The audacious Six Husbands route to Mt. Jefferson scales the precipitous buttress of the northern Jefferson's Knee, with some difficult ledge scrambles and several nearly vertical ladders ~ not for the faint of heart! For the descent we'll be going down the very steep Sphinx Trail and then hook back up with the Great Gulf Trail! The views across the Great Gulf Wilderness to the Carter Range are especially beautiful.

Distance: 14.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain; 4,450 ft.
Estimated Time: 8-10 hours

We will meet at the large parking area for Great Gulf Wilderness and take the beautiful Great Gulf trail for 4.5 miles. We'll then steeply ascend up the Six Husbands Trail for 2.3 miles to reach the Mount Jefferson Loop/Gulfside Trail where we will be fully exposed above treeline. It's then a short 0.3 miles to reach the summit of Mt. Jefferson. It will be another 7.6 miles to get back to our cars using the very steep Sphinx Trail and the hooking back up with the Great Gulf Wilderness Trail. 

Travel above treeline offers unique challenges to any hiker. Please have the appropriate gear/clothing to travel above treeline [rain shell] and the appropriate amount of layers to keep your core body warm.

Book time is approximately 8-10 hours round trip if the conditions are good. One caveat, visibility has to be good! Hiking in zero or low visibility on the ridge to Jefferson is not wise, especially given that the cairns are not very large. If weather conditions worsen to where our visibility becomes an issue, we will cancel the hike and we will head back immediately [although we won't be able to if we are on the steep section of the Six Husbands Trail]!

This hike is contingent upon the weather. Wind speed and visibility are the two main variables that can cancel this hike; besides rain.

Be sure to bring a swim suit and towel because we'll take a dip in one of the many swimming holes on our return!

After The Hike: We'll dinner at the Red Fox Bar & Grill in Jackson, NH so have a change of clothes back at your car.   

Lodging Option: I have 8 bunks available with linen for Friday and/or Saturday night at my house in Waterville Valley for $20. You can use the kitchen facilities and store beverages/food in the fridge. I serve coffee in the morning and a continental breakfast. Contact me to RSVP. SPACE IS LIMITED TO EIGHT GUYS.

We'll meet at the large parking area for Great Gulf Wilderness on the west side of NH 16, 6.5 miles south of US 2 in Gorham, and 4.1 miles north of AMC's Pinkham Notch Camp. We'll be driving a blue FJ Cruiser/