BIGEarl
Well-known member
December 3, 2011: Franconia Ridge Traverse – Lafayette to Flume
Trails: Franconia Notch Recreation Trail, Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Liberty Spring Trail
Summits: Lafayette, Lincoln, Liberty, Flume
Speed Bumps: Truman, Little Haystack
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
The forecast for Saturday called for partly cloudy conditions in the morning, temperature in the upper 20’s, wind of 30mph, and wind chill values of minus 13. The experts were wrong, again. There were no clouds all day and the wind was never more than a light breeze. With the right conditions, Franconia Ridge is a terrific hike. We had outstanding conditions, all day long.
Sue and I arrived at The Basin early to leave the truck and start the day by hiking the Franconia Notch Recreation Trail to the Old Bridal Path (OBP)/Falling Waters Trail (FWT) trailhead a couple miles north. Our plan was to be on-trail ~7:00am. Already warmed up by hiking from The Basin, we started up OBP at 7:10am. The lower part of OBP is very rough from erosion caused when Tropical Storm Irene passed through the area. Most of the damage is limited to the section of trail between the trailhead and the OBP/FWT trails split. After we passed the trail split we were hiking more comfortable conditions, and completely clear. We’re hiking in December and there is no snow, and the ice never showed up until Agony Ridge.
Because we were hiking the east side of the ridge the early sun was blocked and we had cool conditions to start. When we hit the lower end of Agony Ridge the sun hit us. At the first open area we stopped for a couple minutes and enjoyed the views. Back in the hike we started toward the closed-for-the-season Greenleaf Hut. At the first section of exposed slabs we found some ice. We managed to work around it but knew there was more to come. As we climbed higher the ice became more significant and eventually became quite a test. It seemed there was always a good place to step but that went with quite a few bad places. We both made it through the agonies and to the hut without any slips or falls.
We made a quick stop at the hut for a snack and then started into the climb to the summit of Lafayette. Within a few yards of leaving the hut we stopped to dig out the MicroSpikes. The trail was wall-to-wall ice and much of it had water running across making for zero traction. The MicroSpikes did the job but they were only needed through the section of scrub between the hut and the treeline. Once we hit the treeline we were out of the ice and the MicroSpikes were hanging on our packs.
By now we were expecting a lot of wind to be hitting us from the north but it wasn’t there. We were still traveling with fewer layers than expected and enjoying it. The climb to the summit went without a hitch. There’s a large area of ice developing just below the summit near an outcropping of rocks. A small off-trail excursion through the rocks got us past the ice and on-trail for the final approach.
We hit the summit, enjoyed the views, took some pictures, had a snack, and were soon on the hike south to the other end of Franconia Ridge and Mount Flume. The next target along the way was Lincoln. I never expected to bare boot the ridge but that’s how it was going. The snow that was on the ground was dry and traction wasn’t an issue. There was no ice. On the approach to Lincoln I recognized a dog and then saw the owner. Andy and Salena were headed north toward Lafayette. We stopped for a short visit but were soon on our way. At Lincoln we did the same routine as on Lafayette without the snack. We weren’t trying to hurry the day but knew the hike had a late finish time with most likely a couple hours with headlights. We kept moving.
The hike to Little Haystack had quite a few people headed north, including a large group from Quebec that we saw back at the trailhead. At Little Haystack there were some hikers trying to decide if they should turn back down FWT or hike the loop over Lafayette and down OBP. I told them the distance, elevation, and book time for the trip from Little Haystack and with that information it looked like they were preparing to make a u-turn.
Sue and I continued south headed for Liberty. The only test along the way was just south of Little Haystack where the trail drops through some ledges and boulders. There was some ice in this section and a little extra care with foot placement was needed. Once we made it through this steep descent it was a clear trail to the Liberty Spring trail junction. After a time check I said we should make it over Liberty to Flume and back before the headlights were needed. We kept moving.
From the trail junction to the summit of Liberty is a short .3 miles. Soon we were standing at the summit, enjoying the views, and getting some pictures. There was another couple at the summit that Sue provided a photo assist. They headed north and we headed south. A little over a mile away was our final target for the hike, Mt. Flume.
The only tricky place on the hike to Flume was at the exit. Climbing through the rocks near the summit of Liberty there were some that were snow-covered and with poor footing. Other than that it was a clear and quick walk to Flume. Through the col and the climb with a couple stops along the way and we were on Flume. It was time for the u-turn and to climb back over Liberty. Instead of exiting via Flume Slide Trail we were taking Liberty Spring Trail.
We made it back to the trail junction without headlights. At the trail junction we both pulled out another bottle of water, and our headlights. With only ~2.9 miles to the trailhead we had a little over an hour to go. The descent from Franconia Ridge went well. There was very little ice along the way. At the lower part of Liberty Spring Trail the usual mud pits were there, not frozen, and as usual required a little extra effort to get past with clean boots. We made it. Below the Flume Slide Trail junction we took the shortcut back to The Basin. Once we found the truck it didn’t take long to pack and hit the road.
What a terrific day on Franconia Ridge! We started and ended the day with headlights and got all that we could from it along the way.
I’ve posted some pictures from the day.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
Trails: Franconia Notch Recreation Trail, Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Liberty Spring Trail
Summits: Lafayette, Lincoln, Liberty, Flume
Speed Bumps: Truman, Little Haystack
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
The forecast for Saturday called for partly cloudy conditions in the morning, temperature in the upper 20’s, wind of 30mph, and wind chill values of minus 13. The experts were wrong, again. There were no clouds all day and the wind was never more than a light breeze. With the right conditions, Franconia Ridge is a terrific hike. We had outstanding conditions, all day long.
Sue and I arrived at The Basin early to leave the truck and start the day by hiking the Franconia Notch Recreation Trail to the Old Bridal Path (OBP)/Falling Waters Trail (FWT) trailhead a couple miles north. Our plan was to be on-trail ~7:00am. Already warmed up by hiking from The Basin, we started up OBP at 7:10am. The lower part of OBP is very rough from erosion caused when Tropical Storm Irene passed through the area. Most of the damage is limited to the section of trail between the trailhead and the OBP/FWT trails split. After we passed the trail split we were hiking more comfortable conditions, and completely clear. We’re hiking in December and there is no snow, and the ice never showed up until Agony Ridge.
Because we were hiking the east side of the ridge the early sun was blocked and we had cool conditions to start. When we hit the lower end of Agony Ridge the sun hit us. At the first open area we stopped for a couple minutes and enjoyed the views. Back in the hike we started toward the closed-for-the-season Greenleaf Hut. At the first section of exposed slabs we found some ice. We managed to work around it but knew there was more to come. As we climbed higher the ice became more significant and eventually became quite a test. It seemed there was always a good place to step but that went with quite a few bad places. We both made it through the agonies and to the hut without any slips or falls.
We made a quick stop at the hut for a snack and then started into the climb to the summit of Lafayette. Within a few yards of leaving the hut we stopped to dig out the MicroSpikes. The trail was wall-to-wall ice and much of it had water running across making for zero traction. The MicroSpikes did the job but they were only needed through the section of scrub between the hut and the treeline. Once we hit the treeline we were out of the ice and the MicroSpikes were hanging on our packs.
By now we were expecting a lot of wind to be hitting us from the north but it wasn’t there. We were still traveling with fewer layers than expected and enjoying it. The climb to the summit went without a hitch. There’s a large area of ice developing just below the summit near an outcropping of rocks. A small off-trail excursion through the rocks got us past the ice and on-trail for the final approach.
We hit the summit, enjoyed the views, took some pictures, had a snack, and were soon on the hike south to the other end of Franconia Ridge and Mount Flume. The next target along the way was Lincoln. I never expected to bare boot the ridge but that’s how it was going. The snow that was on the ground was dry and traction wasn’t an issue. There was no ice. On the approach to Lincoln I recognized a dog and then saw the owner. Andy and Salena were headed north toward Lafayette. We stopped for a short visit but were soon on our way. At Lincoln we did the same routine as on Lafayette without the snack. We weren’t trying to hurry the day but knew the hike had a late finish time with most likely a couple hours with headlights. We kept moving.
The hike to Little Haystack had quite a few people headed north, including a large group from Quebec that we saw back at the trailhead. At Little Haystack there were some hikers trying to decide if they should turn back down FWT or hike the loop over Lafayette and down OBP. I told them the distance, elevation, and book time for the trip from Little Haystack and with that information it looked like they were preparing to make a u-turn.
Sue and I continued south headed for Liberty. The only test along the way was just south of Little Haystack where the trail drops through some ledges and boulders. There was some ice in this section and a little extra care with foot placement was needed. Once we made it through this steep descent it was a clear trail to the Liberty Spring trail junction. After a time check I said we should make it over Liberty to Flume and back before the headlights were needed. We kept moving.
From the trail junction to the summit of Liberty is a short .3 miles. Soon we were standing at the summit, enjoying the views, and getting some pictures. There was another couple at the summit that Sue provided a photo assist. They headed north and we headed south. A little over a mile away was our final target for the hike, Mt. Flume.
The only tricky place on the hike to Flume was at the exit. Climbing through the rocks near the summit of Liberty there were some that were snow-covered and with poor footing. Other than that it was a clear and quick walk to Flume. Through the col and the climb with a couple stops along the way and we were on Flume. It was time for the u-turn and to climb back over Liberty. Instead of exiting via Flume Slide Trail we were taking Liberty Spring Trail.
We made it back to the trail junction without headlights. At the trail junction we both pulled out another bottle of water, and our headlights. With only ~2.9 miles to the trailhead we had a little over an hour to go. The descent from Franconia Ridge went well. There was very little ice along the way. At the lower part of Liberty Spring Trail the usual mud pits were there, not frozen, and as usual required a little extra effort to get past with clean boots. We made it. Below the Flume Slide Trail junction we took the shortcut back to The Basin. Once we found the truck it didn’t take long to pack and hit the road.
What a terrific day on Franconia Ridge! We started and ended the day with headlights and got all that we could from it along the way.
I’ve posted some pictures from the day.
BIGEarl's Pictures
Straight to the slideshow
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