Yesterday there was a discussion on the Q & A New England forum about the Liberty Spring shortcut (which I rarely use) and later I saw this note:
I put my microspikes on in the car as I have been doing this winter, they were helpful on the steeps but there was absolutely no ice below treeline. The Bike Path had some loose snow on it.
From the start of the cutoff to above the campsite the trail was absolutely wonderful, firm but not icy. Starting about midway between the campsite and the ridge there were accumulations of a few inches of drifted snow.
Bluebird sky at the start, then as threatened clouds gradually formed. By the time I reached the summit (1 PM) the sun had disappeared completely, but the clouds were high enough to allow perfect viewing. A bit windy on the summit for a leisurely lunch, so I postponed it until I returned to the campsite area, where I sat (as usual in winter) on the caretaker's tent platform. The descent on the excellent trail, with gravity helping, was a delight.
No doubt what I would hike today, Mount Liberty using my very own cutoff
I put my microspikes on in the car as I have been doing this winter, they were helpful on the steeps but there was absolutely no ice below treeline. The Bike Path had some loose snow on it.
From the start of the cutoff to above the campsite the trail was absolutely wonderful, firm but not icy. Starting about midway between the campsite and the ridge there were accumulations of a few inches of drifted snow.
Bluebird sky at the start, then as threatened clouds gradually formed. By the time I reached the summit (1 PM) the sun had disappeared completely, but the clouds were high enough to allow perfect viewing. A bit windy on the summit for a leisurely lunch, so I postponed it until I returned to the campsite area, where I sat (as usual in winter) on the caretaker's tent platform. The descent on the excellent trail, with gravity helping, was a delight.
