Mike P.
Well-known member
Sounds like you did great & had fun.
Just a few points to address people's questions.
My first trip in as a 35 year old, in July - we did the trails to the slide at a 3 MPH pace in, about the same as a walk on sidewalks. it would be tough to bushwhack at that pace unless you were really experienced at it, which some people here are. overall, if people are leery about bushwhacking, they probably aren't. Crossings were easy that day.
2nd trip in late May was pretty uneventful, crossings were higher, highest was lower-thigh, not looking for rocks to hop on, just a flat bottom. Flow not too fast - very cold in May 2004 as a 42 year old.
After a wet week which had a lot of the rain the last two days, as a 46 year old, I did it in 10/2007. water was really moving, first crossing was very tough (read very stupid
) upper thigh & fast, had to really lean into the current by leaning almost waist deep. (6' hiker)
I had done Osceola the day before & water was a nuisance on a trip with limited small brook crossings.
Couldn't see the rocks to hop across Liberty Brook, that was even knee deep. No way was I going back on the trails. Opted to follow the brook back to Franconia Falls, woods are pretty open & the river is on the map & can be used as a trail, just one you walk next too, not on/in. (The Franconia Falls Bushwhack)
The view from the slide is very nice, last couple of times I was up there, some downed trees on the ridge allow a partially blocked view. We're one tropical storm or windy Winter storm from really great views up there.
For people thinking of a good rainy day hike, Waumbek may be the best. Cabot can be real sloppy when wet but still doable, there is a decent view on the approach & if you do the Horn also (you should) the Horn has a superb view.
If just a rainy day & flooding isn't an issue, Passaconaway, Tecumseh, Zealand & South Carter are all good choices. With high water these all have stream crosses although Tecumseh may still be okay if you aren't talking biblical type rain. Zealand has the great view from Zeacliff, both Zealand & S. Carter would likely be doable even in heavy rain but both have approaches that would be real wet with huge puddles.
Other option, if no thunder, are summits barely open so you can get out in the open, feel the wind & rain & easily, quickly get back into cover. Pierce & Osceola fit this description, neither have stream crossings of consequence. Same as Moriah from Bangor Road but lots of ledges on the way may be slick.
Just a few points to address people's questions.
My first trip in as a 35 year old, in July - we did the trails to the slide at a 3 MPH pace in, about the same as a walk on sidewalks. it would be tough to bushwhack at that pace unless you were really experienced at it, which some people here are. overall, if people are leery about bushwhacking, they probably aren't. Crossings were easy that day.
2nd trip in late May was pretty uneventful, crossings were higher, highest was lower-thigh, not looking for rocks to hop on, just a flat bottom. Flow not too fast - very cold in May 2004 as a 42 year old.
After a wet week which had a lot of the rain the last two days, as a 46 year old, I did it in 10/2007. water was really moving, first crossing was very tough (read very stupid
) upper thigh & fast, had to really lean into the current by leaning almost waist deep. (6' hiker) I had done Osceola the day before & water was a nuisance on a trip with limited small brook crossings.
Couldn't see the rocks to hop across Liberty Brook, that was even knee deep. No way was I going back on the trails. Opted to follow the brook back to Franconia Falls, woods are pretty open & the river is on the map & can be used as a trail, just one you walk next too, not on/in. (The Franconia Falls Bushwhack)
The view from the slide is very nice, last couple of times I was up there, some downed trees on the ridge allow a partially blocked view. We're one tropical storm or windy Winter storm from really great views up there.
For people thinking of a good rainy day hike, Waumbek may be the best. Cabot can be real sloppy when wet but still doable, there is a decent view on the approach & if you do the Horn also (you should) the Horn has a superb view.
If just a rainy day & flooding isn't an issue, Passaconaway, Tecumseh, Zealand & South Carter are all good choices. With high water these all have stream crosses although Tecumseh may still be okay if you aren't talking biblical type rain. Zealand has the great view from Zeacliff, both Zealand & S. Carter would likely be doable even in heavy rain but both have approaches that would be real wet with huge puddles.
Other option, if no thunder, are summits barely open so you can get out in the open, feel the wind & rain & easily, quickly get back into cover. Pierce & Osceola fit this description, neither have stream crossings of consequence. Same as Moriah from Bangor Road but lots of ledges on the way may be slick.
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