I want to enter AT/Crawford Notch near Rt 302 (park a car), walk to Mt. Washington, then take COG down. Any advice on how to get from COG RR base back to Rt302 near Crawford Notch/302 where I started ? Hitch ?
Shuttle ? Walk ? New at this. Any advice would be appreciated.
_Rick_ The Appalachian Mountain Club has a shuttle from the Highland Center at Crawford Notch to the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead which is at the Cog Railroad Base Station. The shuttle runs once a day in each direction. A suggestion on taking shuttles, take the ride at the start of your trip and hike to your car so you won't worry about getting to the bus stop on time. More info can be found at www.outdoors.org
_Polar Bear_ The AMC shuttle is rather expensive and inconvienent. Hitching would be a better option however the road from the Cog Station to route 302 is a long secondary road. If you walk down to the Ammonoosuc Trail parking lot (less then a mile) you should be able to get another hiker to give you a ride. The hiker community is usually ready to help each other out. If you are going the weekend of 9/13 the AMC-NH chapter is having hut night at Lake of the Clouds hut which I will be attending. I will be hiking out on the 14th and would be happy to shuttle you.
_Big B_ So oddly enough, I had to do this this weekend because my gf was too burnt out by the top of Washington to keep going. As the ticket sales guy said, there are a bunch of people all going the same way. I actually had a ride to my car at the Webster Cliff trail in crawford gap before I even got on the railway. I was just talking and when they found out my plan they said they would take me. They didn't even let me give them any money. Granted that is really lucky for me, but I am sure it isn't that common. I wouldn't hike it because there really isn't much of a shoulder to walk on and the roads aren't that wide. I recommend taking the connector road, it shaves of some mileage on 302.
_Andrew_ If I were going to do that (never)I would park my car and hitch to the base station, take the train up and hike down to 302. The mileage may not look long to you but the trail is quite rugged. It is easier to go from Washington across Monroe, Eisenhower, Pierce, Jackson and Webster than it is to go in reverse. Also, if you don't already have a ticket, you sometimes can't get one going down unless the cars are not full.
I have never stayed at Crawford campground but a couple of weeks ago I stayed at Ammonoosuc campground in Twin Mt. on Rt. 3. They had a bathhouse and laundry and they also had a shelter over the picnic table at each site.
As Andrew mentioned, it is often easier to ask people for a ride then it is to hitch.
_Sleeveless_