Bobby
Active member
AMSTony and I were supposed to hike Liberty or Cannon on 2/19, but Tony was sick, so I went out alone. The forecast called for a high of 12, with wind chills in the -20 area, so going up high was out of the question. Since I was alone, Mrs. Bobby thought it was a good idea to stay in the valley, so I decided on a walk in the Pemi.
After a late start, I was at the Lincoln Woods parking lot at 9:30. I had to buy a parking permit, and was on the trail by 10:00. The temperature at the start was 3 degrees. The Lincoln Woods Trail was wide and flat, and I barebooted to about the Black Pond Trail. I put on snowshoes, and ventured to the river for pictures, and post-holed to mid thigh. Future off trail events were cancelled for the day. After crossing into the Wilderness, the trail narrowed to ski tracks, so I had to partially break trail, and got winded in a hurry. I learned a valuable lesson after one short break. Don't move your right foot if your left snowshoe is on top of your right snowshoe, you land on your face in the snow.
I realized as I reached the railroad trestle that I had been there before, about 30 years ago with my dad. We were on wood and leather snowshoes, which my mom now has hanging on a wall. She also uses my dad's hiking boots for vases
. I stopped for another break after crossing the suspension bridge leading to the Cedar Brook trail, and learned another valuable lesson. Don't move your left foot if your right snowshoe is on top of your left snowshoe, you land on your face in the snow.
It was more of the same on the Cedar Brook and East Side trails, partial breaking out. At the Franconia campsite, the trail was again wide and flat, and made for an easy hike out. It was 6 degrees at the parking lot. I met a couple from Connecticut in the parking lot, who spent the day bush-whacking, looking for the base of a slide near Loon Mtn. They were in the area for the week, to spend time ice climbing.
I had a great day, and did the 11+ mile loop in 5 hours and 40 minutes. I was also in bed by 9 that night.
After a late start, I was at the Lincoln Woods parking lot at 9:30. I had to buy a parking permit, and was on the trail by 10:00. The temperature at the start was 3 degrees. The Lincoln Woods Trail was wide and flat, and I barebooted to about the Black Pond Trail. I put on snowshoes, and ventured to the river for pictures, and post-holed to mid thigh. Future off trail events were cancelled for the day. After crossing into the Wilderness, the trail narrowed to ski tracks, so I had to partially break trail, and got winded in a hurry. I learned a valuable lesson after one short break. Don't move your right foot if your left snowshoe is on top of your right snowshoe, you land on your face in the snow.
I realized as I reached the railroad trestle that I had been there before, about 30 years ago with my dad. We were on wood and leather snowshoes, which my mom now has hanging on a wall. She also uses my dad's hiking boots for vases
. I stopped for another break after crossing the suspension bridge leading to the Cedar Brook trail, and learned another valuable lesson. Don't move your left foot if your right snowshoe is on top of your left snowshoe, you land on your face in the snow.It was more of the same on the Cedar Brook and East Side trails, partial breaking out. At the Franconia campsite, the trail was again wide and flat, and made for an easy hike out. It was 6 degrees at the parking lot. I met a couple from Connecticut in the parking lot, who spent the day bush-whacking, looking for the base of a slide near Loon Mtn. They were in the area for the week, to spend time ice climbing.
I had a great day, and did the 11+ mile loop in 5 hours and 40 minutes. I was also in bed by 9 that night.
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