6/30/07
Middle Tripyramid 4140’ and North Tripyramid 4180’

12.1 miles 3000’ Elevation gain

Kevin, Judy and Emma

Jude and I made our third trip to the Tripyramids. This was Emma's second. These were the first 4000 footers we ever climbed when we started climbing ten years ago. We made every mistake there was to make on that first climb, and I'm surprised I ever got Jude to go again. On this trip as on the previous trip we made five years ago on Emma's 4000 footer list, we climbed the Scaur Ridge Trail. From the Tripoli Road parking area in Waterville Valley we followed the Livermore Road east, first passing the south end of the Mount Tripyramid Trail, then passing the trail to North Tripyramid and continuing on to the Scaur Ridge Trail. The Mount Tripyramid Trail, regardless of which end you start on, climbs a landslide. On our first trip in '97 we climbed the South Slide to South Tripyramid, then crossed the ridge and descended by North Slide on North Tripyramid. We were lucky to survive. South Tripyramid doesn't count as a 4000 footer, so it could be skipped. The slide on North Tripyramid is arguably the steepest trail in the White Mountains. It rises 1200' over 1/2 mile, or an average of 240' per 1/10th of a mile. We descended this on our first trip, in the rain. Bad move. Avoid this at all costs. The Scaur Ridge Trail, though slightly longer is a gentle walk in the woods in comparison. Pine Bend Brook Trail and Sabbaday Brook Trail both rise to the summits from the east. Pine Bend climbs North Tripyramid, while Sabbaday connects with the Mount Tripyramid Trail between North and Middle Tripyramid. Using either of these trails would avoid the slides altogether, and you could skip the trip to South Tripyramid. We generally make the trip from Livermore Road, up the Scaur Ridge Trail to where it joins the Pine Bend Brook Trail and leads to the summit of North Tripyramid, then cross the summits and descend by the South Slide on South Tripyramid and return to Livermore Road. On this trip we had the most perfect weather we could ask for. Bright sunshine, puffy white clouds and a steady, cool breeze to keep the bugs down. There was no humidity at all. I barely broke a sweat all day. It was like a clear high pressure September day. Even the bugs, though present, were not particularly bothersome. The wildflowers were outstanding both along Livermore Road and on the mountain trails, especially between summits. We also saw dozens of Tiger Swallowtail butterflies along the road and while crossing the summits. Another outstanding day in the White Mountains.