The Seven, King Ravine, Randolph, NH - 4/17/04

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Lftgly

New member
We left Appalachia at 7:30AM under bright, sunny skies, although an ominous black cloud bank was approaching from Vermont. Temps were in the upper thirties. The clouds arrived shortly, but the April sun was strong enough to burn through them up somewhat, and it remained mostly sunny weather through early afternoon. <BR> <BR>The hike in (and out) was long and tough. Some stretches could have been skinned, but there was not enough snow at the trailhead and numerous other places, and it became too rocky and icy in the floor of the ravine. <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3793.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven01"><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3794.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven02"> <BR> <BR>There was some postholing on the way up, but it was worse on the way down after the temperatures had risen. The icy trail sections were difficult hiking, especially with skis on the pack catching branches overhead. There were a few moments I would have liked crampons, but a minute later I was back on the rocks, and would have had to remove the crampons. I have to emphasize the daunting hike in - this is not a leisurely stroll, like the Tuckerman Ravine trail up to HoJos. It took four hours to hike in the three miles and 2700' vertical to the base of the gully at 4000' el. <BR> <BR>The ice bulge near the bottom was unskiable. There was a way around it, down a second gully to skier's left. <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3795.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven03"><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3796.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven04"> <BR> <BR>Crampons were required for the ascent. There was a break in the snow near the top, visible from below. When we got to it, there was a short 2'-3' rocky bare spot, covered with grass and moss, which we were able to ski over on the descent. Just after Noon, we arrived at the top of the gully, around 5100' el. The sun was out, and the snow was near-perfect corn conditions, with 2"-3" of loose granular on top of a firm base. <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3797.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven05"><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3798.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven06"> <BR> <BR>The skiing was great! <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3799.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven08"><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3800.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven07"> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3801.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven09"><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3802.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven10"> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3803.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven11"><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/3804.jpg" ALT="041704_KingRavineTheSeven12"> <BR> <BR>On the way out, a couple of us were able to ski part of the way down, from about 3000' to 2500' el. A couple short sections were good, but most of it was rough, slow going. By the time we had our skis off, the third member of our party had caught up to us on foot.
 
The Seven has been on my list for years.I've done literally dozens of camping trips in the RMC shelters that dot the northern Presis and always looked at it when i'm over on the Knife Edge.King Ravine is just enormous.I cant think of any shelter that has a better view than Crag Camp.Ahh,camping oout on the camp deck to see sunrise over new snow.RMC camps rule! <BR>((* <BR>*))NHPH
 
one correction, it's a 4 mile hike in; I made the mistake of scaling it off the map, which was a 2D distance; after checking trail descriptions in Randolph Paths, it apears to be more like four miles to the base of the headwall. I wondered how 3 miles could have taken two trail runners four hours, even waiting for me... <BR> <BR>...and yes, RMC rocks! http://www.randolphmountainclub.org
 
Nice. Lftgly, where does the term The Seven come from. I can see the gully looking a bit like a seven. I have been all around the Ravine with a backpack, and a few (15-20) years ago saw some tracks on a patch of snow in there in late June. I've always remembered that. Thanks for the images. In a better snow year would you be able to skin into the Ravine? <BR> <BR>Congrats to Nhski, who bagged King Ravine this year as well.
 
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