BIGEarl
Well-known member
November 28, 2009: Tripyramids
Trails: Pine Bend Brook Trail, Mt. Tripyramid Trail
Summits: North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue), and me
This week’s hike was a very tough one to get started. Plan A was a Bonds Traverse. The weather made the hike a bad idea. Our Plan B hike was Cannon and The Kinsmans. We were planning to hike a loop from Lafayette Place Campground in Franconia Notch. When we arrived there were plow trucks opening the parking areas, and clearing and treating the roads. The wind was blasting in from the north, and the area was being hit with a mix of rain and snow. The forecast called for high wind but the predicted wind direction was west-northwest. The actual was probably going to be much more uncomfortable than expected. Sue and I sat in the parking area trying to decide if our Plan B was a good idea. Another vehicle pulled in with four other hikers that planned to **** The Kinsmans. We discussed the conditions and expected weather. They had no winter gear but decided to set off with an expectation to turn around at the Lonesome Lake Hut. I really didn’t want to start the hike if we believed there was a high probability of bailing part way through. We discussed the options and selected a Plan C hike – The Tripyramids from The Kanc. This was on our hike list and had the highest chance of being reasonably sheltered. We took off for the Pine Bend Brook Trail.
There were no other vehicles at the trailhead. We started getting our things ready for the hike and noticed the area conditions weren’t bad. The ground was wet but bare of any snow and we could hear the wind but it was relatively quiet at ground level. We decided there was no need to bring the snowshoes and they stayed in the truck. The first couple miles are a mild approach. Along the way we entered the Sandwich Range Wilderness. A short distance before reaching this boundary the ground was generally snow covered. From here there are a couple small stream crossings and the trail makes a left and starts the climb. At first it’s a fairly steady rate of climb along the brook. There are a couple steep, rough sections that required some care due to the increasing snow and ice. Then, the trail made the hard left at the top of the brook and headed for the ridge. This final steep climb had three to four inches of snow, one area of running water in the trail, and little ice. The footing was pretty good. As expected, the climb from the Kanc was very sheltered from the wind but once we hit the ridge everything changed. Just below the ridge we stopped to add a layer, get warmer gloves/mittens, and get other protection ready if needed. We managed to reach the junction with the Scaur Ridge Trail without using added traction. We were also the first ones in which gave us an advantage of working with fresh snow. There are new signs posted at the trail junctions on the Pine Bend Brook Trail – very nice. We continued to North Tripyramid.
A short distance below the junction with the Mount Tripyramid Trail we met another couple with a dog. They hiked in from Livermore in Waterville Valley. After a brief visit we were all on our way to N. Tripyramid with the others hiking ahead. We hit the summit, stopped for a few summit pictures, and were quickly on our way to South Tripyramid.
We were able to bare boot the hike to North Tripyramid without any problems, even on the final steep climb to the summit. We continued to Middle Tripyramid the same way. Between the North and Middle peaks there is an area where blowdowns have blocked the trail. We were able to climb over the downed trees and continue on our way. It seemed the footing was getting worse as we made our way through the final ascent to Middle Tripyramid so we both pulled out the MicroSpikes. The added traction made a huge difference. We worked our way to the viewpoint a short distance below the summit and stopped for a couple pictures of the limited views. Sue also needed to send a picture of a snowman that she made earlier in the hike to a few of the folks back home.
We hit the summit, got the usual pictures, made the u-turn and started back to North Tripyramid. On the way we met another couple guys that had hiked in via Sabbaday Brook (I’m guessing due to the tracks that we found). Roughly half way between the Sabbaday Brook Trail junction and the North Tripyramid we met a group of four that were planning to continue to the Sleepers to camp and then hike Whiteface and Passaconaway tomorrow. That was it for other hikers – a total of eight made for a very quiet day.
With the MicroSpikes we completed the re-climb of North Tripyramid and our exit without any problems at all. We continued to wear the MicroSpikes all of the way back to the area near the wilderness boundary sign. From there, the ground was bare and an easy cruise to the trailhead.
We have previously been forced to abandon a Plan A for a Plan B hike. We have never had to dig down to a Plan C for the day. Fortunately, we both know our target hike lists and were able to come up with a good salvage plan for the day.
Pictures will follow.
Trails: Pine Bend Brook Trail, Mt. Tripyramid Trail
Summits: North Tripyramid, Middle Tripyramid
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue), and me
This week’s hike was a very tough one to get started. Plan A was a Bonds Traverse. The weather made the hike a bad idea. Our Plan B hike was Cannon and The Kinsmans. We were planning to hike a loop from Lafayette Place Campground in Franconia Notch. When we arrived there were plow trucks opening the parking areas, and clearing and treating the roads. The wind was blasting in from the north, and the area was being hit with a mix of rain and snow. The forecast called for high wind but the predicted wind direction was west-northwest. The actual was probably going to be much more uncomfortable than expected. Sue and I sat in the parking area trying to decide if our Plan B was a good idea. Another vehicle pulled in with four other hikers that planned to **** The Kinsmans. We discussed the conditions and expected weather. They had no winter gear but decided to set off with an expectation to turn around at the Lonesome Lake Hut. I really didn’t want to start the hike if we believed there was a high probability of bailing part way through. We discussed the options and selected a Plan C hike – The Tripyramids from The Kanc. This was on our hike list and had the highest chance of being reasonably sheltered. We took off for the Pine Bend Brook Trail.
There were no other vehicles at the trailhead. We started getting our things ready for the hike and noticed the area conditions weren’t bad. The ground was wet but bare of any snow and we could hear the wind but it was relatively quiet at ground level. We decided there was no need to bring the snowshoes and they stayed in the truck. The first couple miles are a mild approach. Along the way we entered the Sandwich Range Wilderness. A short distance before reaching this boundary the ground was generally snow covered. From here there are a couple small stream crossings and the trail makes a left and starts the climb. At first it’s a fairly steady rate of climb along the brook. There are a couple steep, rough sections that required some care due to the increasing snow and ice. Then, the trail made the hard left at the top of the brook and headed for the ridge. This final steep climb had three to four inches of snow, one area of running water in the trail, and little ice. The footing was pretty good. As expected, the climb from the Kanc was very sheltered from the wind but once we hit the ridge everything changed. Just below the ridge we stopped to add a layer, get warmer gloves/mittens, and get other protection ready if needed. We managed to reach the junction with the Scaur Ridge Trail without using added traction. We were also the first ones in which gave us an advantage of working with fresh snow. There are new signs posted at the trail junctions on the Pine Bend Brook Trail – very nice. We continued to North Tripyramid.
A short distance below the junction with the Mount Tripyramid Trail we met another couple with a dog. They hiked in from Livermore in Waterville Valley. After a brief visit we were all on our way to N. Tripyramid with the others hiking ahead. We hit the summit, stopped for a few summit pictures, and were quickly on our way to South Tripyramid.
We were able to bare boot the hike to North Tripyramid without any problems, even on the final steep climb to the summit. We continued to Middle Tripyramid the same way. Between the North and Middle peaks there is an area where blowdowns have blocked the trail. We were able to climb over the downed trees and continue on our way. It seemed the footing was getting worse as we made our way through the final ascent to Middle Tripyramid so we both pulled out the MicroSpikes. The added traction made a huge difference. We worked our way to the viewpoint a short distance below the summit and stopped for a couple pictures of the limited views. Sue also needed to send a picture of a snowman that she made earlier in the hike to a few of the folks back home.
We hit the summit, got the usual pictures, made the u-turn and started back to North Tripyramid. On the way we met another couple guys that had hiked in via Sabbaday Brook (I’m guessing due to the tracks that we found). Roughly half way between the Sabbaday Brook Trail junction and the North Tripyramid we met a group of four that were planning to continue to the Sleepers to camp and then hike Whiteface and Passaconaway tomorrow. That was it for other hikers – a total of eight made for a very quiet day.
With the MicroSpikes we completed the re-climb of North Tripyramid and our exit without any problems at all. We continued to wear the MicroSpikes all of the way back to the area near the wilderness boundary sign. From there, the ground was bare and an easy cruise to the trailhead.
We have previously been forced to abandon a Plan A for a Plan B hike. We have never had to dig down to a Plan C for the day. Fortunately, we both know our target hike lists and were able to come up with a good salvage plan for the day.
Pictures will follow.
