| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Liberty, Mt. Flume, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Skookumchuck Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Osseo Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 23, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Skookumchuck parking lot has room for perhaps 20 cars, but is lightly used. Started the day with one other car, ended with perhaps four. Lincoln Woods parking lot is its normal, massive self. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All minor crossings, rock hoppable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Section of FRT between Little Haystack and Liberty quite narrow in spots, spruce brushing both of my shoulders. Otherwise well-maintained, with fresh white AT blazing along northern section of FRT. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Almost no bugs noticed at all today. The odd black fly or two. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Bucket list hike to traverse Franconia Ridge crossed off the list. Skookumchuck was quiet, no other folks seen until nearing Lafayette summit. Then the crowds took over until we got past Little Haystack, although there were still a number of folks we passed in between LH and Liberty. Liberty was crowded, and there several folks in the col between L and Flume. Flume descent via Osseo was very light, almost no folks on the way up.
This is a long hike, 15.6 miles if I did my math correctly. The overall elevation gain isn't too bad though, 4,800 feet. Starting north and heading south means that you gain Lafayette, the highest point of the hike, early in the day. Once below the ladder section, Osseo is an evenly graded trail that is a welcome relief after some of the rockier terrain earlier in the hike. And of course, the last 1.4 miles out to Lincoln Woods is very easy - you're just fighting yourself at that point. I believe south to north via the same route could be more challenging.
Have not blogged it up yet, will try to get to that later this week. Redlined several more miles. Yay! |
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 | Name: |
Ethan Banks |
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 | E-Mail: |
020655@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-08-24 |
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 | Link: |
 https://nh48.wordpress.com |
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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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