J
J Meyer, J Obie
Guest
Conditions: At lower elevations, slick with thin powder (1" typical) on ice. It appeared that a thaw had melted a significant snowpack from earlier in the week, which then refroze and was covered by flurries on Friday. The snow deepened as we get higher, particularly on the ridge where the powder was deep (up to waist high drifts), light and dry. Up the Agonies and around the Greenleaf Hut there was evidence of drifts but the trail was fully packed out. The Falling Waters stream crossings were all easily managed though you will get your boots wet. We had light flurries in the morning, with the cloud ceiling just above the Greenleaf Hut so visibility was low when we topped out on Lafayette. But the ceiling rose in the afternoon so we enjoyed some views of Cannon and into the Pemigewasset Wilderness from the ridge in the vicinity of Little Haystack. With a stiff NW wind, we were glad that we chose to traverse the ridge N to S.
Equipment Required: It's now winter in the mountains, so gear up accordingly. Some traction aid is necessary for normal mortals (I used 6 point instep crampons), though Jerry managed to bareboot the entire route with no big slips.
Comments: Fairly busy on the trails, with some heading up only Lafayette while several other parties did the entire loop. We moved smartly due to windy cold conditions on the ridge, completing the loop in 6 hrs. 22 mins.
Equipment Required: It's now winter in the mountains, so gear up accordingly. Some traction aid is necessary for normal mortals (I used 6 point instep crampons), though Jerry managed to bareboot the entire route with no big slips.
Comments: Fairly busy on the trails, with some heading up only Lafayette while several other parties did the entire loop. We moved smartly due to windy cold conditions on the ridge, completing the loop in 6 hrs. 22 mins.
