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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Liberty, Mt. Flume, NH
Trails
Trails: Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Osseo Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, October 14, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Lincoln Woods was almost full at 7:30 AM. Parked other vehicle at Cannon Tramway. Bumper to bumper traffic on the Kanc late in the afternoon. Hikers overflowed onto the Kanc and 93. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Lots of unmitigated erosion on Osseo, with old rock staircases collapsing. One had a badly located waterbar that we rocked/brushed in the slope below the outflow, as it was being used to bypass steps, which were getting undermined as a result. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Franconia Ridge is not the place for all dogs. Noted blood from a torn pad. 
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Greenleaf Trail was fairly dry up to Eagle Pass. Thereafter, consistent snow in the woods up to the hut (still open this weekend), but the footbed was barebootable.

This morning, from the hut to the summit was a mixture of a dusting to an inch of snow, black ice, and blue ice. Some were using spikes, but we opted to bareboot with care. I think a lot melted this afternoon in the sunlight.

From Lafayette to Little Haystack there was a lot of patchy ice and some snow, all of which was melting as the sun hit it. Some wore spikes, we booted with care. Staggering number of people trampling around off trail with no regard for the alpine growth. There's a parallel trail ascending the south slope of Lincoln now.

Some mud pits between Little Haystack and Liberty Spring, with the snow in the woods pretty much going by the latter junction. Some snow in the woods between Liberty and Flume, but not on the footbed. Fall hiking conditions from Flume to Lincoln Woods with some mud in places.

Foliage past peak at the base, but still decent. Pretty much everything above the valley has dropped.

Apart from lower Greenleaf, the trails were packed. Early winter conditions on the ridge with below freezing wind chills, but mild by the time we hit lower Osseo.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-10-14 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
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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