| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, November 5, 2018 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nobody in Lafayette Place parking when I started just after 6. Less than 10 cars at the Aerial Tram parking lot when I was picked up. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The 3-4 water crossings heading up Falling Waters got dicier as you ascended, especially just below and above the final large waterfall. As most know, just step on the rocks that are just below the surface to avoid the icy rocks that are sticking up receiving all the spray and freezing. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are a few blowdown as you head up Falling Waters and 2-3 as I headed down Greenleaf Trail below the Hut. Easy to get over or under, but I didn’t have anything big enough to cut through them. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn’t see any which was a sad day for me! |
|
 | Bugs: |
No bugs...which is yet one more reason to go winter hiking! |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
There is a frozen black glove encased in ice on top of Lafayette. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
I had the trail to myself until just below tree line short of Little Haystack when Ed caught up to me. This was his first time up on Franconia Range and I believe he fell in love with it. The peaks were clear though Liberty and Flume were in and out of the clouds anytime I looked back at them. Washington and the northern presy’s were also in the clear which made me wish I had hiked there. As for micro-spikes, I put them on at the junction of the Shining Rock Cliff spur trail and left them on until just below Eagle Pass area. It would not have been safe at all to try and do the hike without them up above 4k’. Winds were a constant 30mph on the ridge. They were coming from the south which made it a simple choice as to what direction I would hike in up on the ridge. On the peaks, it had some gusts up to 40 but probably not much higher. Saw only 4 other people (2 sets of 2)... one of the sets was from Canada and Northern Ireland! Great time and definitely a neat hike no matter what the season! |
|
 | Name: |
Geico |
|
 | E-Mail: |
Sbcatcher11@hotmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2018-11-05 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
