Mount Tripyramid (North Peak)
N 43° 58.387 W 071° 26.573
19T E 304053 N 4871788
The northern peak of the Waterville Valley's Tripyramid range
Waymark Code: WMCC29
Location: New Hampshire, United States
Date Posted: 08/20/2011
Views: 8
The eastern wall of New Hampshire's Waterville Valley is made up of an interesting and rugged mountain range named (collectively) Mount Tripyramid. The mountain derives its name from the three distinct pyramid-shaped peaks that lie along its summit ridge. Although all three of the summits (North, Middle, and South) are over 4,000 feet in height, only the North Peak (4140 feet) and the
Middle Peak (4110 feet) appear on the Appalachian Mountain Club's New Hampshire four thousand footers list (there is not the required 200 foot elevation 'dip' between the Middle summit and the South summit for the South Peak to qualify).
Many hikers who climb the Tripyramids do so by following a clockwise loop which runs from the Livermore Trail (essentially a logging road) to the north end of the Mount Tripyramid Trail, across all three summits from north to south, back to the Livermore Trail. The reason for the clockwise direction is the dangerous North Slide - a steep rocky slide that ascends the northern face of the North Peak, gaining 1200 feet of elevation in about half a mile. Climbing the North Slide while challenging, is easier than descending it. Under wet conditions, the slide is considered too dangerous to ascend, but an alternate trail (the Scaur Ridge Trail) offers a safer option.
The wooded summit of the North Peak is reached shortly after completing the rough ascent of the North Slide. While there are only limited views from the summit, the North Slide offers spectacular views of Waterville Valley (the ski area) and Mount Tecumseh to the west, and Mount Osceola to the northwest.
The North Peak of Mount Tripyramid is the 34th highest peak on the list of the Appalachian Mountain Club's New Hampshire four thousand footers.