A good number of us bagged North and Middle Tripyramid, on the ridge at the east side of Waterville Valley. The day gave us full sun, although we were deep in the trees for nearly all of the hike. We took a window in the weather with the temperature warm and humidity not too bad, for summer, although this was definitely a shorts hike. We (Pat, Marie, my son David, and I) went up from the Kanc, taking the Pine Bend Brook Trail up to the ridge. Just below the north peak, we met Larry, who had gone up the same trail, starting an hour ahead of us. Over at the middle peak, we encountered Doug, Pam, and Kit, who had gone up via the Sabbaday Brook Trail, which tops out at the col between the two peaks. Then it was back over the ridge to the north peak and down Pine Bend. The toughest parts of this route are the steeps going down from the north peak and then lower, down the steep head of the ravine just above the Sandwich Wilderness boundary, a considerable stretch over damp, slippery, partially or totally moss-covered boulders. Fortunately, the last two miles or more, below the boundary, are very easy and quickly covered. All told, for our part of the group, the outing took eight and a half hours, covering 9.6 miles with over 3400 feet of elevation gain, a nice hike but one to have behind us.
Below, at the middle peak, are Pat, Marie (standing above Pat), Dick, Pam, Doug, and Kit (pic by David).
