Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette via Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path
Date of Hike: Friday, April 24, 2009
Trail Conditions: Bare ground, spring snow, slush, ice, wet powder
Special Equipment Required: Traction in pack
Comments:
Ice monorail starting almost immediately at trailhead to Old Bridle Path/Falling Waters Trail split. From there to second non-bridged water crossing, mostly bare. Fairly consistent snow/ice/slush cover above there, to treeline. 1-3" of new snow starting between 3,000' and 3,500', making trail wet and slippery. Some blue ice obscured by slush/snow, plenty of monorail.
Water crossings on Falling Waters Trail doable, though boots will get wet. A few blowdowns.
Franconia Ridge Trail had extended snow free and dry sections, but also plenty of snow drifts (1-3', from the recent storm) and plenty of slush and pools of water. Also some blue ice obscured by slush/snow.
Greenleaf Trail from Mt. Lafayette to the hut was wet and tricky - snow had blown in over the trail, and parts of the trail were almost like a small brook. Decent amount of slush. Tricky turn up high has blue ice obscured by slush.
Old Bridle Path from hut to parking lot - up high was tricky due to the 1-3" of new snow over ice/slush/water/monorail/wet rocks. Below 3,000', much easier to use monorail. Extended bare spots over the last mile or so. I trimmed back some annoying blowdowns, but more still remain.
I barebooted most of the hike, as the new sticky snow would have rendered traction just about useless. I had my ice axe out just in case to get through the tricky turn up high. Used Microspikes below 3,000' on Old Bridle Path for maybe half a mile. If the new snow wasn't there, I would have used Microspikes most of the afternoon/evening.
Your name: rocket21
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
Date of Hike: Friday, April 24, 2009
Trail Conditions: Bare ground, spring snow, slush, ice, wet powder
Special Equipment Required: Traction in pack
Comments:
Ice monorail starting almost immediately at trailhead to Old Bridle Path/Falling Waters Trail split. From there to second non-bridged water crossing, mostly bare. Fairly consistent snow/ice/slush cover above there, to treeline. 1-3" of new snow starting between 3,000' and 3,500', making trail wet and slippery. Some blue ice obscured by slush/snow, plenty of monorail.
Water crossings on Falling Waters Trail doable, though boots will get wet. A few blowdowns.
Franconia Ridge Trail had extended snow free and dry sections, but also plenty of snow drifts (1-3', from the recent storm) and plenty of slush and pools of water. Also some blue ice obscured by slush/snow.
Greenleaf Trail from Mt. Lafayette to the hut was wet and tricky - snow had blown in over the trail, and parts of the trail were almost like a small brook. Decent amount of slush. Tricky turn up high has blue ice obscured by slush.
Old Bridle Path from hut to parking lot - up high was tricky due to the 1-3" of new snow over ice/slush/water/monorail/wet rocks. Below 3,000', much easier to use monorail. Extended bare spots over the last mile or so. I trimmed back some annoying blowdowns, but more still remain.
I barebooted most of the hike, as the new sticky snow would have rendered traction just about useless. I had my ice axe out just in case to get through the tricky turn up high. Used Microspikes below 3,000' on Old Bridle Path for maybe half a mile. If the new snow wasn't there, I would have used Microspikes most of the afternoon/evening.
Your name: rocket21
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
