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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, NH
Trails
Trails: Bike path, herd path, Liberty Spring Trail, Flume Slide Trail, bushwhack, Flume Slide, Franconia Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 21, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at the Basin (northbound) - plenty of room this morning, but almost full this afternoon. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Rock hoppable, though the larger Flume crossings were easier with poles. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Flume Slide Trail in need of drainage/rerouting/etc. in the areas circa 2500-2700 feet presumably damaged by Irene. Sections of trail became brook bed and are only getting worse. Upper mountain water bars on Franconia Ridge Trail and Liberty Spring Trail in need of cleaning. Franconia Ridge Trail between peaks in need of brushing. Removed a few small blowdowns on middle Liberty Spring Trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Would not recommend Flume Slide Trail for most dogs. Would not advise taking dogs up actual Flume Slide due to large, loose rocks. 
Bugs
Bugs: Surprisingly minimal...a few mosquitoes and black flies, but could linger without much issue. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Herd path from bike path to Liberty Spring Trail (starts just north of a ferny meadow) was, once over the initial muck, dry and easy to follow.
Flume Slide Trail had some muck in places, but was generally dry. Some of the scramble slabs had water on them, making it a bit more challenging to ascend.
At around 3,300 feet in elevation, I slabbed north in mediocre woods (generally found a lane, but plenty of spruce) to near the bottom of the slides, then pushed uphill through some scrub to avoid the lower portions (large slabs with water running down them).
Initially I stuck with the southernmost finger of the slide, which was scree and fairly good going. In hindsight, I think I would follow this all the way up to the Franconia Ridge Trail, just south of the summit. Instead, I hopped over at about 4,000 feet to the slide that angles to the summit. This had much larger rocks and was very unsettled. I had to maintain four points of contact, as even some of the larger rocks were moving with a gentle touch. Near the top of it, I was somewhat cliffed out (could have probably cut back south along the contour along the top of the slides), so I had to scramble up a nearly vertical way for maybe 15 vertical feet up to the final little ridge leading to the highpoint.
The Franoncia Ridge Trail between the peaks was dry, but a bit brushy.
The Liberty Spring Trail was mostly dry and rather monotonous as usual.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-06-21 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/mtflume-2014-0621.php 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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