Lafayette and Lincoln via Falling Waters, Greenleaf, Old Bridle Path
I made the decision, after going back and forth, and some discussion about the probability of ice, that we would try to go forward as planned and hit Lincoln and Lafayette, picking up Little Haystack along the way. My companions for the day were Larry, who I've been cycling and hiking with for 12+ years now and our mutual friend Mikey. Larry has accompanied me for 13 of 14 4Ks in 2006, missing only Moosilauke, and Mikey has been there for 6.
We left our usual meeting place slightly behind schedule, and stopped for breakfast at Dunkin Donuts in Tilton. We managed to arrive ahead of schedule at the Lafayette Campground, and were on our way up at 7:45. It was brisk, slightly below freezing, but completely calm, and the sun was shining on the top half of the Kinsmans and Cannon, highlighting the remaining foiliage in yellows, oranges and light browns. The only reds we would see today were the Moutain Ash berries, and there were tons of them visible now that the leaves were all gone. Looking up from the parking lot, we could see that Lincoln and Lafayette were wearing white hats.
We crossed Walker Brook and headed up the Falling Waters Trail to Stairs Falls. The falls were running enough to take good pictures, but not so much as to make the stream crossings difficult. We wondered if we would encounter ice or not. There was none yet to be found, so onward and upward to Swiftwater Falls. Again, the water was running enough to make a pleasant sound, but not thundering so as to prevent conversation. The sun was getting higher and so were we, as we made our way to Cloudland falls. This is the largest falls on the trail (AMC: WMG says 80 feet), and I walked right up next to them for a photo to give them some scale. I made a mental note of the large flat granite areas between the Y-shaped feeder falls and the main cascade, hoping to return here for lunch some time next summer with my wife and kids.
After Cloudland Falls, the trail leaves the falling water behind and climbs up towards Little Haystack. At the detour down to Shining Rock, we dropped our packs and headed down. Shining Rock was covered in water running behind a thin veneer of ice. I imagine the western sun later in the day really puts the shine to this rock, but it is easy to see why it is so aptly named. We hiked along the bottom where the ice was minimal and looked up, mentally comparing the slope to that of the North Tripyramid and Flume slides. This is definitely steeper, and surely not climbable without rock climbing gear. Being engineering geeks, we appreciated the laws of physics at work here: the water following the path of least resistance and surface tension keeping the water on the granite.
Back on the Falling Waters trail, patches of snow began appearing in the holes behind the rocks, and on the mossy trail banks. The contrast of the white snow, green moss, and red ash berries caused us to break into Christmas carols. Won't be long now. As we climbed toward the ridge more and more snow became evident, and what were wet rocks behind us became slushy and then icy in front. About this time, a young couple was coming down, wearing sneakers, which told us it couldn't be too icy. We asked anyway and they said there was ice, but it was easily bypassed. We had brought our yak trax, but there was no need to put them on as we cleared the last icy spot just below treeline. Here the wind picked up and we hoofed it up and over the summit to sit in the sun, out of the wind, and gaze over the Pemi. A quick snack, the addition of hats and windproof layers, and we headed off to see President Lincoln.
As we approached Lincoln, we realized the frosted tops we saw from the parking lot weren't so much snow, as rime ice clining to the evergreens. The wind occasionally picked off a few bits of the ice and blew it at us. Mostly, the wind was on our left shoulder and from behind, so it never got in our faces, but I am pretty sure it would have stung. Washington was definitely covered with snow, and the Twins also looked frosted, but the Bonds did not. Looking over Kinsman Ridge, we noticed a line of clouds heading our way. OK, the forecast was right - chance of showers around noon. We quickly gained the summit of Lincoln, took the summit shot, and shots of the Pemi and the Kinsmans.
With the approaching clouds, we wanted to hit Lafayette and be on our way down to Greenleaf Hut as soon as possible. The ridge between Lincoln and Lafayette was really fascinating, and we stopped often to examine the alpine vegetation, and to peer over the rocks and down (as in straight down) into the notch. Of course we saw the slides on the Pemi side of Lincoln, which were so visible from the earlier Pemi hikes, and I thought of Oncoman & Albee and the bushwack across the Pemi. I pointed out my best recollection of the route to Larry and Mikey and all three of us were in awe of this accomplishment.
The climb up to Lafayette reminded me of the climb up to Bond from Bondcliff, where it goes along a ridge, and then into the trees before coming back out at the top. In places the ridge is so easily followed, and in others, there are just huge granite ledges everywhere. The white blazes and the snow patches were easily confused in a few places, but we eventually made it to the summit. I sure hope all the GAMErs have Katahdin in their sights by now. By now the sun is completely gone and the realization that it is actually snow rather then wind-blown rime made us take the quick summit shot and head on down. Not before admiring Garfield, and thinking how cool it was to look down on Cannon, and how small it looked from 5260'. There was definitely snow under the tramway, and on some of the higher trails, perhaps natural, perhaps the result of testing the snow guns.
On the way down to the hut (Greenleaf), we got some of those "Questions" from the so-named thread. Like "Is this Lafayette?" (my favorite.) A father and two young sons (8 and 10 or so) were wondering how much further it would be to go down Falling Waters. I told them we left the lot about 4:30 ago. I have no idea if they went or not. The hut was still "open", but only for water and bathrooms. The croo was packing it up for the year, but they let us eat our lunch ("No soup for you!"), reminding us twice that they wanted to clean up the dining area and hinting at how nice the view was from the benches outside. OK, we get the hint. The trip down Old Bridle Path was interesting, and provided some close-ups of the slides on the Notch side of Lafayette and Lincoln, although by now, both summits were completely engulfed in clouds. It continued to snow softly pretty much until we were in the hardwoods, and then the sun broke through in spots.
I see now why this hike is so popular. The views are splendid, and the trails are wide, evenly graded, and well-maintained. I also have a newfound appreciation for the idea of winter hiking. I'm sure it gets colder then it was today, but if you pick your days, it wouldn't be overly so, especially if the sun is out.
Lincoln was my #13 and Lafayette my #14. Since this is my first trip report, I'll briefly mention 1 through 12 were, in order, Moosilauke, Osceola, East Osceola, North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid, Whiteface, Passaconaway, Bondcliff, Bond, West Bond, Flume, and Liberty.
Pictures on webshots
Video of Cloudland Falls
Tim
I made the decision, after going back and forth, and some discussion about the probability of ice, that we would try to go forward as planned and hit Lincoln and Lafayette, picking up Little Haystack along the way. My companions for the day were Larry, who I've been cycling and hiking with for 12+ years now and our mutual friend Mikey. Larry has accompanied me for 13 of 14 4Ks in 2006, missing only Moosilauke, and Mikey has been there for 6.
We left our usual meeting place slightly behind schedule, and stopped for breakfast at Dunkin Donuts in Tilton. We managed to arrive ahead of schedule at the Lafayette Campground, and were on our way up at 7:45. It was brisk, slightly below freezing, but completely calm, and the sun was shining on the top half of the Kinsmans and Cannon, highlighting the remaining foiliage in yellows, oranges and light browns. The only reds we would see today were the Moutain Ash berries, and there were tons of them visible now that the leaves were all gone. Looking up from the parking lot, we could see that Lincoln and Lafayette were wearing white hats.
We crossed Walker Brook and headed up the Falling Waters Trail to Stairs Falls. The falls were running enough to take good pictures, but not so much as to make the stream crossings difficult. We wondered if we would encounter ice or not. There was none yet to be found, so onward and upward to Swiftwater Falls. Again, the water was running enough to make a pleasant sound, but not thundering so as to prevent conversation. The sun was getting higher and so were we, as we made our way to Cloudland falls. This is the largest falls on the trail (AMC: WMG says 80 feet), and I walked right up next to them for a photo to give them some scale. I made a mental note of the large flat granite areas between the Y-shaped feeder falls and the main cascade, hoping to return here for lunch some time next summer with my wife and kids.
After Cloudland Falls, the trail leaves the falling water behind and climbs up towards Little Haystack. At the detour down to Shining Rock, we dropped our packs and headed down. Shining Rock was covered in water running behind a thin veneer of ice. I imagine the western sun later in the day really puts the shine to this rock, but it is easy to see why it is so aptly named. We hiked along the bottom where the ice was minimal and looked up, mentally comparing the slope to that of the North Tripyramid and Flume slides. This is definitely steeper, and surely not climbable without rock climbing gear. Being engineering geeks, we appreciated the laws of physics at work here: the water following the path of least resistance and surface tension keeping the water on the granite.
Back on the Falling Waters trail, patches of snow began appearing in the holes behind the rocks, and on the mossy trail banks. The contrast of the white snow, green moss, and red ash berries caused us to break into Christmas carols. Won't be long now. As we climbed toward the ridge more and more snow became evident, and what were wet rocks behind us became slushy and then icy in front. About this time, a young couple was coming down, wearing sneakers, which told us it couldn't be too icy. We asked anyway and they said there was ice, but it was easily bypassed. We had brought our yak trax, but there was no need to put them on as we cleared the last icy spot just below treeline. Here the wind picked up and we hoofed it up and over the summit to sit in the sun, out of the wind, and gaze over the Pemi. A quick snack, the addition of hats and windproof layers, and we headed off to see President Lincoln.
As we approached Lincoln, we realized the frosted tops we saw from the parking lot weren't so much snow, as rime ice clining to the evergreens. The wind occasionally picked off a few bits of the ice and blew it at us. Mostly, the wind was on our left shoulder and from behind, so it never got in our faces, but I am pretty sure it would have stung. Washington was definitely covered with snow, and the Twins also looked frosted, but the Bonds did not. Looking over Kinsman Ridge, we noticed a line of clouds heading our way. OK, the forecast was right - chance of showers around noon. We quickly gained the summit of Lincoln, took the summit shot, and shots of the Pemi and the Kinsmans.
With the approaching clouds, we wanted to hit Lafayette and be on our way down to Greenleaf Hut as soon as possible. The ridge between Lincoln and Lafayette was really fascinating, and we stopped often to examine the alpine vegetation, and to peer over the rocks and down (as in straight down) into the notch. Of course we saw the slides on the Pemi side of Lincoln, which were so visible from the earlier Pemi hikes, and I thought of Oncoman & Albee and the bushwack across the Pemi. I pointed out my best recollection of the route to Larry and Mikey and all three of us were in awe of this accomplishment.
The climb up to Lafayette reminded me of the climb up to Bond from Bondcliff, where it goes along a ridge, and then into the trees before coming back out at the top. In places the ridge is so easily followed, and in others, there are just huge granite ledges everywhere. The white blazes and the snow patches were easily confused in a few places, but we eventually made it to the summit. I sure hope all the GAMErs have Katahdin in their sights by now. By now the sun is completely gone and the realization that it is actually snow rather then wind-blown rime made us take the quick summit shot and head on down. Not before admiring Garfield, and thinking how cool it was to look down on Cannon, and how small it looked from 5260'. There was definitely snow under the tramway, and on some of the higher trails, perhaps natural, perhaps the result of testing the snow guns.
On the way down to the hut (Greenleaf), we got some of those "Questions" from the so-named thread. Like "Is this Lafayette?" (my favorite.) A father and two young sons (8 and 10 or so) were wondering how much further it would be to go down Falling Waters. I told them we left the lot about 4:30 ago. I have no idea if they went or not. The hut was still "open", but only for water and bathrooms. The croo was packing it up for the year, but they let us eat our lunch ("No soup for you!"), reminding us twice that they wanted to clean up the dining area and hinting at how nice the view was from the benches outside. OK, we get the hint. The trip down Old Bridle Path was interesting, and provided some close-ups of the slides on the Notch side of Lafayette and Lincoln, although by now, both summits were completely engulfed in clouds. It continued to snow softly pretty much until we were in the hardwoods, and then the sun broke through in spots.
I see now why this hike is so popular. The views are splendid, and the trails are wide, evenly graded, and well-maintained. I also have a newfound appreciation for the idea of winter hiking. I'm sure it gets colder then it was today, but if you pick your days, it wouldn't be overly so, especially if the sun is out.
Lincoln was my #13 and Lafayette my #14. Since this is my first trip report, I'll briefly mention 1 through 12 were, in order, Moosilauke, Osceola, East Osceola, North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid, Whiteface, Passaconaway, Bondcliff, Bond, West Bond, Flume, and Liberty.
Pictures on webshots
Video of Cloudland Falls
Tim
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