| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Liberty Spring Trail, Flume Slide Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 18, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A big winter day after a snowstorm. Snow depths increased quickly with elevation, up to around 20” in places. One party in front of us did the majority of breaking trail (thanks folks!) up the slide, but even after both of our groups passed through, the light powdery snow remained poorly packed down.
If you attempt this route, bring a range of traction. Snowshoes come in handy in many places, but on the steep upper portion of Flume Slide, where solid ice underlies the new snow, crampons and an axe are extremely helpful. I wouldn’t want to attempt it with microspikes or other light traction. My MSR Lightning Ascents were definitely not up to the task, and I switched to crampons at the base of the slide.
The ridge from Flume to Liberty was completely unbroken, but we crossed it, followed by the other party. After the summit of Liberty, Liberty Spring Trail is well packed - microspikes worked perfectly for the descent.
All in all, a big day in some tough conditions. If you’ve got the gear and the experience to feel confident in the route, it’s a fantastic adventure up there. |
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 | Name: |
Matt |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-12-19 |
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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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