Also known as: Boot Spur
Boott Spur sits at 5,492 feet on the southern shoulder of Mount Washington, forming the upper wall above Tuckerman Ravine. Though it falls short of the 200 feet of prominence required for AMC 4,000-footer status, the peak is recognized on the Trailwrights 72 and makes a worthwhile objective for any serious Presidential peakbagger. The summit is marked with a Bradford Washburn survey pin, and the broad ridge delivers sweeping views of Tuckerman Ravine, the Gulf of Slides, and the Washington summit cone.
The Boott Spur Trail branches from the Tuckerman Ravine Trail 0.4 miles above Pinkham Notch, quickly trading the crowded lower path for a rugged, narrow ridge typical of White Mountains hiking. A ladder gains the initial ridge crest, and the terrain stays rocky and ledgy throughout. At 1.7 miles, a short spur leads to Harvard Rock, with a head-on view straight into Tuckerman Ravine's headwall. Treeline breaks at 1.9 miles; the route continues over several false summits before meeting the Davis Path, one of the oldest maintained trails in the United States. A popular loop pairs this ascent with the Glen Boulder Trail for the descent, passing the namesake boulder and Gulf Peak.
The open ridge is fully exposed to Presidential Range weather from the moment the trees give out, so conditions can change rapidly. Winter ascents require appropriate gear for severe subarctic conditions, and the extended above-treeline section demands respect year-round.
