rocksnrolls
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Saturday March 31st was the date of the 2nd Annual Fools Scout Ball, arranged by a group of nuts from Rocks On Top. The plan was to gather a large group of hikers at the Lonesome Lake hut for feasting and partying. I'm not really the type who likes to hang around a hut all day so I was fully hoping to get in some hiking in the area and get back in time for the feast.
Not really sure where I would end up, I wanted to at least head over to the hut via the Basin-Cascade Tr. I've been on the shorter Lonesome lake Tr many times and only once on this much more scenic route.
I arrived at the Lafayette parking lot to find many of the gang had already arrived. I attempted to get into one of the spots at the end of the lot, only to find myself trapped in the unplowed ice. A few hearty folks (inc. NewHampshire) soon came over to push me out and I headed over to an easier spot.
After some socializing, I was able to convince ScenicNH to join me on my route to the hut so we geared up and headed down the bike path to the Basin. We strolled up the gorgeous trail, talking, joking, snapping photos of the beautiful scenary and just having a grand time. We didn't see anyone else on the trail, which was in well-packed condition and quite bare-bootable.
We spent a little time at the hut, talking with Sherpa John, Sherpette and MtnDrew. I've been wanting to get out to the Kinsman Pond Tr for quite some time (as I work on my redlining of the Franconia Notch area) and this would prove to be the perfect day for it. ScenicNH decided he was having so much fun hikng with me that he would tag along for the rest of the day. So we backtracked to the start of the KPT, forded the brook and headed on our way. This trail has a rep as being boulder strewn, covered with exposed roots and very wet - but today it was perfect. Enough snow to cover the rocksnroots, cold enough that it wasn't melting, and warm enough that we were soon delayering. I had converted my pants to shorts and taken off my jacket after the first mile.
Nearing Kinsman Pond we quickly realized the wind was picking up and we hastily layered back up. Skirting the edge of the pond we hit one bad patch of ice (I kept down low while SNH headed up around it) but besides that the hike to the shelter was quite easy.
I was thinking of heading back the way we had came but SNH convinced me we should head out the F'in' Jimmie Tr
instead. Shorter distance and more variety to the day were the arguments and I wasn't too hard to convince. Leaving the shelter I put on my MSRs but when we hit the first steep descent I realized crampons would be much better so we both strapped ours on.
Now alot of people have said they don't like the Fishin' Jimmie because of all the steep PUDs, but I think it makes for a very interesting hike. We had to think carefully about how to deal with the various steep climbs and drops. We managed it without mishap and it was an invigorating hike indeed! Arriving at the hut I was glad to find the food hadn't even been served yet so we settled in for a few hours of good fellowship.
Many posts have been made over on ROT about the party, so I'll just add that it was great to see many of my new friends there and to finally put faces to the names of many people whose exploits I have enjoyed reading of. Truly a memorable event!
Afterward, with a belly stuffed to the bursting point, SNH and I headed out the Lonesome Lake Tr to our cars under headlamp. We ran into a bonking Hikerfast near the Hi-Cannon Tr (he's been sick for a few days and hadn't been eating) and he decided to hike back out with us rather than continue his attempt to join the festivities. It was good to see him again and I'm glad I was able to help make sure he survived the day.
Not really sure where I would end up, I wanted to at least head over to the hut via the Basin-Cascade Tr. I've been on the shorter Lonesome lake Tr many times and only once on this much more scenic route.
I arrived at the Lafayette parking lot to find many of the gang had already arrived. I attempted to get into one of the spots at the end of the lot, only to find myself trapped in the unplowed ice. A few hearty folks (inc. NewHampshire) soon came over to push me out and I headed over to an easier spot.
After some socializing, I was able to convince ScenicNH to join me on my route to the hut so we geared up and headed down the bike path to the Basin. We strolled up the gorgeous trail, talking, joking, snapping photos of the beautiful scenary and just having a grand time. We didn't see anyone else on the trail, which was in well-packed condition and quite bare-bootable.
We spent a little time at the hut, talking with Sherpa John, Sherpette and MtnDrew. I've been wanting to get out to the Kinsman Pond Tr for quite some time (as I work on my redlining of the Franconia Notch area) and this would prove to be the perfect day for it. ScenicNH decided he was having so much fun hikng with me that he would tag along for the rest of the day. So we backtracked to the start of the KPT, forded the brook and headed on our way. This trail has a rep as being boulder strewn, covered with exposed roots and very wet - but today it was perfect. Enough snow to cover the rocksnroots, cold enough that it wasn't melting, and warm enough that we were soon delayering. I had converted my pants to shorts and taken off my jacket after the first mile.
Nearing Kinsman Pond we quickly realized the wind was picking up and we hastily layered back up. Skirting the edge of the pond we hit one bad patch of ice (I kept down low while SNH headed up around it) but besides that the hike to the shelter was quite easy.
I was thinking of heading back the way we had came but SNH convinced me we should head out the F'in' Jimmie Tr
instead. Shorter distance and more variety to the day were the arguments and I wasn't too hard to convince. Leaving the shelter I put on my MSRs but when we hit the first steep descent I realized crampons would be much better so we both strapped ours on. Now alot of people have said they don't like the Fishin' Jimmie because of all the steep PUDs, but I think it makes for a very interesting hike. We had to think carefully about how to deal with the various steep climbs and drops. We managed it without mishap and it was an invigorating hike indeed! Arriving at the hut I was glad to find the food hadn't even been served yet so we settled in for a few hours of good fellowship.
Many posts have been made over on ROT about the party, so I'll just add that it was great to see many of my new friends there and to finally put faces to the names of many people whose exploits I have enjoyed reading of. Truly a memorable event!
Afterward, with a belly stuffed to the bursting point, SNH and I headed out the Lonesome Lake Tr to our cars under headlamp. We ran into a bonking Hikerfast near the Hi-Cannon Tr (he's been sick for a few days and hadn't been eating) and he decided to hike back out with us rather than continue his attempt to join the festivities. It was good to see him again and I'm glad I was able to help make sure he survived the day.
