Lion Head Winter Route
December 9, 2024

Start/End: Pinkham Notch Visitor Center

Peaks: N/A

Elevation Gain: 2,510 ft

RT Mileage: 5.00 mi

Duration: 6 hours, 7 minutes

Snow/Ice Difficulty: Grade II

I had been planning a hike of the Lion Head Winter Route for a couple of months now, and fortunately a series of snowstorms from late November to early December got the route open by the weekend of the 7th. Rain looks to spoil the winter fun later this week, but luckily I was able to take advantage of a brief window of good weather on the 9th. I had originally planned to ascend past the end of the winter route all the way to the summit of Lion Head, but ended up turning back a little short due to poor trail conditions. This was my first Grade II crampons and ice axe hike, and it was a doozy. Read more...