First 4000-footer in winter (conditions): Mt. Tecumseh

After the AMC's Winter Hiking Program, we were ready to tackle our first 4,000 footer in winter (though technically it's not winter, but it sure felt like it!) Just 17 degrees at trailhead at 10am. The high hit 20. But it was a fairly comfortable hike as there was no wind. A few stream crossings -- none of them difficult.

Although the trail was packed down, and we could have barebooted it the entire way, we changed to snowshoes about 1/3 of the way up, and stayed in them until the end of the hike. I feel we had much better traction in them, especially on the descent.

The view at the top is occluded by trees, but you can see the Tripyramids and the Osceolas. We also could see the ridge of the Presidentials, completely covered in snow.

See photos taken by Bruno Rijsman, a fellow hiker, at http://www.flickr.com/photos/brijsman/sets/72157623036784638/.

Thanks to Mohamed Ellozy, Sandy Green and Claudine Kos for leading the hike!

6 miles, 2,200' elevation gain to summit (~ 6 hours)
Summit: Mt. Tecumseh (4,003')
Route: Mt. Tecumseh Trail to summit, Sosman Trail spur, then Mt. Tecumseh Trail back down