Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette, NH |
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| Trails: |
Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path |
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| Date of Hike: |
Saturday, July 30, 2016 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We arrived at 9:45am and the lots on both side of the road were full, and parking extended 1/4 mile down the road in all directions. We easily parked along the road with no problems. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Several water crossings that can be rock hopped |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One tree somewhere along Old Bridle Path |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
We saw several dogs on this trail, and all were very concerned about a yellow retriever named Bailey who was so thirsty and whose paws were so blistered along the Franconia Ridge Trail that she would not walk any farther. Other hikers gave up their water and even took turns carrying the large dog on their shoulders. At the summit of Lafayette, hikers also gave up their socks and took out medical tape, and made booties for each of Bailey's feet so that she could walk down the mountain. (I can't imagine that she could have been carried out without a full rescue effort). At the Greenleaf Hut, her owners were able to fill up on water. We ran into Bailey a few times on the descent, sometimes looking pretty good and other times looking exhausted. Her owners had to borrow tape at least one other time to re-secure her booties. In the end, I saw that Bailey made it down safely. But it was sad and alarming to see how unprepared her owners were. It is so important for dog owners to know their dog's limits, and to be prepared for all emergencies. This could have ended much more badly than in did had it not been for the generosity of other hikers. |
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| Bugs: |
None to speak of. |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
It was a gorgeous day in the mountains. Sunny and clear, with low humidity. Above tree line, the breeze was enough to help cool you down, but not so strong that there were any issues on the open ridge. The trail was VERY busy. This was by far the busiest trail I'd ever been on. Most people were friendly and courteous. Then there were the minority who refused to pull over even though they are slowing everyone down. |
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| Name: |
KLBS |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-07-31 |
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| Link: |
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LesBeInTheMountains/ |
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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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