Julie, Evan, Anne and I left Southern NH on a cold but sunny late December morning with our sights set on Waterville Valley. We got off to a little later start than I usually like but we were a fit group and figured to be up and down before dark.
We'd decided on North Tripyramid which Anne needed for her all season 48's and I need for my winter list. The snows of winter hadn't started in earnest but there was 8 inches at least of new snow on the ground. Cross country tracks cut into the fresh trail but there were few other signs of use. The trailhead was Livermore right in the heart of Waterville Valley.
This area holds several peaks which I will always love. I'd done the North Tripyramid slide on a summery September day the year before so I was familiar with Livermore. It's a nice flat walk for a long while. We'd decided after looking at a map to follow Livermore to Scaur Ridge Trail.
None of us were wearing crampons or snowshoes so of course the North Slide was out of the question. We'd go up and back on Scaur. The road walk was easy and very attractive, good conversation made the time go by. We passed many trails intersecting Livermore, past the South and North Slides and by late morning we were at Scaur Ridge trail.
This trail started climbing but moderately through a stand of beech and birch. The sun was out and the temp wasn't too bad, feet and hands stayed warm. Pretty soon we were hot and breathing hard as the trail just kept going up and up and up.
I stayed with Anne, Julie and Evan were thrashing up ahead doing great for their first winter peak. We met up at the North Tripyramid trail, took a right and then started the steep final part fo the summit.
It was long and steep, Anne and I were dragging while the ever energetic Julie and Evan stormed on ahead. I kept telling myself, "they're much younger...pant, pant, pant." We heard a yell of victory and knew they were standing on the summit so we kicked our way up to the top to meet them.
Even though the sun was still out it was COLD on the summit, we felt great, ate some junk food and then thought about Middle Tripyramid. It was 1pm and we'd reached our turn around time. The short winter days made our decision for us. Though Anne needed the peak for her list we decided to turn back. I was the only one carrying a flashlight and we had two less experienced winter hikers.
Julie was the first to experience the sheer joy of glissading (butt sliding) as she found it easier than slipping on her feet. Evan followed her screams of delight then Anne and I had our turn. It was over too soon but there was one casualty to our care-free slide down the peak. My new hiking pole caught in a hole and snapped in two....oh well!
Back at Scaur this was pretty much walking only, not steep enough to slide. Following our tracks down was easy work but it's quite a ways down so it was now late afternoon (winter time.)
Back on Livermore we enjoyed the long walk out. Towards the end of the trail it started to get dark. We were glad to have turned back atop North and not gone over the Middle Tripyramid.
We were all cold and wet but happy to have had a great day in the Sandwich Range Wilderness. We'd hiked probably 12 miles or so. Good company and the scenic early winter woods made this a memorable hike.