NH Tramper
Member
Date of Hike: Jan. 17, 2013
Trail Conditions: We started on Greenleaf Trail, a bit of a frozen, lumpy mess under a good two inches of new powder. To avoid twisting an ankle in the many buried postholes, we wore snowshoes. We noted two 'whack-around blowdowns, the second somewhat difficult, and we eased over another. We stayed in snowshoes until we reached the summit. We could have shed them just after the low trees (home to many deep postholes), but being so cold and windy up there this morning, we decided to carry on until after checking the ridge. On the Franconia Ridge Trail, in a lee, we put on some spikes. Crampons could have worked, too. There was lots of bony, wind scoured rocks, some surface ice, along with drifts -- a real mixed bag. We trudged through the drifts without reservation knowing that by day's end, most of the damage we'd make would be wiped out. Once we got into the protected area in the trees, however, we tried staying on the packed part of the trail but couldn't so after postholing ourselves a couple of times, we put our snowshoes back on. We kept them on the rest of the hike. This part of the trail was lumpy in places, but in decent shape comparatively (less traffic). When we got to the Liberty Spring junction we noticed the trail up to Liberty's summit and across to Flume was again post-holed and in pretty rough shape. Hard to walk on with or without snowshoes; we need a foot of snow now so we can have a do-over. Osseo Trail was also lumpy and postholed, though not as bad. Bad enough, however, that you can't take it fast with or without snowshoes; too irregular, too dangerous. We also noted an easy-over blowdown and another that was at difficult height but is essentially a limbo-under. Lincoln Woods Trail was a ski trail: flat, fast, and easy walking.
Special Equipment Used: We used snowshoes most of the time today, and really felt they were needed to not only protect the trail, but to keep us from twisting an ankle or snapping a leg clean off, but even with them, some places were difficult walking thanks to the lumpy base. Microspikes were useful on the bony portion of the ridge but crampons could have been used, and one might have been able to get away with bare boots there as well. Not sure if there was any one-size-fits-all answer today. Trekking poles helped with balance on the snowshoes and to keep us upright in the gale. They are also helpful for probing uncertain areas.
Comments: Hiked this one with Bill Robichaud (brobichaud here on the VFTT) and we had a great hike. We didn't see a soul all day, though between all the frozen trail lumps, postholes, and traffic noises, we knew civilization wasn't far away. The morning started out snowing at elevation and blowing a gale. It was cold with limited visibility. By the time we hit Flume, we could photograph the entire ridge, bathed in sunshine. It was quite the day.
Mike "Tramper" Cherim
Nottingham NH
Trail Conditions: We started on Greenleaf Trail, a bit of a frozen, lumpy mess under a good two inches of new powder. To avoid twisting an ankle in the many buried postholes, we wore snowshoes. We noted two 'whack-around blowdowns, the second somewhat difficult, and we eased over another. We stayed in snowshoes until we reached the summit. We could have shed them just after the low trees (home to many deep postholes), but being so cold and windy up there this morning, we decided to carry on until after checking the ridge. On the Franconia Ridge Trail, in a lee, we put on some spikes. Crampons could have worked, too. There was lots of bony, wind scoured rocks, some surface ice, along with drifts -- a real mixed bag. We trudged through the drifts without reservation knowing that by day's end, most of the damage we'd make would be wiped out. Once we got into the protected area in the trees, however, we tried staying on the packed part of the trail but couldn't so after postholing ourselves a couple of times, we put our snowshoes back on. We kept them on the rest of the hike. This part of the trail was lumpy in places, but in decent shape comparatively (less traffic). When we got to the Liberty Spring junction we noticed the trail up to Liberty's summit and across to Flume was again post-holed and in pretty rough shape. Hard to walk on with or without snowshoes; we need a foot of snow now so we can have a do-over. Osseo Trail was also lumpy and postholed, though not as bad. Bad enough, however, that you can't take it fast with or without snowshoes; too irregular, too dangerous. We also noted an easy-over blowdown and another that was at difficult height but is essentially a limbo-under. Lincoln Woods Trail was a ski trail: flat, fast, and easy walking.
Special Equipment Used: We used snowshoes most of the time today, and really felt they were needed to not only protect the trail, but to keep us from twisting an ankle or snapping a leg clean off, but even with them, some places were difficult walking thanks to the lumpy base. Microspikes were useful on the bony portion of the ridge but crampons could have been used, and one might have been able to get away with bare boots there as well. Not sure if there was any one-size-fits-all answer today. Trekking poles helped with balance on the snowshoes and to keep us upright in the gale. They are also helpful for probing uncertain areas.
Comments: Hiked this one with Bill Robichaud (brobichaud here on the VFTT) and we had a great hike. We didn't see a soul all day, though between all the frozen trail lumps, postholes, and traffic noises, we knew civilization wasn't far away. The morning started out snowing at elevation and blowing a gale. It was cold with limited visibility. By the time we hit Flume, we could photograph the entire ridge, bathed in sunshine. It was quite the day.
Mike "Tramper" Cherim
Nottingham NH
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