“How’s my friend Clay doing?”
– Hiker on the Mount Clay Loop Trail
The Presidential Traverse is famous among hiking circles, and with good reason. Between eighteen and twenty-three miles long, depending on the route you want to take, the Presidential Ridge offers a unique opportunity to stay above treeline for an extended period of time and witness one of the most spectacular mountain ranges we have in the United States. Or at least New England, if you don’t want to give it further recognition. But in terms of accessibility and scenery, it’s tough to beat.
There are eight 4000-footers along the Presidential Range, running north to south in the following order: Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Monroe, Eisenhower, Pierce, and Jackson. Ironically, Jackson wasn’t named for a president but a famous geologist of the 1800s. Weird, right? I didn’t know geologists could get famous. But regardless of who they were named for, these mountains are worth every step. If you are a mountain hiker, you’d be well-served to put these peaks on your bucket list. They are beautiful and powerful.
But lost among these giants of nature is a mountain wedged between Washington and Jefferson that I think deserves more recognition. Last week, while serving as checkpoint manager for my daughter’s solo traverse of the Presidentials, I got the chance to give Mount Clay another look and I really enjoyed it. As I left the summit of Mount Washington in search of my daughter heading north along the Gulfside Trail, I took in the expanse of the northern Presidentials and realized that while I’ve never been too crazy about Jefferson’s summit, I’ve always enjoyed the two peaks on either side of it: Mount Adams, and the relatively unknown Mount Clay.
From left to right: Clay, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison
Clay Is No Jefferson
Now I didn’t get to take too many pictures of Clay because I was in a rush to meet my daughter, but what I can tell you is that while Clay is just as rugged as Jefferson and Adams in parts, it doesn’t get mundane like Jefferson does. Sometimes Jefferson just feels too long. When you’re dealing with such rocky terrain, without much greenery to look at, that happens. I never feel this way on the southern Presidentials where evergreens still decorate the trail as you make your way over Pierce and Eisenhower. But on Jefferson, I can get a little annoyed.
This is not the case with Clay. It has just the right amount of height to it where you are afforded an amazing view without feeling like it took too long to achieve it. I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way. After summiting, I descended into the col between Jefferson and Clay and met a man who greeted me by asking, “How’s my friend Clay doing?” He must have been going through the same appreciation I was.
Looking up at Mount Clay from the Gulfside Trail
A Student of Mountains
One of the things I’m trying to do more while hiking is pay special attention to one mountain as opposed to try and bag several peaks in one journey. Waiting in the col for my daughter, who was descending Jefferson, I looked around and took in the scenery. From my vantage point, there was a great view of Bretton Woods and I could clearly see a trail that circumvented Mount Clay if you didn’t want to summit it. I couldn’t see that when I was heading southbound. As I studied the route, I also spent a little time examining where the flora was healthy, and where it was sparse.
It was about twenty minutes before my daughter arrived at the trail split where I was waiting, and in that time I felt like I had finally developed a clear picture in my mind of Clay, and Jefferson, that I could take home with me. An image that wouldn’t get lost in the sea of trails running through my memory. I suppose that’s because I had finally taken the time to truly meet the area instead of just stomping my way over it on my way to see something else.
A great view of Bretton Woods from the col between Clay and Jefferson
Mount Clay Ascent Details
Trailhead: Mount Washington Summit
Distance: ~ 4 miles
Elevation Gain: ~ 500 feet
Route: From the summit of Mount Washington, head north on the Gulfside Trail to the Mount Clay Loop. Ascend Clay via the loop trail to the summit, then descend into the col between Clay and Jefferson. Return to Washington summit via the Gulfside Trail.
