The purpose of this trip was to scout out backcountry ski routes down the slides on either side of Franconia Ridge, and we were successful in that effort. But it was just a fantastic day to be out in the mountains. We met up in Lincoln (Jas, Nick, and myself) and got to the trailhead around 8:15 and were on the trail by 8:30. We elected to go without snowshoes, but we already had our crampons in the packs so we carried them. Not enough snow for snowshoes, everything was too warm for ice.
We went up Falling Waters, which had quite a bit of water flowing due to the snow melt from recent days. No real problems with any of the stream crossings, just our boots getting wet. We stopped at Shining Rock then climbed up to Little Haystack, reaching the ridge before noon, a slow but steady pace. Once on the ridge it was clear sailing. Lots of people up there, very little wind, very warm temps, what a November day!
Nick was scouting slides, looking for entrances and places with a good angle that would hold snow and not be a big slide danger. They exist, we may try some this winter if the snow holds. We stopped on Lincoln for lunch and had the place completely to ourselves for 20 minutes. It pays to hike slower than the crowd.
Between Lincoln and Lafayette a group caught up to us and as they were passing we recognized each other. It was Stinkyfeet, Artex, Frodo, and Sir Edmand (and one other, didn't catch her name) who had come up Flume Slide and were headed to Garfield. God bless them. As we chatted a C-130 flew down the notch, banked over Lincoln and cruised up the Pemi. We'd been hearing and seeing F-15s all day, but this was different.
They took off, we followed and met up with them taking a rest on the summit of Lafayette. They headed north, we headed down. Pretty uneventful descent, we got to the cars at 4:30, did a quick pack up and change of clothes, then headed to Lexington to the Pat and Audrey Potluck, arriving fashionably late and not too stinky.
Great day to be up there, especially with two folks who'd never hiked the ridge before. Hope to get back there this winter on skis.
Photos are here.
-dave-
We went up Falling Waters, which had quite a bit of water flowing due to the snow melt from recent days. No real problems with any of the stream crossings, just our boots getting wet. We stopped at Shining Rock then climbed up to Little Haystack, reaching the ridge before noon, a slow but steady pace. Once on the ridge it was clear sailing. Lots of people up there, very little wind, very warm temps, what a November day!
Nick was scouting slides, looking for entrances and places with a good angle that would hold snow and not be a big slide danger. They exist, we may try some this winter if the snow holds. We stopped on Lincoln for lunch and had the place completely to ourselves for 20 minutes. It pays to hike slower than the crowd.
Between Lincoln and Lafayette a group caught up to us and as they were passing we recognized each other. It was Stinkyfeet, Artex, Frodo, and Sir Edmand (and one other, didn't catch her name) who had come up Flume Slide and were headed to Garfield. God bless them. As we chatted a C-130 flew down the notch, banked over Lincoln and cruised up the Pemi. We'd been hearing and seeing F-15s all day, but this was different.
They took off, we followed and met up with them taking a rest on the summit of Lafayette. They headed north, we headed down. Pretty uneventful descent, we got to the cars at 4:30, did a quick pack up and change of clothes, then headed to Lexington to the Pat and Audrey Potluck, arriving fashionably late and not too stinky.
Great day to be up there, especially with two folks who'd never hiked the ridge before. Hope to get back there this winter on skis.
Photos are here.
-dave-
