Franconia Ridge (Flume to Lafayette) in Winter Q

[Bombadil]

I did some poking around and haven't found much info on people doing the 'full' Franconia Ridge in Winter except the occasional Pemi Loop Trip Report. I was wondering what route people prefer (e.g. OBP to Osseo or Liberty Spring). I'd lean towards going North to South to get Lafayette out of the way and not have to risk being on the Ridge at night, is that the way most others would go?

I've done the peaks several times in other seasons but never the full ridge in one hike. Is the section between Little Haystack and Liberty a) usually broken out and b) easy to navigate? On the Southern Presidentials a few weekends ago I realized how the fairly innocuous section of the Crawford Path between Pierce and Eisenhower can turn from a piece of cake in the other 3 seasons to a powdery labyrinth if not broken out, evoking comparisons to the end of The Shining (well, slight hyperbole there...). Is that section (Liberty to Little Haystack) easy to follow if trail breaking is required?

I'm aware that it's currently broken out as a result of team shake and bake, but I've committed to some hikes this weekend and hope to attempt it next weekend. Thanks for your input. BTW any takers for next weekend weather permitting?

 

[jniehof]

I haven't done it, but Skook to Osseo tends to be what's advertised when people do. Those tend to be strong parties with long days.

 

[RoySwkr]

I've only done the 4 once in winter, up OBP and down LS. The ridge between Falling Waters and Liberty Spring hadn't been broken as recently or used as often, but people do visit occasionally such as campers at Liberty Spring visiting Lafayette. That section of trail is the AT and stays near the ridge so I'd call it OK to find but not trivial like the Wilderness Trail

 

[weatherman]

We did Osseo--> Lafayette then down OBP as a backpack a few years ago, and the Liberty Spring-Little Haystack section was mostly not broken out. Not totally easy, but not real hard to find. The terrain is such that where the trail is supposed to go is pretty obvious. Nice "loop"!
Wish I could get up there soon- it's been forever! No prospects soon, though.
Weatherman

 

[Barkingcat]

Is the section between Little Haystack and Liberty a) usually broken out and b) easy to navigate?

Broken out? Yes, infrequently; don't count on it being recently broken out before you head up. In addition, expect parts to be drifted in even if that section has reportedly been broken out recently.

Easy to navigate? I think so -- in my opinion, the corridor is pretty obvious and I think you can follow the trail fairly easily. However, depending on conditions (snowcover/drifts/wind/fog) at the time of your hike, it may take you a moment to follow the trail after you break above treeline, heading to Little Haystack.

I realized how the fairly innocuous section of the Crawford Path between Pierce to Eisenhower can turn [into] a powdery labyrinth if not broken out.

Yes -- it can, especially in some spots where the corridor vanishes because you're on an open ledge, and the cairns on the ledge look like all of the other snow-obliterated trees. Again, here, the trail can drift back in over the span of a day, so the fact that it might have recently been hiked on is no guarantee that it's still..."broken out." The winds up on the ridge can erase/fill the track fairly quickly.

Thanks for your input. BTW any takers for next weekend weather permitting?

I can't do the weekend but I may be up on the ridge midweek next week (Skook-Greenleaf or maybe Osseo) and if so, I'll be sure to post trail conditions. Good luck with your hike!

 

[Bombadil]

muchas gracias

Thanks guys for your input. Hopefully there will be a good window next weekend. Should be a fun one.

Pat

 

[RickB.]

According to some people we met yesterday doing Liberty and Flume, they encountered two people doing your hike later in the day, north to south.

 

[Jason Berard]

IF we get the crappy weather we're supposed to on Monday, then the windblown drifts that we have been dealing with so far this winter, might be less of a problem until the next snow event. Trails might stay broken out for a bit longer even on the ridges. I guess we can try and look at the bright side.

 

[OCgirl]

That was us.....

According to some people we met yesterday doing Liberty and Flume, they encountered two people doing your hike later in the day, north to south.

Two of us and my dog did that hike on 1/22 (sorry to have missed you Rick!) We went up Lafayette and Down Osseo with a car spot. We did it one winter before in the same manner. Personally, I find it easier to get most of the climbing out of the way first. Once Lafayette is done the rest of the hike feels very moderate. We went down Osseo to avoid the 550' of climbing to return to Liberty. Even though reports of a few days prior, people had been through, there was quite bit of drifting between Little Haystack and Liberty Spring Trail, but the trail was easy enough to follow, just not the same well packed trails we've been encountering everywhere else. There was also lots of drifts on Lafayette and across to Little Haystack. Hard to tell how this rain will affect all the trails once it freezes over. We are NOT speed demons, we hiked at a moderate pace and it took us 8 hours..... 14.5 miles and about 5000 feet of climbing. We had a great weather day and it was a super day out! Enjoy!!

 

[RickB.]

Two of us and my dog did that hike on 1/22 (sorry to have missed you Rick!) We went up Lafayette and Down Osseo with a car spot. We did it one winter before in the same manner. Personally, I find it easier to get most of the climbing out of the way first. Once Lafayette is done the rest of the hike feels very moderate. We went down Osseo to avoid the 550' of climbing to return to Liberty. Even though reports of a few days prior, people had been through, there was quite bit of drifting between Little Haystack and Liberty Spring Trail, but the trail was easy enough to follow, just not the same well packed trails we've been encountering everywhere else. There was also lots of drifts on Lafayette and across to Little Haystack. Hard to tell how this rain will affect all the trails once it freezes over. We are NOT speed demons, we hiked at a moderate pace and it took us 8 hours..... 14.5 miles and about 5000 feet of climbing. We had a great weather day and it was a super day out! Enjoy!!

Glad to hear you're still out there. And doing big hikes!
Bummer we missed you; couldn't have been by more than an hour.

 

[Bombadil]

Even though reports of a few days prior, people had been through, there was quite bit of drifting between Little Haystack and Liberty Spring Trail, but the trail was easy enough to follow, just not the same well packed trails we've been encountering everywhere else. There was also lots of drifts on Lafayette and across to Little Haystack. Hard to tell how this rain will affect all the trails once it freezes over. We are NOT speed demons, we hiked at a moderate pace and it took us 8 hours..... 14.5 miles and about 5000 feet of climbing.

Thanks for the info, I had a feeling that section liked to collect snow.

8 hours for that hike, not too shabby. I'd be quite content with that if I could do the same. Though I also wonder what the rain will do. We've lost all our snow in the open areas here in Thetford, VT (well not that we had much to begin with). Could makes things a little tricky up high when the cold weather comes back...