Mt Tecumseh is the mountain on which Waterville Valley Ski Resort resides. There is some debate about Tecumsehs status as a 4000 footer. At the the summit, your device will tell you 3,997 feet. Maps tell you this as well. I have come to understand that the mountain has come and gone from the list over time. I was to sure to jump at the summit to ensure I hit 4000 feet.
Winter in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is a very unique experience. It is hard to hard to explain, easier to experience. The White Mountains are notorious for weather extremes in all seasons. The second highest wind speed ever recorded on earth, 231 mph, was recorded on Mt Washington in 1934. It was the highest wind speed on earth until 1996. There are many stories telling the tales of dramatic rescues and the the not so lucky who met their demise in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Three books I highly recommend a linked below.
Where You’ll Find Me: Risk, Decisions, and the Last Climb of Kate Matrosova by Ty Gagne
The Last Traverse; Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites by Ty Gagne
Not Without Peril: 150 Years Of Misadventure On The Presidential Range Of New Hampshire by Nicholas Howe
January 1st 2021 was a cool, crisp and clear winter morning. I had planned for a few days to do my first winter ascent of a 4000 footer and the weather on this day was ideal. Probably 20 degrees with very little wind. I left home at about 4:30am and arrived at the mountain around 6:15.
I got myself situated, stuffed my water hose into my jacket to hopefully prevent camel back from freezing, put my Kahtoola Microspikes on and headed out. The bottom section was easy going, slight incline over the first mile or so. The trail bent down and curved sharp to a water crossing. This crossing kind of marked the beginning of steep stairs to the summit.
Soon I could hear the chair lift operating at the ski area as I could at the base. I passed several hikers on my way down who were packing skis up the trail with them. There is cross connector trail from the 4000 foot summit that connects over to the top of the ski area. Evidently people routine hike up and get a free run down Waterville. I’ll have to do this someday. Way back when I would hike Tuckerman Ravine trail on Mount Washington and ski down the ravine. Much younger days.. The stairs built on this mountain are amazing, The work that must have gone into them is kind of mind boggling. I have encountered short sets of stairs on many trails throughout the whites but nothing this extensive.
The stairs are DIFFICULT and are hy many call Tecumseh ‘Stair Master’. After what feel like an eternity of never ending stairs and steep incline, the trail levels out and I was really able to pick of the pace toward the summit.
The views upon reaching the summit are breath taking. You can see many peaks including Mt Washington, Adams and Osceola.
Overall I would highly recommend Tecumseh as a first winter 4000 footer. There is nothing remotely technical or scary. Trail was fully packed out so all that was needed was Microspikes. Obvious precautions and preparedness items including food, water, extra gloves, extra hat and extra mid layer.
Mountain Mike 
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