| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bike path, Liberty Spring Trail, Flume Slide Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 16, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking is available at all of the areas at Franconia Notch. Spots were readily available at the Basin. Bathrooms are closed at the trailheads. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Several small stream, brook crossings throughout the hike. Some are easy but a couple were very sketchy. With snow melt and warming temperatures, water levels are very high right now. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns on the trail but they aren't too bad. Some water could be diverted off the trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A couple of happy dogs on the trail |
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 | Bugs: |
Very little black flies at the base, none in the higher elevations. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Winter hat on the Liberty Spring trail. |
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 | Comments: |
Variable spring conditions. Due to a cold spring in New England, the early spring conditions are expected to last until June so bring traction and maybe some extra socks/boots. From the trailhead to 2,800 ft., there is little to no snow, but is very muddy in areas and some parts have water flowing down the trail. It can easily be barebooted. Above 2,500 ft., it's consistent snow along a monorail. The monorail is mostly stable but risk postholong in a few areas. Go off the monorail and you'll sink into 3-4 ft. of snow. Microspikes will be required for most areas above this elevation. On the Flume Slide, it is incredibly icy, with 2-3 ft. covering the rock slabs. Crampons and ice axes are strongly recommended in this section due to its steepeness and trail conditions. If you don't have crampons, you'll have to go off trail to avoid these icy sections. After the Flume Slide, the remainder of the trail is easier; microspikes are sufficient. Some fresh powder is found along the ridgeline due to a recent snowstorms last weekend. Several stream and brook crossings are throughout the loop which are not bridged. Some are easily rock hoppable but other's are sketchy and you need to be careful. Water levels are very high right now.
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|
 | Name: |
Liam |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-05-17 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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