Franconia ridge - the Classic Loop

[Willoughby]

I've been wanting to get up on top of Franconia ridge for a while, and yesterday was the perfect combination: good weather forecast and a quiet week at work. If I had any doubts, arm's pictures clinched it for me. I had to get up there myself!

So I woke up at the usual ridiculous hour, drove the 2+ hrs north, and hit Falling Waters a little before 8AM. There were already a number of cars in the parking lot, and several other groups (mostly pairs) of hikers on the trail. The waterfalls were pretty, but I didn't pause long. The trail was definitely steep in places, but it wasn't noticeably wet and the warnings against descending F.W. seem a little overstated.

I skipped Shining Rock - with only 1/2 hr of climbing left to the ridge, I wanted to get up there. Shortly I started to get above the trees, and into the wind. It was gusting pretty well as I came out onto Little Haystack, and was actually a little unnerving until I got used to it. The weather was great - sunny, not too warm, just a little haze.

Franconia Ridge is just amazing. The views off both sides are spectacular, and the trail threading its way along, with views down both sides, is unlike anywhere else I've climbed. I dawdled my way along, enjoying the views, taking pictures, and chatting with other hikers. Normally I prefer quiet mountains, but for some reason I didn't mind sharing the ridge with (approx) 3 dozen other folks. I saw the church group amstony mentioned on top of Lafayette, but the prize went to the family group with 4-5 young boys, followed by their 4-year-old (!) sister. Sabrina (her name) was climbing gamely along, with Mom keeping a close watch and often holding her hand.

I paused on Lafayette for lunch and a few more pictures, then headed down Greenleaf. This was my first hike with trekking poles, and they worked great. Going uphill, it was like there were always two trees in the perfect place to grab; downhill, I felt like a quadruped with weirdly-articulated front legs (and a bum knee on the hind legs). On the flat, I find that my natural pace with the poles is faster than a pure hiking pace.

Despite all this, I was probably the slowest thing on the ridge heading down (including Sabrina!), as my knee started to complain. I stopped briefly at Greenleaf hut to take on some water, then headed down the Old Bridle Path. They made horses from stern stuff in the old days! There are some spectacular views off the OBP too.

Now next time I drive through the notch and look up, I'll be able to say "I've been up there!"

Pictures here

 

[kerry13]

Nice TR Willoughby. Pictures from and of the ridge are nice, but somehow they just never do it justice. A place you have to be to really appreciate it to its fullest. Glad to see you made it there. On my first ridge trip, the trip up was muggy and overcast. When I hit Haystack it was starting to burn off on the east side. By the time I hit Lincoln the east side was all clear and there were white, billowy cloud masses that ran right down the middle of the ridge past liberty and flume and totally socked in the west side but the east side was clear as could be.

The ridge is definately one place you don't have to worry about being alone, at least at this time of year. Even saturday the south bound parking area at Lafayette was overflowing and they were parking on the shoulder down 93.

The poles do help. It takes a couple times out to learn to trust them. I find I now always use them even if there are trees to aid in steep climbs. They have become very useful appendages, especially on the descent. I probably wouldn't be hiking if I didn't have them.