TRIP REPORT

Crag Camp, Mt Adams NH
Fri 1/26 - Sun 1/28, 1998


Just got back from Crag. First time being there since they
rebuilt it. Two years in CA will do that.  There was a group
of 7 of us that used to hike together regularly when we were
in school together in the Boston area in the early 80's. Jobs
and mariages have scattered us about since then. Still 4 of us
were able to reconvene and to re-establish what was, for a few 
years, an annual tradition; to make a winter trip to Crag and to 
climb Mt Adams. I really love Crag Camp... at least I thought
I did.

Jim, Bob and I got to the coldest spot on earth, the parking
lot at Lowe's Store, at 11:30 Friday morning. We left a note
for Dave S on the bulletin board inside and started up a bit
before noon. There was still a full cover of snow despite the
earlier rain. The temp was just about perfect for climbing;
just above 20f. The trail was in decent shape. Some loose
snow over hardpack with a few spots of ice. The first section
of Lowe's Path goes up in series of gentle rolling stairs.
We all commented that the trail sure did go up an awful
lot considering how flat and long this part of the path
seemed every time we hiked out.

Finally crampons came on at the steep pitch just below the
Log Cabin. At the cabin, we broke for our second lunch and
water. Dave, who was supposed to get to the trailhead at
2:00 came roaring along behind us moments later. United earlier
than we had hoped, we scrambled up the last 3rd of the climb
to Grey Knob being extra sure not make the error of
mistaking the branch off to the Randolf Path as being 
somehow interchangeable with Lowe's Path! All four of us
had made that same mistake on a February afternoon, years
ago. We got to Grey Knob (crowded as usual) at 3:00 and 
scampered over to Crag.

The new Crag is a sight to behold; all new with a huge
main room and cooking area. The most impressive change is the 
double height windows that allow you to look out over King
Ravive to Mt.Madison. Wow! Simply spectacular. Another party
of 3 showed up during dinner. The moon and Orion came out 
over the ridge. The lights of Randolf shown from below.
Perfect. We turned in around 8:00. The temperature in the
cabin hovered around 20f.

At 3:00 in the morning, a passing frieght train woke me
from my sleep. And someone had put quarters in the Magic
Fingers unit attached to the bunk. Another gust of wind
hit and I started to come to my senses. The wind holwed
outside like an animal. I buried my head deeper into my
new bag (thanks Joe, it's wonderful) and prayed that the
new Crag would not be wiped out in the raging storm. 

By 7:00, I could no longer ignore nature's compelling call
and I ventured out. Had to wait for a lull in the gusts to get
the door open. Later in the day, it would take the efforts
of 2 men to move it in the wind. Outside, I found blizzard
conditions. Wind was blasting into King Ravive from heavan
only knows what direction. Regardless, the trapped air 
came racing up the ravine walls like an invisible river.
The big gusts would knock me off my feet.

Going to the summit was no more concievable than flying to
Mars. So, we lowered our sights to heading up Spur to the
overlook, The Knights Castle. All 7 of the cabin's occupants
took turns crawling on hands and knees to the end of the 
rock outlook. Standing was not an option. We saw our best
view of the day, perhaps 20 yards down the side of the 
ravine. The 3 guys from the other party decide to head
east for the Perch. Bob thought reading was a good idea.
Dave, Jim and I decided to go up to tree line just to 
have a look around.

Climbing up the Spur, the trees slowly gave way to
gnarled krumholtz. The trail going up remained fairly
clear. What was astonishing was how hard it was to 
pick out the trail behind us. Loosing the entrance
in these horrible conditions would have been a very
very very bad thing to do. We stopped while the way
back was still clear and paused to feel the enormity
of the cold alpine hell above us. The wind forced
snow and sleet inside our goggles. Standing was tough
and impossible in the heavier gusts. Exposed flesh
got pelted as if by a sandblaster (not that I've actually
tried that, mind you).

We returned to Crag to read and play cards and to catch
up. Bob thrashed us all soundly at hearts. And we stumbled
across a small book put out by the Randolf Mountain Club
called "Remembrances of Crag Camp: 1909 - 1993". The RMC
is a small club centered in, surprise, Randolf, NH. They
maintain a maze of trails and 4 shelters in the northern
Presidentials. This little book was put together for the 
occasion of the dedication of the new Crag (July 9, 1994).
Reading the first hand naratives in the book gives a great
insight into not only Crag itself but also into the club
and town that so deeply loves these mountains. Here are 
chronicled the stories of generation after generation
sharing these trails. Fathers and sons both working on 
trail crews and as caretakers in their youth. Young children
on their first trips alone signaling by flashlight to
the parents down in town. And I thought that *I* loved
these mountains... I am humbled.

Sunday morning and winter has returned. Somewhere in the 
night the rain changed back over to snow, leaving a foot
or so on the front steps. Although we can see the other
side of King Ravine again, the cloud cover is still heavy
and the wind still strong. The temps were below 10f.
Once outside, we got crampons on before losing fingers
to the cold and wind and began our drop down the Spur 
Trail. Fresh snow, a steep descent and sun begining to
break out. A perfect day to be in the woods. We pick
up and lose and refind and lose again the King Ravine
trail back to Lowe's Path. We never saw a single blaze
and we only knew we were on the right track when we found
a cut log end in the blow downs. The last roll down
Lowe's was long and flat (I thought we went up when came
in?) and in no time we are standing again in 
the coldest spot in the universe.



Copyright 2003 by David Mann