Mark Klim and I enjoyed spring sunshine and clear vistas on this rocky 3119-ft. peak along the Davis Path - one of the best viewpoints in the Whites.
Trailhead signs by the parking area off Rt. 302, across from the Notchland Inn.
Looking up the Saco River to Mts. Webster and Jackson from the Bemis Bridge.
After crossing a stream channel on a two-log bridge, the trail wanders a short way through open hardwoods.
We spent the day in the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness.
After its initial easy opener, the Davis Path makes a relentless climb to the ridgecrest, in one section ascending something like 1300 ft. in 0.9 mile.
The track was chopped up in places with bareboot holes, including this deep one. We wore snowshoes up and down for stability and traction, and smoothed out the trail as best we could.
Looking out from the first view ledge, where the climb eases.
We took a nice break here in the warm spring sun.
The Bond-Twin Range.
The Sleepers and Tripyramids beyond the lower Sawyer River valley.
The Davis Path ascends over more ledges.
A wide expanse, partly melted off.
Climbing up the big ledge at the start of the spur path to Mt. Crawford.
Approaching the summit.
The Giant Stairs beyond a huge ledge on a shoulder of Crawford Dome.
One of the great perches. We eyed the hardwood ridge in the left-center of the photo, a western spur of Stairs Mountain, as a potential future bushwhack route - but we would have to get across the Saco River to reach it.
Mt. Crawford's classic view of its namesake notch.
The wild, gravel-splotched mass of Mt. Resolution, beyond Crawford Dome.
Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington and Boott Spur.
Mark peers down into the wild Sleeper Brook valley.
We could get lost down there!
The mighty Carrigain.
Mt. Parker and a spur knob of Crawford known to some as "Crawford's Bunion." Attitash ski trails in the distance.
We enjoyed a comfortable summit stay of more than two hours, including time for a snooze. We had considered continuing along Davis Path to bushwhack to some ledges in the Crawford Dome area, but beyond the spur there was only one set of snowshoe tracks and the snow was getting soft and wet. So we decided to just stay here and savor Crawford's amazing vistas.
Into the great wide open.
Trail history.
