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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Falling Waters Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, November 6, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Lot was nearly full at lunchtime. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Slippery but rock hoppable. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few blowdowns on either side. Lots of unmitigated erosion and trail creep; sad to see rock steps and waterbars failing as a result of folks walking around them (only makes matters worse for the trail in the long run). 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Old Bridle Path was generally free of snow or ice of any significance until a few tenths before the hut. That that point, there were some ice flows that would need light traction to safely descend. Plenty of areas of muck and slippery ledge.

Hut is closed and the water spigot is disconnected.

Greenleaf Trail was very sloppy in the woods with areas of slush, running water, and ice. Probably a good idea to use light traction to safely descend until this melts out a bit. Unfortunately some unprepared hikers were trampling the vegetation to try to get around it. Also noted some folks with a camp fire not too far from the trail, in the forest protection (no camp fire) area. Above treeline, there were a few insignificant areas of ice/slush/snow prior to the summit.

Along the ridge, there were some pockets of snow from drifts and a few isolated areas of ice, but I never felt compelled to put on Microspikes. Not nearly as windy as I was expected from the higher summits forecast.

Roughest conditions of the day were on Falling Waters. Instant ice once in the trees. Soft with the relatively warm temperatures, so Microspikes were fine. Musical Microspikes further down, but I never used them below 4,000 feet. Patchy ice/snow on the trail was pretty much done below 3,500 feet, but plenty of wet ledge that could be an issue in cold overnights. Unfortunate to encounter unprepared hikers still ascending (not too far from the top) in cotton, no packs, no headlamps, and no idea that sunset was about an hour away.

Temperatures in the 60s in the notch this afternoon with hazy sunny skies.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-11-06 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
Bookmark and Share 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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