7 minute read
SPRING HIKING THE BOOTT SPUR OPTION
THE BOOTT SPUR OPTION
Hiking Route Recap, by Mike Cherim
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When leading on Mount Washington, barring the few guides I know that regularly work the west side (which we do as well on some occasions), most professional guides in the Mt Washington Valley generally lead groups up the east side of the mountain via the Tuckerman Ravine and Lion Head trails.
This is a decent way to go, fairly direct, and the winter-specific routing of the Lion Head Trail can be pretty exciting since it’s so steep. If this so-called “winter route” is open, that is. It’s not available until the regular, three-season trail, part of which is a terrain trap, becomes an avalanche hazard and needs to be avoided.
The downsides to going this way are apparent on the lower sections of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail: it can be crowded, being it’s the most-used route; it lacks character with its roadlike appearance; and honestly, it’s a bit of a slog. It lacks many of the qualities most other trails in the White Mountains regularly offer, and that is the White Mountains trail experience. But there are other east-side options: one, in particular, is the Boott Spur Trail.
WHAT IS BOOTT SPUR?
Boott Spur, named after Francis Boott, is the 5,500-foot Mount Washington sub-peak everyone going up the east side admires when they see it for the first time, provided they have views that day. When viewed from near the Lion Head rock formation, Boott Spur epitomizes everything alpine. Its steep couloirs, jagged rock, and rugged pitches make an impressive sight to behold. Due to its lack of prominence, however, the peak doesn’t count on most hiking lists as a separate mountain—with exception of a list known as the Trailwrights 72, which recognizes peaks with less than 200 feet (must be 100 feet or more) of prominence—but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthy. It can be a destination unto itself.
WHY WE LOVE IT
It’s a little longer summiting Mount Washington that way, at 5.19 miles, and there is certainly more elevation gain at 4,654 feet, since Boott Spur is its own summit, but these facts are quickly overshadowed by the route’s easier-access rewards: stunning and unique vistas; a real New Hampshire trail character; fewer people, allowing for a more intimate mountain experience; an expedited route
Photo by Max DesMarais www.hikingandfishing.com
to treeline—you go up then in, versus in then up—and an exceptional alpine experience. Still want to experience the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Lion Head? Try making a loop (more on this later).
BOOTT SPUR TRAIL DETAILS
From start to finish, Boott Spur Trail is a treat. Here’s how it goes. The trail begins 0.4 miles up Tuckerman Ravine Trail, at the first switchback just past Crystal Cascade. It quickly crosses the wide swath known as the John Sherburne Ski Trail, then enters the woods, turning into a rugged, ledgy trail, ultimately reaching a ladder that takes one to the ridge crest. It no longer looks anything like Tuckerman Ravine Trail at this point. Now it takes on the character of your typical White Mountains Trail: narrow, rough, pretty. The treadway is rocks and roots, except in winter, when like all trails, it fills in and flattens out. It may be a snowshoe mountaineering route, depending on the boot pack and snow depth.
It doesn’t take long to get to a viewpoint. At a mere 1/2 mile in you get a sneak peek of things to come, with a great view of Huntington Ravine and Nelson Crag. Soon after this, you come to another east-facing viewpoint, or at least that’s what the sign suggests, but it has long since filled in, so it’s best to keep going, not bothering with this 50-yard spur. The trail flattens, then rises steeply once again. During this push, you will reach a signed 100-yard side trail on the left leading to a small brook (last water). From there the trail reaches another bulge in the crest, and at a mile in you will reach a 25-yard spur trail on the right, leading to another, more limited view of Huntington Ravine and the route ahead. Worth the stop, but small and restricted. Back on trail, keep heading up the ridge crest, passing a few steep and scrambly sections while enjoying a few incidental views that are worth pausing for.
At 1.7 miles in, where the main trail takes a sharp left, there is a 30-yard spur to the right, which leads to “Harvard Rock” and an incredible view of Tuckerman Ravine, Lion Head, and the summit. Short of being in it, this is one of the best ravine vantage points on the mountain. This is an ideal spot for a break if it’s not too windy—since this outlook is fairly exposed to winds flowing out of the ravine, taking a long, leisurely break here is often not possible, though. WILD & RESCUE MEDICINE
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Back on trail hiking for another 0.2 of a mile, you will emerge from the krummholz and officially reach treeline at a mere 1.9 miles in. The trail then heads towards the Gulf of Slides, which is nestled between Slide Peak to the south and Boott Spur, and makes for another landmark at 2 miles in: “Split Rock.” Not to be confused with the so-called keyhole on the Lion Head Trail referred to as Split Rock, the named feature on the Boott Spur Trail actually appears on the map (note it on the AMC map image, above).
The trail continues over two minor humps, passing through a little more krummholz before reaching a broad, flat ridge and the junction of Boott Spur Link (which drops very steeply to Tuckerman Ravine Trail, but isn’t recommended for descent). From here, the trail continues climbing up and over one bulge after another until it finally passes just to the north of the actual Boott Spur summit, which is marked with a steel Bradford Washburn summit/survey pin. This area, especially the final 0.1 mile just before the summit, is quite breathtaking.
Provided the weather is mild enough to continue—since this is a very exposed area—from here the trail drops down to Davis Path where it terminates. To continue on to Mount Washington, just stay on Davis Path until you reach the Lawn Cutoff. Taking that will lead you to Tuckerman Ravine Trail at the base of the Washington summit cone. Alternatively, you could stay on Davis Path until it reaches Crawford Patch and another, historic way to access the summit (Crawford Path is the oldest continuously used hiking trail in the United States).
To descend, you could go back the way you came, but we think going down the Lion Head Trail is an interesting way to go, especially if the summer route is still open. If not, if the winter route is open instead, do bring a rope to help with ultra-steep sections and know how to use it, 30 meters being sufficient. The final exit is made via Tuckerman Ravine Trail, which is far less slog-like going down, and you can see what you missed, so to speak.
TRAIL TAKEAWAY
When we go this way, we will generally run into single-digit numbers of people while on the Boott Spur Trail itself. The trail isn’t mashed down by a snowcat, and we feel it provides one of the mountain’s better non-technical, easy-access alpine mountaineering experiences.
The route shown in this article, like most of the mountain trails in the White Mountain National Forest, can be incredibly challenging—even in good conditions and when the hiker carries the right gear, particularly at certain times of year. Spring, for example, is one of the most dangerous times to get out there. In the Valley it can feel like a sunny spring day, whereas in the high peaks, it’s still winter, complete with winter’s extreme challenges. Know before you go.
Mike Cherim is the founder and owner of Redline Guiding located in Intervale. His company offers myriad activities from hiking and snowshoeing—the core activities they passionately began with— to more extreme offerings, such as mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and rock and ice climbing. Redline Guiding also offers several educational offerings, such as wilderness navigation, and Mike, being a NH JP, also officiates mountain weddings. To learn more, visit www.RedlineGuiding.com.
