Chip
Well-known member
Lafayette Loop (solo but not alone) 2/20 (photos link)
Getting to the trail head at 6:45, I was the only one there. I enjoyed the thought that I might have this popular loop all to myself on this cold and windy President's Day. No matter. I took Giggy's advice and headed up The Old Bridle Path Trail. That's "Bridle", like a pack mule's bridle, not "Bridal", like it's a popular place for weddings, but I digress. I bare-booted to the steep section below Agony Ridge, where I took a break and donned crampons. Passing clouds broke blue sky and I could see Lafayette was veiled, but I remained positive. I'm not working on any real lists at this point; I'm in it for the VIEWS AT THE TOP !!! Views were good and I took as many photos as I could, but it was cold and windy, so stopping was at a premium.
Greenleaf Hut was a welcome sight, but then I had to head into the cloud. Soon it was cairn to cairn and one of those "what am I DOING ?" moments where you really start to second guess your desire to be exposed to the elements. The wind was northwesterly about 25mph, at my back. That inspired me NOT to turn around. Summiting Lafayette I took a quick self portrait and continued south. You'll see I was wearing my ski helmet. Goofy looking, maybe. But it's warm and comfortable and keeps my wife from envisioning blunt head trauma rescues. Soon I was out of the wind and clouds and enjoyed a great hike down this section of the Ridge. I realize now that I rushed through this section because it was cold and I was making good time, but I'd really like to spend the day up there scrambling when it's warmer. It's an awesome little piece of geology, the granite remnants of a volcano and glacial activity, from what I've gathered.
I didn't see another person until Little Haystack, another solo hiker heading north. We spoke briefly, a nice guy from Mass, just out of college with a car and able to travel north again. No "Alligator Eggs" were mentioned, so I moved on. Heading down Falling Waters I met another group of 2, then 2 couples, a few guys, an elderly couple, a few more guys, then a guy with his dog that seemed as though they do this loop every day for a quick "after work" outing. So much for having the mountain to myself. It's a very popular hike, even on cold winter days. There must have been a convention on Lincoln by noon as there were about 20 cars in the lot when I got back there at 12:15. I checked the cars and there was one other with a VFTT sticker, a Trooper from Maine. Who's the Trooper from ME ?
Anyway, enjoy the photos, there are a few good ones. Thanks for looking.
http://www.shutterbook.com/albums/chipdiane
Getting to the trail head at 6:45, I was the only one there. I enjoyed the thought that I might have this popular loop all to myself on this cold and windy President's Day. No matter. I took Giggy's advice and headed up The Old Bridle Path Trail. That's "Bridle", like a pack mule's bridle, not "Bridal", like it's a popular place for weddings, but I digress. I bare-booted to the steep section below Agony Ridge, where I took a break and donned crampons. Passing clouds broke blue sky and I could see Lafayette was veiled, but I remained positive. I'm not working on any real lists at this point; I'm in it for the VIEWS AT THE TOP !!! Views were good and I took as many photos as I could, but it was cold and windy, so stopping was at a premium.
Greenleaf Hut was a welcome sight, but then I had to head into the cloud. Soon it was cairn to cairn and one of those "what am I DOING ?" moments where you really start to second guess your desire to be exposed to the elements. The wind was northwesterly about 25mph, at my back. That inspired me NOT to turn around. Summiting Lafayette I took a quick self portrait and continued south. You'll see I was wearing my ski helmet. Goofy looking, maybe. But it's warm and comfortable and keeps my wife from envisioning blunt head trauma rescues. Soon I was out of the wind and clouds and enjoyed a great hike down this section of the Ridge. I realize now that I rushed through this section because it was cold and I was making good time, but I'd really like to spend the day up there scrambling when it's warmer. It's an awesome little piece of geology, the granite remnants of a volcano and glacial activity, from what I've gathered.
I didn't see another person until Little Haystack, another solo hiker heading north. We spoke briefly, a nice guy from Mass, just out of college with a car and able to travel north again. No "Alligator Eggs" were mentioned, so I moved on. Heading down Falling Waters I met another group of 2, then 2 couples, a few guys, an elderly couple, a few more guys, then a guy with his dog that seemed as though they do this loop every day for a quick "after work" outing. So much for having the mountain to myself. It's a very popular hike, even on cold winter days. There must have been a convention on Lincoln by noon as there were about 20 cars in the lot when I got back there at 12:15. I checked the cars and there was one other with a VFTT sticker, a Trooper from Maine. Who's the Trooper from ME ?
Anyway, enjoy the photos, there are a few good ones. Thanks for looking.
http://www.shutterbook.com/albums/chipdiane
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