NeoAkela
Active member
Date of Hike: 02/24/2011
Trail Conditions: Bridle path a solid crust sidewalk all the way to treeline. Franconia Ridge trail windswept; bare rocks between Lafayette and Haystack with occasional drift. Trail between Haystack and Liberty lightly used and hard to follow in some drifty areas. Liberty Springs intersection to Flume and back solid and packed, as well as L.S. trail to Bike Path. Bike path back to Campground is long, uphill, and full of loose uncompacted snow - worst conditions of all the trails. Oh, and full of full-tilt snowmobile hazards.
Special Equipment Required: Wind on the peaks made hats, gloves, face mask essential. Carried Snowshoes and crampons in the pack all day - never took them out. Microspikes were sufficient for the entire trip. Almost broke out the 'shoes in the 2 miles between Haystack and Liberty, but as long as I stuck to the center of the trail, I stayed on top. A few steps over and straight down in a 4' hole. Easy enough to follow the trail in the bad patches - if I didn't sink, I was on the trail. Liberty couldn't come soon enough!
Comments: Beautiful blue-sky sunny day turned to high overcast by early afternoon. Mt. Washington was visible all day, and weather was cold, but not dangerously cold. Lots of wind on the peaks, but really no frostbite danger today as long as you kept the gloves on at the summit.
PS - dog loved the entire hike, especially glissading down the Liberty Springs trail. Lots of nice folks on the summits. One guy with a big, purple sled on Haystack wouldn't even say hello.... hmm.
Of course, this trip report will be completely inaccurate after Friday's weather - oh well.
Your name: NeoAkela
Trail Conditions: Bridle path a solid crust sidewalk all the way to treeline. Franconia Ridge trail windswept; bare rocks between Lafayette and Haystack with occasional drift. Trail between Haystack and Liberty lightly used and hard to follow in some drifty areas. Liberty Springs intersection to Flume and back solid and packed, as well as L.S. trail to Bike Path. Bike path back to Campground is long, uphill, and full of loose uncompacted snow - worst conditions of all the trails. Oh, and full of full-tilt snowmobile hazards.
Special Equipment Required: Wind on the peaks made hats, gloves, face mask essential. Carried Snowshoes and crampons in the pack all day - never took them out. Microspikes were sufficient for the entire trip. Almost broke out the 'shoes in the 2 miles between Haystack and Liberty, but as long as I stuck to the center of the trail, I stayed on top. A few steps over and straight down in a 4' hole. Easy enough to follow the trail in the bad patches - if I didn't sink, I was on the trail. Liberty couldn't come soon enough!
Comments: Beautiful blue-sky sunny day turned to high overcast by early afternoon. Mt. Washington was visible all day, and weather was cold, but not dangerously cold. Lots of wind on the peaks, but really no frostbite danger today as long as you kept the gloves on at the summit.
PS - dog loved the entire hike, especially glissading down the Liberty Springs trail. Lots of nice folks on the summits. One guy with a big, purple sled on Haystack wouldn't even say hello.... hmm.
Of course, this trip report will be completely inaccurate after Friday's weather - oh well.
Your name: NeoAkela
