U
Unregistered
Guest
Liberty & Flume via Liberty Springs & Flume Slide. 12/25/2016, Random Group of Hikers, Party of 9 (then 6).
We had intended to visit Lincoln & Lafayette but decided on Liberty & Flume due to high winds. While along the ridge we met a solo hiker who had been up Flume Slide. Conditions seemed good for a descent; we did so without much difficulty. Three of us had previously turned around before reaching Liberty (minor health issues).
We began at the Basin parking lot. Bike path was hammered flat by snowmachines. We found Liberty Springs well packed until just below the campsite where drifting began to cover the trail. Switched from spikes to snowshoes. Stiff wind on Liberty, almost none on Flume. Drift pockets of powder up to 1.5' or so above the previous trail base. Very little exposed ice. the slide was buried in sticky knee deep snow with a few occasional blue ice patches at sharp outcrops. A few others had postholed up before us but nothing was packed, which worked in our favor for this steep route. We descended using light traction & holding onto trees, felt pretty good about it. One small blowdown on lower part of Flume Slide trail by the main brook. Water xings mostly frozen over on the ascent route, not frozen over on the descent but all were easily crossed. On the return we noticed & picked up the shortcut that clips off about half of the bike path on the way to the Basin lot.
Shoeless Paul. [email protected] Photos: https://www.meetup.com/rndmhkrs/events/234905661/
We had intended to visit Lincoln & Lafayette but decided on Liberty & Flume due to high winds. While along the ridge we met a solo hiker who had been up Flume Slide. Conditions seemed good for a descent; we did so without much difficulty. Three of us had previously turned around before reaching Liberty (minor health issues).
We began at the Basin parking lot. Bike path was hammered flat by snowmachines. We found Liberty Springs well packed until just below the campsite where drifting began to cover the trail. Switched from spikes to snowshoes. Stiff wind on Liberty, almost none on Flume. Drift pockets of powder up to 1.5' or so above the previous trail base. Very little exposed ice. the slide was buried in sticky knee deep snow with a few occasional blue ice patches at sharp outcrops. A few others had postholed up before us but nothing was packed, which worked in our favor for this steep route. We descended using light traction & holding onto trees, felt pretty good about it. One small blowdown on lower part of Flume Slide trail by the main brook. Water xings mostly frozen over on the ascent route, not frozen over on the descent but all were easily crossed. On the return we noticed & picked up the shortcut that clips off about half of the bike path on the way to the Basin lot.
Shoeless Paul. [email protected] Photos: https://www.meetup.com/rndmhkrs/events/234905661/
