Has anyone been up Lafayette and Lincoln lately?

[summitseeker]

Hi all,

I have been keeping an out out for a TR for Lafayette and Lincoln. I have been checking newenglandtrailconditions.com and VFTT daily. Does anyone have a any recent intel?

Thanks,

Z

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I did it 10 days ago, and we used spikes (Kahtoola & Hillsounds) for the entire loop - no snowshoes needed, never postholed. As for new snow - there haven't been a major storms, but have been a few flurries here and there. But, since this is perhaps the most popular loop hike in the Whites, it's likely the trail is still in excellent shape. I also carried Hillsound Pros, but didn't need them on Lafayette's cone, although we were very careful navigating what has become an ice flow (we did it counterclockwise).

Hope this helps. I realize it's slightly out-of-date.

 

[summitseeker]

I did it 10 days ago, and we used spikes (Kahtoola & Hillsounds) for the entire loop - no snowshoes needed, never postholed. As for new snow - there haven't been a major storms, but have been a few flurries here and there. But, since this is perhaps the most popular loop hike in the Whites, it's likely the trail is still in excellent shape. I also carried Hillsound Pros, but didn't need them on Lafayette's cone, although we were very careful navigating what has become an ice flow (we did it counterclockwise).

Hope this helps. I realize it's slightly out-of-date.

Thank you, Kevin.

I was unaware of the ice flow at the summit's cone. Your input is much appreciated!

Z

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Zac -

It's not an ice flow in the same sense as the one above Lake of the Clouds, but it's a definite ice sheet about a 1/4 mile from the summit on the hut side of the mountain. It's more pronounced this year.

 

[DougPaul]

I was unaware of the ice flow at the summit's cone.

People have taken long slides here...

In one incident, the hiker either lost his ice axe in the fall or didn't have one. He had to stop his slide with his crampons and broke both ankles. (He then had to walk out on his broken ankles...)

Doug

 

[Driver8]

Zac -

It's not an ice flow in the same sense as the one above Lake of the Clouds, but it's a definite ice sheet about a 1/4 mile from the summit on the hut side of the mountain. It's more pronounced this year.

There's a good sized spring there. It's in a spot, ascending from the hut, above treeline where the trail turns left under some ledges and wraps around and over them, wending back rightward on a fairly steep slope. It's mentioned in the Greenleaf Trail description in the Smith and Dickerman's 4000-Footer book. I hiked the trail in late spring and late summer last year and took particular note of it - could easily see where it could be dangerous with a sheet of ice traversing it.

 

[summitseeker]

I am very appreciative of this info. I will be sure that our party has crampons and takes these sections with care. Have a great weekend and I will post a TR this evening to reflects the current ice accumulation.

Thanks again,

Z

 

[Driver8]

Correction to my prior post. The mention in Smith and Dickerman's book is in the Winter section, as follows: "One steep pitch on the Greenleaf Trail as it curves around a rock buttress just below the summit is particularly tricky if coated in ice or hard snow."

Here's a picture I found from that part of the trail, which has GPS coordinates, so you can find it in Google Earth:

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Correction to my prior post. The mention in Smith and Dickerman's book is in the Winter section, as follows: "One steep pitch on the Greenleaf Trail as it curves around a rock buttress just below the summit is particularly tricky if coated in ice or hard snow."

Here's a picture I found from that part of the trail, which has GPS coordinates, so you can find it in Google Earth:

For what it's worth, the picture you've posted is NOT the ice sheet in question. The ice sheet is question is as described above by Steve Smith - just below the summit.

The picture you reference is a few hundred yards below the ice sheet in question, and rarely causes a problem in winter, and wasn't even noticeable when I did the loop about 10 days ago. It is useful to know about the spring, however, if you're a dog lover and in need of an water for your dog. This particular spot on the trail is scarcely noticable in the summer - just a minor wetspot. However, if you watch for it, and upclimb about 20 feet, there's a depression when you can fill a container/collapsible dog bowl. I used it regularly with Brutus as we nearly always did the ridge counterclockwise. The last reliable water source on the Falling Waters is near the jct for the spur trail to Shining Rock. If he had a drink there, he could make it over Lafayette. Rather than wait another 3/4 mile to that small glacial tarn near the hut, I'd get a drink for him there.

 

[summitseeker]

Thank again everyone. I just posted a TR. We saw a small section of ice between Lafayette and Lincoln about the size of a trash can lid but that was it. I assume new snowfall covered what Kevin had encountered.

The trail was in great shape!

Z

 

[Driver8]

For what it's worth, the picture you've posted is NOT the ice sheet in question. The ice sheet is question is as described above by Steve Smith - just below the summit.

The picture you reference is a few hundred yards below the ice sheet in question, and rarely causes a problem in winter, and wasn't even noticeable when I did the loop about 10 days ago. It is useful to know about the spring, however, if you're a dog lover and in need of an water for your dog. This particular spot on the trail is scarcely noticable in the summer - just a minor wetspot. However, if you watch for it, and upclimb about 20 feet, there's a depression when you can fill a container/collapsible dog bowl. I used it regularly with Brutus as we nearly always did the ridge counterclockwise. The last reliable water source on the Falling Waters is near the jct for the spur trail to Shining Rock. If he had a drink there, he could make it over Lafayette. Rather than wait another 3/4 mile to that small glacial tarn near the hut, I'd get a drink for him there.

Oh, that's interesting. Thanks for the additional info, Kevin. I didn't even notice the other spot you referred to - chalked it up as being the spot I referenced and that was that, or so I mistakenly thought. Where is it, in fact? I'm all curious now!

 

[Driver8]

Thank again everyone. I just posted a TR. We saw a small section of ice between Lafayette and Lincoln about the size of a trash can lid but that was it. I assume new snowfall covered what Kevin had encountered.

The trail was in great shape!

Z

Did you post any pics, ss? I'd love to see them. Down in Connecticut, due to work I only had time for a short hike at Sleeping Giant. It was the best day for views there I can remember, except maybe a January hike two years ago. Views were great to Long Island, and New Haven and other nearby areas were crystal clear.

 

[summitseeker]

Did you post any pics, ss? I'd love to see them. Down in Connecticut, due to work I only had time for a short hike at Sleeping Giant. It was the best day for views there I can remember, except maybe a January hike two years ago. Views were great to Long Island, and New Haven and other nearby areas were crystal clear.

Hi Driver8,

My friend SteveR (Views page name) took some amazing shots and had two SD memory cards in his camera. He graciously gave me one to take home. The pics were truly spectacular. Unfortunately I left my camera at work so I could not upload them to my computer but only view them on my TV. I can post some pics on Monday or Tuesday when I have a means to upload them.

Z

 

[summitseeker]

Hi Driver8,

Here are a few pics.

Z

 

[Driver8]

Great pics, summitseeker! Thanks so much for sharing them! I can't overstate how much I love the Old Bridle Path/Greenleaf combination, and the Franconia Ridge Trail speaks for itself. What a beautiful day you had!

 

[summitseeker]

Great pics, summitseeker! Thanks so much for sharing them! I can't overstate how much I love the Old Bridle Path/Greenleaf combination, and the Franconia Ridge Trail speaks for itself. What a beautiful day you had!

Thanks Driver8,

The pictures and experience would not have been possible without SteveR, his amazing with H.A., and Kibo, the Wonder Dog. I am glad you enjoyed Steve's pics and I feel blessed to have had such an amazing day on the trail. I concur, this is one of the best loop hikes in the Whites.

See you on the trail,

Z