Mount Jackson & Crawford Notch Campground

There are few things I enjoy more than sitting around a campfire after a day of hiking with a group of good women. As with most hikes, however, this journey was not all butterflies and rainbows.

My college friend, Melzy, was visiting from San Francisco and I had a weekend of hiking and camping planned for us in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Hiking together wasn't something we'd done back in our college days, but she'd since caught the bug, recently tackling a list of 13 thirteen-mile trails with her friends out west. In the days before her visit, we swapped texts about gear, both of us excited to share this activity we'd each come to love.

Here's where things went sideways. I'd sent Melzy the AllTrails link for our chosen hike (Mount Jackson and Mount Eisenhower via Crawford Path), but somehow we never actually discussed terrain. The consequence of our failed communication surfaced as soon as we started climing - glaring and worrisome. Not only was Melzy dismayed by the steep elevation gains common to the White Mountains, she hadn't been prepared for wet, slippery rocks - or rocks at all, for that matter. I hadn't mentioned any of it, because in my world, this was hiking.

For all the time we'd each spent picturing our hike together, our daydreams turned out to be nothing alike. I'd imagined the boulders and stream crossings typical of New England trails, while she pictured the dry dirt paths and rolling switchbacks of Northern California. Here's the real kicker: her list of thirteens and my White Mountain hike were both rated "Hard" on AllTrails, so we genuinely thought we were prepared for the same kind of challenge.

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In an effort to make the most of it, Melzy decided she'd push to mile three before making any decisions about whether or not to turn back. It was a frustratingly difficult climb for her, but I give her loads of credit for carrying on to the best of her ability. Our other two friends would hike ahead and wait for us at each trail junction until we caught up - no hiker left behind.

In the end, we scaled back our plan and decided to summit Mount Jackson only, skipping Mount Eisenhower, and looping back via the Mizpah Hut for a rest, hydration, and coffee stop. In the end, Melzy surpassed her three-mile goal by 5 miles, and we ended the day sitting around a campfire laughing. I learned a valuable lesson about communication and I also learned that trail ratings are highly subjective.

If you do enjoy steep climbs, rocky trails and open summits, the hike we did is a stunning one. Search All Trails for the Mount Jackson and Pierce via Webster Jackson Trail and Crawford Path loop and follow it counter-clockwise. We shortened it a bit - summiting Mount Jackson and continued on to the AMC Mizpah Hut, but skipping Mount Pierce by following the Mizpah Cutoff.

At Mizpah Hut, we fueled up on coffee and ran across a 91 year old man, named Grey Beard, who's attempting to set the record as the oldest AT Thru Hiker. I'm dead serious, look him up.

Grey Beard had already set this record at the age of 82, but then his friend outdid him, setting the record at the age of 83. So now he plans to reclaim the age record and I'm guessing he'll do it. Living legends are among us and you just never know when one will cross your path.

If you want to make a weekend out of this hike, or plan to do the larger loop that includes Mount Eisenhower (do it!!), I'd recommend staying at the Crawford Notch Campground located off of Route 302, just a ten minute drive from the trailhead. Our site was large, clean, and quiet. We stayed for two nights and it allowed us to get an early start, then avoid a long drive after our hike.

In summary, learn as much as you can about your chosen hike before setting out. Here are some tips on how to do that:

CHOOSING A HIKE 

The general rule for new hikers is to start small, build confidence, and gradually work your way to more strenuous mountains. In AllTrails, review the hike’s distance, difficulty rating, elevation gain, and trail type (out-and-back, loop, point-to-point). 

Know the elevation. There are two key terms to understand:

• Elevation is your height above sea level at any given point on a trail. 

• Elevation Gain is the total amount you climb on a hike (the cumulative uphill)

  
  

For example, a trail might start at 1,000 ft, dip to 800 ft, then summit at 3,000 ft. The elevation gain isn't just 2,000 ft - it includes every uphill section along the way.

Consider trail type, there are three: 

1. Out-and-back - These are great for new hikers because you can turn around when ready.

2. Loop - These are great for variety, since no backtracking is required. 

3. Point-to-point - These require a shuttle or second car, so are more complicated. 

Read trail descriptions and reviews beforehand - All Trails shares detailed trail descriptions listing rock scrambles, stream crossing, trail closures, etc. Other hikers leave reviews on current conditions, so those are super helpful as well.

Be honest about your fitness level - Start easier than you think you need. Beginners could start with a 2-5 mile, round trip hike with an elevation gain under 300 ft/mile. Turn back when you start to get tired. There is no shame in not reaching the summit! The mountains will be there when you return. 

Estimate your pace - This is different for every hiker, but beginners can average 1.5 - 2 miles per hour on a moderate hike. Add time for breaks and unexpected slowdowns. Start early to avoid crowded parking lots. 

Know your sunset time when considering a hike - Choose larger hikes in the summer months when you have more daylight. Try to finish your hike well before the sun goes down.

Reach out with questions about this hike or campground!