Mt Jackson and Webster Cliff Hike

On Saturday, September 23rd, Tom (along with his dog Bailey), Mo and I met up at the AT crossing along Route 302 in Crawford Notch.  We were joined by Mark and a couple of his friends from VT.  After getting together we left a car and drove up to the Webster-Jackson Trailhead at the southern end of Saco Lake.  It was about 9:50 when we started up the trail with clear blue skies and it was warming up quickly.

The first half of the ascent was moderate in grade and we reached the junction with the Jackson Branch Trail by 10:35.  As we turned onto the Jackson Branch Trail the trail became more agressive and in about an hour we were beginning to break treeline and there were views over to the Willey Range.  The last bit of trail to the summit became very steep and we popped out on the summit of Mount Jackson (4052') at 11:40AM.  It was time to celebrate.  This was Tom and Bailey's final peak for the NH 4000-footers!  After taking a summit picture to commemorate the occasion, we moved over to the northern side of the summit for lunch and a toast with champagne, which Mark had carried up.  It was an absolutely beautiful day with crystal clear views of the Presidential Range.

After a good long lunch break, we headed back over to the trail at 12:30PM.  The initial descent off of Mount Jackson via the Webster Cliff Trail was steep as we made our way over to Mount Webster.  It took about 40 minutes to hike over to the trail junction with the Webster Branch Trail.  It was only a little further to reach the summit of Mount Webster (3910') with its steep cliffs and dramatic views over Crawford Notch.  We hung out here for a bit before starting down the Webster Cliffs.  This was an incredibly beautiful descent with a few steep spots and many open ledges along its ridgeline.  We reached the last of the open ledges at 2:45PM before entering the woods for the rest of the return trip.  It took approximately another hour to hike the rest of the trail back down to the Route 302 crossing.  We were back to our car at just before 4PM.  Afterward Mo shuttled Mark and I back to the other cars at Saco Lake and we then called it a day, as everyone had plans.

As Tom, Bailey and I were camping at Crawford Notch Campground down the road, we went back to camp, showered and then went out for dinner at Fabyan's in Bretton Woods.  In the evening we kicked back by a campfire.

It was a perfect day to celebrate Tom and Bailey's final peak.  Thanks to Mo and Mark (and his friends) for joining the celebration!  The route over Mount Jackson and the Webster Cliffs provided brilliant views throughout the day!

Join me for a moderate hike up to Mounts Jackson (4052') and Webster (3910') and descending via the spectacular Webster Cliffs.  These peaks lie at the southern end of the Presidential Range, even though they themselves are not named for Presidents.  Mount Jackson is named for Charles Jackson, who was a state geologist and Mount Webster is named for Daniel Webster, a U.S. senator representing NH.  The approach to Mt. Jackson is moderate in grade, but steepens significantly closer to the summit.  The descent off of Jackson and Webster has some short steep sections.  There are wonderful views over the southern Presidentials and the surrounding wilderness from the summit of Mt. Jackson.  There are also magnificient views over Crawford Notch and the Willey from the Webster Cliffs.

Total Distance and Elevation Gain:  7.3 miles with approximately 2550 feet in cumulative elevation gain.

Total Time:  About 6-7 hours depending on breaks and group's speed.

Rain or harsh weather may postpone to another date or cancel, as appropriate.

Camping Option:  Contact me, if you're interested in camping Saturday night.  I would be happy to set something up or provide details to share my site. 

What to Bring:  Typical summer hiking gear should be appropriate:  convertible hiking pants/shorts, good sturdy hiking boots with good traction and thick socks, a windbreaker/raingear.  Also bring along lunch, snacks and plenty of water (at least 2-L).  Optionally, pack sunscreen and anything else that you may require for a day hike.

Carpooling:  Contact other participants or the trip leader to arrange for a rideshare to the trailhead.

Afterwards:  If there is sufficient interest, we will have drinks and/or dinner in Bretton Woods.