I am thinking of going southbound in September. The biggest worry that I have is the Whites - just how white will they be? I am planning for good, cold weather (it would be October when I got there, as I’m not leaving sobo til the 2nd week of Sept).
Also, are there any online journals where someone has taken off southbound during that time of year?
Kineo Kid
You can get just about anything from the weather in the Whites during October. It can be cold and rainy during the day or warm and sunny. The peaks are frequently covered in snow first thing in the morning when its been rainy in the valley; sometimes that snow will melt as the day warms other days it doesn’t. In the sections above tree line its common for winter conditions day or night, that means wind, snow, cold and sometimes zero visability. And its not uncommon for a full blown early winter storm to cover everything from valleys to peaks with a lot of snow. On the plus side when its sunny out its usually good hiking warm or cold. In the valleys the snow doesn’t always last long and the foliage is colorful. If your “planning for goodk, cold weather” than your thinking right. Also, you’ll need to be prepared to wait out bad weather that may come when you reach The Presidentials, The Franconias and other shorter sections above treeline.
celt
What celt said…
I’ve spent a lot of time up there that time of year. ME and the rest of the world. The colors are awesome around Columbus day. I’ve had great weather, but it did get cold at night. In the Presidentials there is record of snow every month of the year.
I hiked SOBO, but not that late. It took us a month almost exactly to get through Maine.
Grimace
MEGA '01
Grimace
Hi Kineo Kid - you from around Moosehead?
On Oct 8th 2001 Mt Washington got a foot of snow.
http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/archive/summary-2001-10.html
Thoughts on starting a MEGA that late: Southbounders can’t stay at the Birches in Baxter, you’ll have to make a rez to stay. It’s hunting time in Maine so wear Orange, even in Baxter State Park. You’ll be hitting the wave of GAMEs, shelters will be crowded. Those fords will be icy cold. Get to the Kennebec Ferry before it closes on Oct 15th. And you probably already know how chilly the nights will be.
good luck, and have fun!
TJ
I didn’t know these had been archived! Cool.
http://www.mountwashington.org/backcountry/archive/2002/10/26.html
26 Oct '02: Zealand Hut 22 degrees at night, “Snowing, patches of snow and ice. Poles recommended.”
“Madison Springs, Lakes of the Clouds, Mizpah Spring, Galehead and Greenleaf Huts are closed for the season. No shelter is available. The Lakes of the Clouds refuge room remains open for emergency use only during the winter months. The Lakes refuge room should under no circumstances be used as a destination. Lonesome Lake Hut will open for its first winter self-service season, from Dec. 13, 2002 to May 27, 2003.”
TJ
They closed the road going to the top of Mt Washington the day after I went over it last year due to snow. That was August!
steamboat
Unless you are a very experienced winter camper I would consider a guided trip over the Presidentials. Mt. Washinton kills people even in the summer. There was an ice storm the day before I went over last year in July that almost killed some hikers. At the very least be prepared to wait for weeks in case the weather is bad. Believe me you do not want to be up there when the wind is over 70 mph.
Blue Jay
It can turn bad fast. 6 days after we went thru last year, Thru Hiker Pete Harley died between Madison and Mt. Washington! It is not a place to be when the weather turns bad and it can do it very fast. 70 one day and freezing rain the next with high winds. Wait out the bad weather or get some bad winter camping experience. Good Luck
Papa Smurf
Yes, I am from around the Moosehead area - Greenville, in fact. Are you from the Caratunk region?
Kineo Kid
Hey Kineo,
I’m from Kennebunk. The screen name is because I’m an ALDHA Companion volunteer, and the section I write about is Caratunk to Katahdin.I just geussed from ‘Kineo’ where you were from – I bet some of the folks from away are wondering about that now…
TJ
Kineo Kid,
I did a southbound hike in 2002 from Mt. Katahdin to the NY/Conn. state line starting the last week of August. What I chose to do was go over the Whites from Pinkham Notch to Franconia Notch at the beginning of my hike, precisely to avoid having to go over the above-treeline stretches in October. I then moved north and hiked south from Katahdin. I got back to Pinkham Notch on Oct. 9 and the weather was already cold – the night of Oct. 8 was below freezing and it didn’t get much above 40 degrees along the Moriah/Carter/Wildcat ridge on the 8th or the 9th. It would not have been pleasant above treeline – and this was relatively benign weather. There was no snow visible on Mt. Washington, but there had apparently been several snowstorms already. I ran into rime ice and below-freezing temperatures going over the summit of Moosilauke on Columbus Day but otherwise got through the rest of the Whites without incident
I’m glad I chose to handle it the way I did – it seemed to me that some of the other southbounders I was meeting up with were pretty naive about being able to get over the above-treeline stretches that time of year without extra gear, winter camping experience, increased risk etc. You also have to remember that the Madison Spring and Lake of the Cloud huts close in mid-September, so that makes a Presidential Range traverse that much more technically challenging.
I should say that overall the weather on my hike was great for hiking. Just as long as you’re equipped for cold rainy weather in October, you’ll be fine.
Check out my hike web site at http://users.rcn.com/rickbb for my journal and photos. It’s got temperatures and weather information.
Snowbird
Snowbird