Monroe, Washington, Jefferson

Trails:
Ammonoosuc ravine trail->Mount Monroe Loop->Crawford path->Gulfside Trail->Mount Jefferson loop->Jewell trail
12 miles plus I went South of Monroe some. 5400 vertical. 9 hours.

It was supposed to be 75 in the valley. It was maybe 50 up on the ridge with winds calm to about 30 later in the day. Nice sunny day with a mix of snow and rock above tree line and snow below tree line. Lots of waterfalls and plenty of views on this route. The plan was to go up Monroe and Washington but the day was so nice I decided to add Jefferson to the mix. Long day!
I passed one person and saw 2 from a distance. Amazing there were so few people out. It was really interesting to be at the top of Mt Washington with no one around. The road and cog railway are closed. All buildings are closed except there is probably someone in the weather building. Still a lot of snow piled up against the buildings. Monroe is South of Washington and Jefferson is North so I had a view of Washington from both directions and views of the whole range during the day.

The person I talked to went up the cog railway tracks. I guess that is a quick snow-free way to climb Washington. There is pretty good skiing still if you went up Jewell to Gulf side trail and then skied down North into Gulf of slides.
I found this on the Internet:
The Gulf of Slides Trail begins in Pinkham Notch at 2,050 feet and quickly breaks south from the popular Shelburne Trail, which accesses Tuckerman. The trail meanders up to the base of the Gulf of Slides, which is at 4,100 feet. A steep boot-packed trail then ascends to the top of the main gully and primary ski route, reaching around 5,000 feet.

Part of route. Doesn't show Jefferson.

Going up Ammonoosuc. Follows a river for a while.

Gem pool.

The trail crosses the stream here

Snow fields on way to Lake of Clouds

Looking South from Monroe

Mt Washington

Washington and Monroe from South of Monroe

Looking South near top of  Washington

Looking North near top of Washington

Jefferson

Wildcat

Crossing cog railway

Looking at Jefferson

Still some skiing. Top of Gulf of Slides.

Looking North from top of Gulf of Slides

Mt Washington from Jefferson

Looking South from Jefferson

Looking toward top of Jefferson

Looking down Jewell trail

Washington hotel is closed

And... back at the pond