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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Liberty, NH
Trails
Trails: Walker Brook Ravine, bushwhack, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Liberty Spring Trail, herd path, bike path
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 27, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Still waiting for the Forest Service to create an Old Man Parking Garage at the trailhead - it was NUTS on both sides of the highway - first time I've parked on the lawn at the Lafayette Campground lot.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Crossed Walker Brook multiple times - often on slippery unstable rocks 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: no issues though it would be nice to have a lane for each direction along the ridge plus a breakdown lane when people stop... it was THAT crowded (as expected) 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: not much water along the bushwhack 
Bugs
Bugs: yup - swallowed a few swarming along the ridge 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Lost half a hiking pole somewhere in blowdown hell at about 4300' about 1/4 mile due south of the Greenleaf Trail - I have no hope of ever finding it - those woods are freaking thick. Also, found an abandoned tent, backpack, and sleeping bag (all in rough shape with moss growing atop) along Walker Brook at about 2900' - CREEPY!!!! I didn't look too closely for a corpse....  
 
Comments
Comments: Bailed on my plan for Lincoln's Throat and decided to explore Walker Ravine for possibly snowsport season.... Very interesting area!!! Walker Brook has cool old roads and what appear to be remnants of a hiking trail or a least a very clear herd path in spots. Fairly good footing with decent bypasses. Evidence of skier/hiker traffic in the scrambly sections. After following the stream for about 2/3 its vertical, suddenly the stream went dry - really weird. Then, hit a few more springs and found more trickles of water.

Eventually, around 3800' the brook completely went away and I cut up into the woods. Very steep with moss-covered holes in sections - I was kind of hoping to find a slide in there but didn't have any satellite pics on me so I just kept looking for openings. Eventually I hit an impenetrable band of fir trees - kept dropping back down to skirt it left and I occasionally found a way to get more vert. Eventually, I got close to Greenleaf Trail above the hut but in a freaking thick blowdown patch. Very difficult... that's where I lost half my pole that was in my hand - could NOT find it despite doubling back. GRRRRRRr. Got pretty scraped up.

From there, it was hiking gridlock across the ridge (apparently the dress code of the day was yoga pants) but excellent views into the Pemi Wilderness. Went back down via Mt Flume to the Basin where I spotted my bike for a ride back to the car.

Fun adventure!!!! Good to bump into Robie G!  
Name
Name: Becca Munroe 
E-Mail
E-Mail: beccahiker@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-09-27 
Link
Link: https:// 
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