| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Lafayette and Lincoln , NH |
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 | Trails: |
Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, May 7, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Happily the summer crowds aren't here yet so just a half dozen cars in the parking lot at 730 and the afternoon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All 5 water crossings were flowing pretty fast but I rock hopped with moderate trail runner submersion but it was warm enough in the afternoon that it didn't matter. Some of the rocks near all the water were slippery so caution is warranted descending Falling Waters Trail. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns here and there but easily navigated. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One pup descending OBP with an AT LASH section hiker who had his share of inclement weather and was looking for some creature comforts in town. |
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 | Bugs: |
Happily non-existent for the time being! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Gray and black Eddie Bauer dog leash found just below the summit south of Lafayette summit carried down and left on the OBP trailhead sign. |
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 | Comments: |
OBP was mostly bare ground with a few short stretches of icy monorails below the Hut. Just beyond the boardwalk to treeline were multiple sections of icy monorails that I was able to carefully navigate ascending but if descending I probably would have used rock spikes. Above treeline on Lafayette to Lincoln were small sections of black ice from yesterday's rain and refreeze plus a fresh coating of graupel which fell pretty hard for about an hour. But the sun came out and probably melted most of that frozen precip. I stayed in my trail runners up OBP, Greenleaf and the Ridge without any problems but about a tenth of a mile down Falling Waters I opted for my rock spikes for another icy intermittent monorail until about 2/10 of a mile below the Shining Rock Spur Trail then trail runners out. |
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 | Name: |
TransZenHiker |
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 | E-Mail: |
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 | Date Submitted: |
2026-05-08 |
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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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