Hiking Mount Jefferson in the White Mountains

On this trip I decide to hike up the ravine and make camp at The Perch before venturing up to the summit of Mount Jefferson, one of the highest peaks in the Presidential Range of New Hampshire.
Chapters:
00:00 The trailhead for Castle Trail
00:33 Wet pathways and three water crossings
05:25 Arriving at The Perch Campsite
10:09 Sunset
11:11 An early start
12:56 Alpine Zone and path to the summit
17:14 Repacking at The Perch
18:25 The Randolph Path at a slippery time of year
20:41 Struggling to finish and the relief of the end
#hikingadventures #hikingnewhampshire #whitemountains

Пікірлер: 35

  • @barb108
    @barb10810 ай бұрын

    Congratulations on another summit. It seems as if that was a bit of a sufferfest, although the sunset at the Perch and the summit looked amazing. Hiking the Northern Presidentials and documenting it while you do it is quite the accomplishment and you should be proud of what you've done.

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    Aww, nice comment, thank you. I did have to delete a fair amount of whining and complaining on the footage for the ascent and descent of the ravine and valley. But yes indeed, those hard parts made the good parts up top feel so wonderful.

  • @RhodySeth
    @RhodySeth10 ай бұрын

    That whole network of trails will test you, especially when wet. But look at that sunset - all worth it for that. Despite the initial difficulties it seems like you had a great trip in the end.

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    Words of wisdom from Seth. Thanks. It is true.

  • @macdaddyhikes4235
    @macdaddyhikes423510 ай бұрын

    Great video. I stayed at Crag when I summited Jefferson and Adams. Glad you didn't get hurt when you fell. Keep the videos coming.

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    I wonder which path you took to Crag camp. I want to go to both those places this winter but looking at lines on a map is hard to tell which trail might be easiest. Maybe when covered with snow it's just a matter of choosing the shortest one.

  • @smh988
    @smh98810 ай бұрын

    True Grit, determination and adventure. I say!

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    Thanks.

  • @alanwbelcher
    @alanwbelcher8 ай бұрын

    Good work! I hope you're OK after that fall. A good way to tear ligaments, speaking from experience.

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    8 ай бұрын

    Yes, falls like that are one of the most common causes for people needing rescue, which seems to be regardless of whether they are alone or with others. Luckily I was totally fine except for getting some glass from the screen protector in my scraped finger - which I was able to remove. The only way to be 100 percent safe is to stay home and die from being sedentary. So I'll keep going and try to avoid slick trails!

  • @stephaniestory9029
    @stephaniestory902910 ай бұрын

    Hi Rachel, congratulations on another 48footer! My husband did Mt Washington friday and saw a pine martin, which he wasn't able to identify until he researched. He was so impressed at the coincidence of your seeing one, and being able to identify it so easily! How were you able to identify it so easily!? Keep up the good work! You're inspiring to me!

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    I love the mountain animals so much and would like to make a video where I just sit there waiting for him to walk by. My choice of books leans towards animal tracking and woodland animals. I always have four trail cameras in my back woods. I have a quick eye and often feel sort of wild myself. So yeah - his body shape and fur really called out his identity.

  • @stephaniestory9029

    @stephaniestory9029

    10 ай бұрын

    @@RachelWhelton sometimes I think I'd prefer to work with animals then kids lol My husband thought it looked weasel like, but we've never heard of pine martins! Cool

  • @marie-claudecollin6939
    @marie-claudecollin69399 ай бұрын

    Wet rock under wet leaves and wet roots are the worst! Best thing tho is when you see a stream crossing on the trail map and turns out it has a bridge!

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    9 ай бұрын

    Yes! So true. I am glad the leaves are all crushing down flat now as we get closer to winter.

  • @filmic1
    @filmic19 ай бұрын

    That was lovely. Except that fall and breaking your lens? Very pretty.

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    9 ай бұрын

    Yes, thanks. Luckily the lens was OK - just the screen protector glass shattered and some got into my finger. Both problems were easily solved and I felt lucky not to have any twisted ankles.

  • @filmic1

    @filmic1

    4 ай бұрын

    Hi@@RachelWhelton! at 21:28 did you or someone ID that bird? A Junco? Dark Eyed? (that was quite a tumble!)

  • @pgreenx
    @pgreenx10 ай бұрын

    I was away all summer on a bike trip and am back to see you are killing the NH48!

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    Welcome back! Hope you had an epic trip.

  • @pgreenx

    @pgreenx

    10 ай бұрын

    @@RachelWhelton it was good. Scary biking and camping in grizzly country for over 1000 miles but good. I’m happy to be back hiking in north east. The west wAs nice but I like our mountains here. We are lucky to have them

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    Just subscribed! @@pgreenx

  • @pgreenx

    @pgreenx

    10 ай бұрын

    @@RachelWhelton there not nearly as good as yours and I basically complained the last few days in New Mexico.

  • @lancerproductions57
    @lancerproductions5710 ай бұрын

    Congrats Rachel on another of the 48 4k footers! That’s one that I have to do also but one of the hardest in my opinion. Great job! You killed it out there! I really admire your drive and ambition.

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    Thanks for such a nice comment. I think I did it a hard way. Jefferson could be rather mild if you were already up there like combining it with Adams and a hut stay. Or went up a dry route like Caps Ridge or Castle Trail. Seems funny now that I went this way because I thought it would be easier. But the part where I left my stuff and went up with a lighter pack was nice.

  • @lancerproductions57

    @lancerproductions57

    10 ай бұрын

    @@RachelWhelton I did Madison earlier this summer and wish I’d been able to do Adams at the same time but didn’t quite have the bandwidth that day. My plan is to camp at the Valley Way tent site like you did earlier this year and bag Adams and Jefferson at the same time while I’m up there. Did Mt. Zealand the day before you did Jefferson this past week and thought of your hike up and your stay at the hut. That was a nice hike. Flat up until just before the hut and then some short, steeper parts past there as I’m sure you remember. That was #12 for me! 😃 When did you start on your 48 4k footer adventure? I think Waumbek is next for me. Just watched your video of the hike you did to that summit and was surprised to see your dog Nellie(?) with you! Haven’t seen her before. Do you still have her or hike with her? So cute! We have a Malshipoo( Maltese, shih Tzu, miniature poodle mix) and I thought of bringing her but wondered if it would be too much for her.

  • @annebertrand4742
    @annebertrand474210 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your adventures. I've noticed that you've utilized a diverse array of backpacks over time. Would you mind sharing which one has been your absolute favorite?

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    The new one, the white one called Outdoor Vitals CS40, is my favorite because it is like a cloud. The weight sits high and I don't overload it. But when I have to bring something heavy like my bear can, I go with the blue one, another two pound pack made by Outdoor Vitals. My oldest pack is a 4 pound Osprey that is beautifully made but unnecessarily heavy. I keep it in case I might need it in the winter.

  • @annebertrand4742

    @annebertrand4742

    10 ай бұрын

    Thanks @@RachelWhelton for sharing.

  • @peterfagley772
    @peterfagley77210 ай бұрын

    Great job as always, I am not a fan of all those stream crossings, seems there could be some attention paid to those to make them a bit safer without changing the thrill of the adventure!

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    That is true. To some extent we get to choose the difficulty level. I've come to enjoy stream crossings but it is as if Mother Nature says "oh really, how about THIS one!"

  • @MikeRyder-ml2mb
    @MikeRyder-ml2mb10 ай бұрын

    Congrats on another NH48'er. I think the trail you took was more challenging than the Caps Ridge Trail I took up Jefferson. I don’t recall having water crossings of any size on Caps Ridge. Does look like no matter what way someone goes up Jefferson all sides have plenty of false summits. Makes ya want to say, “are we there yet?” Wow - it's already getting cold in the Whites and not officially fall yet. Is that breakfast packaged meal you have a cold one with milk in it? Or hot?

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    That breakfast can be made hot or cold. I like it hot but I did have to eat it cold on Carrigain and it was still satisfying. Normally I am not a fan of powdered milk but that meal is so good you would not guess it has powdered milk, or even that it is cow milk. The other flavors play a larger role. And yes I totally agree up Caps and down Castle (avoiding the ravine) would have been the best way to hike Jefferson! I was wishing I took that route for sure.

  • @BobCorsaro
    @BobCorsaro10 ай бұрын

    If you went to the hut, you could have hung out and dried your clothes by the stove I'm sure the care taker would have enjoyed the company. There's also lots of books and maps to occupy your mind.

  • @RachelWhelton

    @RachelWhelton

    10 ай бұрын

    Yes, I agree. I re-enrolled in their club and plan to go this winter.