascent of 1750 ft.
A ledge scramble beyond the outlook.
More ledges.
After passing the spur path to Mount Crawford (which I skipped this day), Davis Path becomes mellow as it runs at easy grades along the ridge with mostly good footing.
After another half-mile the trail emerges on a broad ledge on the side of Crawford Dome with a dramatic view back to Mount Crawford and its summit cliffs.
Here also are good views out to the Bond-Twin Range...
...and up to Crawford Notch.
The always impressive Mount Willey.
The sun was highlighting a ledge on the west ridge of Stairs Mountain that I had bushwhacked to recently, with Mount Pierce behind and a cliff on a shoulder of Crawford Dome in front.
More easy going on Davis Path.
When I reached my chosen point on the flank of Mount Resolution, I headed up through fairly steep terrain in moderately thick woods.
Emerging on loose gravel at the base of the big slide scar.
Side view of an area with loose rock, which I avoided.
Heading up on the gravel, which proved to be pretty stable. In his 1876 guidebook, The White Mountains: A Handbook for Travellers, editor Moses Sweetser had this advice for trampers interested in climbing then-trailless Mount Resolution: “The easiest way to get to the top is to keep along the [Davis] path to a point where a long red slide comes down on the r., and then ascend the line of rocks and gravel. The walking is not so good as on the wooded slopes, but there are no annoying bushes.”
Wide views emerging.
Heading up into the rocks.
An impressive slidescape.
Nice dry, grippy granite slabs.
Looking up.
Looking back.
The lower slabs were around 26 degrees, while these upper slabs were steeper at 30 degrees.
Steep scramble to the top.
Quite the view!
Willey, Webster, Jackson, Pierce and Eisenhower behind the long, cliff-faced west ridge of Stairs.
Bond-Twin Range in the distance.
Mount Carrigain beyond Crawford Dome and Mount Crawford.
Sandwich Range on the horizon.
An hour went by quickly at this magnificent spot.
Heading into the scrub for the bushwhack up to the Mount Parker Trail south of the south summit knob.
As expected, the going was thick for a while.
Farther along, the terrain eased and the woods were more passable.
Emerging on a soft. moss-lined section of Mount Parker Trail.
The nice view ledge near the south summit knob of Resolution. The true summit is 0.15 mile north, and the bushwhack there is tangled and slow going. This ledge is the spot that 52 With a View hikers aim for.
Neat clouds over the mountains to the west.
Looking north to Mount Washington beyond the upper Giant Stair.
Where the trail leaves the south knob ledge.
Crawford Dome and Mount Crawford from another view ledge. farther down the trail.
The Mount Parker Trail crosses this huge ledge 0.15 mile above its junction with Davis Path. This is a terrific viewpoint.
Looking across at the Giant Stairs.
The Stairs, zoomed.
Watch out for wet spots when descending this ledge.
Junction.
Davis Path to the left, Mount Parker Trail to the right. On the far left is the now-closed spur path to the former Resolution Shelter, which was removed years ago.
Wonderful walking along the steep side of Mount Resolution. The Link, it is not.
Late day light on the ledges.
The most tedious part of this hike is the steep, eroded upper descent off the side of Mount Crawford.
Evening on the Saco.
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