bobandgeri
Well-known member
Our first hike in two months found us leaving our house at 6 AM and heading north. After a stop at the Irving Gas Station at exit 23 in Bristol we arrived at the trailhead a little before 8. The parking lot was clear of snow, but was a sheet of ice, so care was needed while getting ready.
As we started up the trail the temp was 10 degrees with high thick clouds - no sunshine today. The trail was well packed by previous hikers, so snowshoes were not needed. We did bring them as well as crampons however - just in case.
We started out on the Whitehouse trail which connects the parking lot to the Franconia Notch bike path at .6 miles and then onto the Liberty Springs trail at .9 miles.
Heading up the Liberty Springs trail we crossed several partially frozen streams that were easy to negotiate. The trail was well packed with some areas of ice that had enough snow on the top for good footing. We came across a few areas of glare ice that crampons would have been useful, but were able to easily bypass them.
About 30 minutes shy of the Liberty Springs tent site we came across about a dozen hikers from a few groups descending. We were surprised to see such a large group.
Onward we pushed until we looked up the trail and saw a grouse walking in the middle of the trail slowly working its way towards us. We stopped and watched as it came closer and closer. It walked past Geri about 5 feet from here and made a beeline towards Bob, going past him, circling behind him and coming to a stop about 1 foot from him. Hi there little guy :>
Seeing it wasn't scared Bob slowly took his pack off so he could pull out the camera. The bird watched the entire time, and didn't move as Bob set his pack down next to it. After several pics we decided to start back up the trail - but as we started moving the bird rushed us and stopped right at Bob's foot. What was it thinking ????? Was it protecting a nest ? Was it hungry? Was it lonely? As we did leave it even followed us up the trail for a minute.
Soon we were at the intersection with the Franconia Ridge and made our way to the summit. We were happy to find that there was no wind. Although it was cold we stayed on the summit for 20 minutes taking pictures and reminiscing about the last time we were here - September 11 2004, when we carried a flag to the summit to participate in Flags on the 48. Today we had the summit to ourselves.
Pics and maps are posted on our website:
http://rbhayes.net/Liberty-Jan05.html
As we started up the trail the temp was 10 degrees with high thick clouds - no sunshine today. The trail was well packed by previous hikers, so snowshoes were not needed. We did bring them as well as crampons however - just in case.
We started out on the Whitehouse trail which connects the parking lot to the Franconia Notch bike path at .6 miles and then onto the Liberty Springs trail at .9 miles.
Heading up the Liberty Springs trail we crossed several partially frozen streams that were easy to negotiate. The trail was well packed with some areas of ice that had enough snow on the top for good footing. We came across a few areas of glare ice that crampons would have been useful, but were able to easily bypass them.
About 30 minutes shy of the Liberty Springs tent site we came across about a dozen hikers from a few groups descending. We were surprised to see such a large group.
Onward we pushed until we looked up the trail and saw a grouse walking in the middle of the trail slowly working its way towards us. We stopped and watched as it came closer and closer. It walked past Geri about 5 feet from here and made a beeline towards Bob, going past him, circling behind him and coming to a stop about 1 foot from him. Hi there little guy :>
Seeing it wasn't scared Bob slowly took his pack off so he could pull out the camera. The bird watched the entire time, and didn't move as Bob set his pack down next to it. After several pics we decided to start back up the trail - but as we started moving the bird rushed us and stopped right at Bob's foot. What was it thinking ????? Was it protecting a nest ? Was it hungry? Was it lonely? As we did leave it even followed us up the trail for a minute.
Soon we were at the intersection with the Franconia Ridge and made our way to the summit. We were happy to find that there was no wind. Although it was cold we stayed on the summit for 20 minutes taking pictures and reminiscing about the last time we were here - September 11 2004, when we carried a flag to the summit to participate in Flags on the 48. Today we had the summit to ourselves.
Pics and maps are posted on our website:
http://rbhayes.net/Liberty-Jan05.html
