NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Skookumchuk Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Falling Waters Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, June 16, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Many spaces were open on a Thurs. morning at 10:30 at the Falling Waters/Old Bridle Path lot; Skook lot was almost empty. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: easy rock hops on Skook--not so easy on Falling Waters 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Minor blowdowns on Skook, a few recent, others older. Sections of Falling Waters Trail where stream banks have been eroded or washed away are wet, poorly marked, and treacherous on descent. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: passed two happy-looking dogs on Skook, which seemed good for dogs, at least up to the tree line 
Bugs
Bugs: a few biting black flies at Lafayette summit 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I parked at the Falling Waters/Old Bridle Path trailhead lot across I-93 from Lafayette Place, then biked on the Franconia Notch bike path to the Skook trailhead to begin the hike. I finished at the car and then drove to pick up the bike. The bike portion was for 5.6 miles, with significant climbing (505' according to Google Maps), including several short but intense uphills. If you are peakbagging for the N.H. 48, don't do this, as you need to return on foot to your starting point. I also don't recommend descending on Falling Waters Tr.; the section near the biggest falls was difficult due to wet, slippery rocks and flowing water in washed out sections; four water crossings were not entirely rock hoppable, at least for me (short); and trail marking is poor, so that at several points I wasn't sure I was on it, it was so much like a stream. If I were doing this again I would consider descending on the Liberty Springs Trail despite the greater length and extra climbing toward Liberty.  
Name
Name: David Schulenberg 
E-Mail
E-Mail: dschulen@wagner.edu 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-06-17 
Link
Link: https:// 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved