Driver8
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So I'm pleased to have a new hiking buddy - Sunshine Chris from New Hampshire. She and I talked about a hike last weekend but decided against due to unfavorable weather. The forecast for today looked good, so we decided to give a south-north Flume-Liberty traverse a try. Turned out that the most treacherous trail we traversed was I-93. Hoping to get as early a start as possible, we decided on a plan to spot car 1 at Flume Gorge and car 2 at Lincoln Woods, starting from there at 7 am and heading northwest, taking advantage, so the plan went, of the sun's angles to make both morning and afternoon as warm as possible.
Problem was, there was a lot of black ice, starting from near Concord and working north from there. I trailed after Chris and progressively slowed as I continued to do unnerving small fishtails, especially on the bridges. In the lead, Chris adjusted her pace slower to let me keep up. Then, just south of New Hampton, we saw a nasty wreck - a big tractor trailer rig off to the right, overturned, jackknifed, a nasty mess. Right after, appearing to be part of the same accident, on the left, a passenger vehicle off the shoulder in the median, front windshield shattered and chassis crunched. Scary!
We slowed further for emergency vehicles and the salt/sand trucks, and she called me - "Wanna pull off and let these guys sand and salt?" "YES!" It was about 6:05 am. We camped out for a bit at the Dunkin Donuts at the New Hampton exit. Half hour later, sky starting to light up, sand and salt well spread, we made our way north. Ended up, after car spotting, starting from Lincoln Woods just after 8 am.
It was cold and windy as we started, much cooler than in Lincoln, with slight flurries of snow. As we trekked along, the sun rose over Mt. Hitchcock and began warming us. Minimal ice on Lincoln Woods trail, none on Osseo until we got to about 3000'. Above about 3200', we started to get substantial ice on trail. We got to the tricky pass just below the first ladder, I fell just before that on slick ice, and we both scrambled up the pass, deciding, almost in unison, that it was time to don the spikes. Did so at the first ladder. Much improved our footing, was satisfactory, for the most part, from there to the top of Flume. The ladders were an adventure, fun though a lot of work through that 1/4 mile or so of STEEP. Great views from the Downlook - Twins were in the clouds, which were slowly dispersing, everything else within viewing range was clear. Gorgeous, bluebird day, and manageably cold thanks to our friend, the Sun. More great views from the southern overlook left of the trail just before the end of the ladders. What a day!
Up until the steep stretch, I had been dragging butt the whole way. Had only slept 3 hours the night before, was tired from that and the drive up, had a big pack on so I could carry winter supplies including a sleeping bag in case of necessity, and winter hiking is just harder than summer, fall and spring, is all. Not yet to the solstice, and quite a warm day for early December, but for all intents and purposes, this was winter hiking. I at first wasn't sure I could make Flume, but over time my legs kicked in and went on autopilot. The trip went slowly - I am especially slow on extended 30%+ grades such as are encountered on Osseo, interspersed as they are with easier stuff.
By the time we got to the level area above the ladders, I was sure I could get Flume, so long as nothing too hairy awaited us on the summit cone. Slowly but surely, with more stops than I care to admit, we made it, with predictably icy stuff leading to the Flume Slide Trail junction, and a really sketchy pass leading up to the first, southerly summit overlook, but we worked through it, getting to the southern extent ledge at 1:10 pm.
There was a nice coating of rime ice on some of the scrub, which was pretty, and Chris, who has finished all 48 NH4Ks, made way for me to claim the summit - made it! As we took pictures and took in views, we noted that the forecast of 4 mph winds in the valley was not prevailing at the summit - there was no wind at all! This was my second windless 4K summit, the other being Washington on June 17. How's that for luck?!? It was cool at the summit, maybe 25 F, but thanks to the lack of wind, totally manageable.
The views were unbelievably beautiful - all the way to Stratton and Monadnock and Pack Monadnock, with the Adirondacks faintly hovering, just discernable, to the west. The Presidentials were gorgeous, as were all our lofty neighbors - Lafayette and Lincoln with enough snow to show as white as with their higher cousins to the east, and with the Twins and the upper reaches of Guyot and Bond. Tripyramid, Carrigain, Chocorua, the Osceolas, Moosilauke and the Kinsmans all were remarkably beautiful, with none of them surpassing the sheer drama and comeliness of Flume, its cliffs and the steep fall-off to its west. "Wow," hardly suffices.
I eyeballed the next stretch to Liberty. My right leg had been cramping mildly on the cone, moreso toward the final ascent. I decided to stick with the devil I knew, one which involved maybe 75' of ascent amid 3170' of net descent, rather than take on the unknown beast of descending Flume's north side, ascending 550' to Liberty, then the remaining descent. The right thigh wanted to hear nothing of significant further ascents on the day. Liberty could wait until another day - I regretted having to make the decision but knew it was the right choice, and I appreciated that Chris kindly supported me either way.
By now, it was 1:30 pm. We couldn't tarry too long, so after about 20 mins, we started back down. The first scramble down was quite vertiginous, but doable, with less ice than in the forest-sheltered stretches further down. The spikes were good enough for the most part, but the stretch just south of the southernmost secondary summit cliff was really more crampon material. We picked our way through gingerly and breathed sighs of relief once we got back to the flats. The trip down the "chutes and ladders" section was testy but manageable with care. We despiked at about 3000' and traipsed along, mostly at a good clip, finally returning to Chris's truck at Lincoln Woods at about 5:06, three and half hours after departing the summit and 9 hours to the minute after our morning departure.
I want to thank Chris for being great company and for tolerating my snail's pace on the climb and also for having the sense to recommend we pull off 93 at New Hampton in the morning. Literally a life saver!
As for trail conditions, beyond the above-mentioned ice, with some snow mixed in, especially on the cone, the trails were in great shape. Super day for a hike, and the Osseo, with its 396 steps, beautiful forests and fine overlooks, is a memorable, eye-catching trail. One for the books. We saw only 8 fellow hikers on Osseo and a threesome on Lincoln Woods headed to Owl's Head. We had the summit all to ourselves and encountered the other parties just before and just after our stay up top - icing on the cake.
Photos to follow.
Problem was, there was a lot of black ice, starting from near Concord and working north from there. I trailed after Chris and progressively slowed as I continued to do unnerving small fishtails, especially on the bridges. In the lead, Chris adjusted her pace slower to let me keep up. Then, just south of New Hampton, we saw a nasty wreck - a big tractor trailer rig off to the right, overturned, jackknifed, a nasty mess. Right after, appearing to be part of the same accident, on the left, a passenger vehicle off the shoulder in the median, front windshield shattered and chassis crunched. Scary!
We slowed further for emergency vehicles and the salt/sand trucks, and she called me - "Wanna pull off and let these guys sand and salt?" "YES!" It was about 6:05 am. We camped out for a bit at the Dunkin Donuts at the New Hampton exit. Half hour later, sky starting to light up, sand and salt well spread, we made our way north. Ended up, after car spotting, starting from Lincoln Woods just after 8 am.
It was cold and windy as we started, much cooler than in Lincoln, with slight flurries of snow. As we trekked along, the sun rose over Mt. Hitchcock and began warming us. Minimal ice on Lincoln Woods trail, none on Osseo until we got to about 3000'. Above about 3200', we started to get substantial ice on trail. We got to the tricky pass just below the first ladder, I fell just before that on slick ice, and we both scrambled up the pass, deciding, almost in unison, that it was time to don the spikes. Did so at the first ladder. Much improved our footing, was satisfactory, for the most part, from there to the top of Flume. The ladders were an adventure, fun though a lot of work through that 1/4 mile or so of STEEP. Great views from the Downlook - Twins were in the clouds, which were slowly dispersing, everything else within viewing range was clear. Gorgeous, bluebird day, and manageably cold thanks to our friend, the Sun. More great views from the southern overlook left of the trail just before the end of the ladders. What a day!
Up until the steep stretch, I had been dragging butt the whole way. Had only slept 3 hours the night before, was tired from that and the drive up, had a big pack on so I could carry winter supplies including a sleeping bag in case of necessity, and winter hiking is just harder than summer, fall and spring, is all. Not yet to the solstice, and quite a warm day for early December, but for all intents and purposes, this was winter hiking. I at first wasn't sure I could make Flume, but over time my legs kicked in and went on autopilot. The trip went slowly - I am especially slow on extended 30%+ grades such as are encountered on Osseo, interspersed as they are with easier stuff.
By the time we got to the level area above the ladders, I was sure I could get Flume, so long as nothing too hairy awaited us on the summit cone. Slowly but surely, with more stops than I care to admit, we made it, with predictably icy stuff leading to the Flume Slide Trail junction, and a really sketchy pass leading up to the first, southerly summit overlook, but we worked through it, getting to the southern extent ledge at 1:10 pm.
There was a nice coating of rime ice on some of the scrub, which was pretty, and Chris, who has finished all 48 NH4Ks, made way for me to claim the summit - made it! As we took pictures and took in views, we noted that the forecast of 4 mph winds in the valley was not prevailing at the summit - there was no wind at all! This was my second windless 4K summit, the other being Washington on June 17. How's that for luck?!? It was cool at the summit, maybe 25 F, but thanks to the lack of wind, totally manageable.
The views were unbelievably beautiful - all the way to Stratton and Monadnock and Pack Monadnock, with the Adirondacks faintly hovering, just discernable, to the west. The Presidentials were gorgeous, as were all our lofty neighbors - Lafayette and Lincoln with enough snow to show as white as with their higher cousins to the east, and with the Twins and the upper reaches of Guyot and Bond. Tripyramid, Carrigain, Chocorua, the Osceolas, Moosilauke and the Kinsmans all were remarkably beautiful, with none of them surpassing the sheer drama and comeliness of Flume, its cliffs and the steep fall-off to its west. "Wow," hardly suffices.
I eyeballed the next stretch to Liberty. My right leg had been cramping mildly on the cone, moreso toward the final ascent. I decided to stick with the devil I knew, one which involved maybe 75' of ascent amid 3170' of net descent, rather than take on the unknown beast of descending Flume's north side, ascending 550' to Liberty, then the remaining descent. The right thigh wanted to hear nothing of significant further ascents on the day. Liberty could wait until another day - I regretted having to make the decision but knew it was the right choice, and I appreciated that Chris kindly supported me either way.
By now, it was 1:30 pm. We couldn't tarry too long, so after about 20 mins, we started back down. The first scramble down was quite vertiginous, but doable, with less ice than in the forest-sheltered stretches further down. The spikes were good enough for the most part, but the stretch just south of the southernmost secondary summit cliff was really more crampon material. We picked our way through gingerly and breathed sighs of relief once we got back to the flats. The trip down the "chutes and ladders" section was testy but manageable with care. We despiked at about 3000' and traipsed along, mostly at a good clip, finally returning to Chris's truck at Lincoln Woods at about 5:06, three and half hours after departing the summit and 9 hours to the minute after our morning departure.
I want to thank Chris for being great company and for tolerating my snail's pace on the climb and also for having the sense to recommend we pull off 93 at New Hampton in the morning. Literally a life saver!
As for trail conditions, beyond the above-mentioned ice, with some snow mixed in, especially on the cone, the trails were in great shape. Super day for a hike, and the Osseo, with its 396 steps, beautiful forests and fine overlooks, is a memorable, eye-catching trail. One for the books. We saw only 8 fellow hikers on Osseo and a threesome on Lincoln Woods headed to Owl's Head. We had the summit all to ourselves and encountered the other parties just before and just after our stay up top - icing on the cake.
Photos to follow.
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