Franconia Ridge Trail Question

[grouseking]

Anyone traversed the Franc Ridge Trail between Little Haystack and Liberty. I was wondering about the snow depth, and the firmness of the snow. If I travel that section of trail, I don't want to be postholing too much and I have no good snowshoes.

grouseking

 

[TDawg]

Haven't done that section of trail but at similar elevations around 4000 feet goin up Bondcliff Tr. this past weekend, I'd say you could expect 12-24+ inches of ROTTEN snow. I know that section of the ridge is a little less traveled so could maybe not have as packed of a trailbed.

We did fine w/o snowshoes and postholing was only a minor problem for me below Bondcliff in the trees. Although higher up in the col b/t West Bond and Bond I was postholing in places up to my thigh!

As usual things could change, and they probably did with the recent rain.

 

[bintrepidhiker]

seeing how the presis looked when we did eisenhower i would expect what we saw just below tree-line as far as snow depth then once you're above the trees the snow might just come in patches here and there.

my advice would be to wait just a bit longer for this one. its one you have been looking to do for awhile now so why not wait for the better conditions to enjoy it more?

 

[Jazzbo]

Check out Dr Wu and Neil Trip Report

Check out Dr Wu and Neil Trip Report from few weeks back. They traversed entire Franc Ridge and took copious pictures.

 

[Waumbek]

Yesterday's trail reports from above the open or staffed huts recommended trx up to crampons and ice axe. You can extrapolate to the Franconia Ridge from the elevations.

 

[grouseking]

Well I have both crampons and snowshoes, so I can do this hike if I wanted. I planned on bringing the crampons, but was wondering if snowshoes could be left behind because I have no room for them in my insignificant bag. I'll decide soon enough.

grouseking

 

[Louis]

franconia loop

No need for snowshoes...




Trail: Flume/Liberty/little Haystack/Lincoln/Lafayette

Date Hiked: 04/29/06

Conditions: some good ice going up Flume side trail, crampons very useful. Some snow, ice, melting snow on the rest of the loop but all bootable (?) A bit of mud but not enough to be a problem/nuisance.

Special Required Equipment: Crampons useful going up the flume trail, poles very useful for the snow/melting snow/ice.

Comments: Incredibly beautiful day... Views for miles and miles... Could not have ask for better weather... Started from lafayette campground at 7h30, came back at 17h30...Super loop...do it!!

Submitted by:Louis