| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path, snowmobile trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, January 28, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked in the Basin lot off northbound I-93. Large lot, plowed. Privies closed. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All ice bridged. |
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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: |
Route:
Bike/ snowmobile path > Liberty Spring Trail > Franconia Ridge out and back to Flume summit > Franconia Ridge Trail > Greenleaf Trail > Old Bridle Path > bike/ snowmobile path back to parking.
Liberty Spring Trail: this is the AT and is nicely blazed in white. All signs up, legible. Footbed is a lovely, firm trench without post holes. Simple to follow up to the junction. The water source for Liberty Spring tentsite is frozen. Snowshoes recommended.
Franconia Ridge Trail:
- From the jct with Liberty Spring to the summit of Flume: well blazed in blue. Fantastic firm trench established. No post holes. Trail simple to follow. Snowshoes recommended.
- Between the jct with Liberty Spring Trail and Little Haystack there has been no snowshoe use. No trench set up. Man was I peeved about all the post holes… This trail is torn up. I used snowshoes, but it was a total slog trying to pack down the soft powder between the innumerable ankle twisting post holes. Post holes, did I mention this? Many large drifts. With post holes. Please wear freaking snowshoes. This trail is part of the AT and is well blazed in white until the steep ascent of Little Haystack begins, but the corridor was easy to discern from this point. I had to concentrate more on the route as it is not broken out like the other trails. I was so smoked after this segment…
- From Little Haystack to the summit of Lafayette the trail is blazed in white with large supplemental carins above tree line. I changed to spikes due to the ice. There were also drifts but I could not justify changing back to snowshoes as ice would soon appear after the drifts. There was also a lot of rocks protruding through the ice. I worried that my snowshoes would get torn up if I put them back on while traversing the ridge. Met a total of 4 people on the ridge. I was able to follow the trail along the ridge line without issue, in reduced visibility AND after I had to take off my glasses.
Greenleaf: large carins visible in today’s clouds above tree line (I could see them in the clouds without my glasses). The trail is well packed out, with some icy parts above tree line, and simple to follow heading through the scrub to the hut (closed). One post hole made when I lost my balance and stepped off the trench when I was still wearing spikes above tree line. Ooppps… This trail is not blazed from the carins to below tree line. I kept spikes on to tree line then changed back to my super awesome snowshoes. Met two nice fellas heading up to Lafayette.
Old Bridle Path: well blazed in yellow from the hut down to the trailhead. Nice, firm trench set up. No postholes. Snowshoes recommended. Met one cool dude skinning up in skis looking for a sweet ride down through the powder. That was the highlight of my day!
Bike path: this is now a snowmobile route. It is well packed, but I kept my snowshoes on. I followed pedestrian rules and faced oncoming “traffic†while staying to the side of the trail. This proved wise as several snowmobiles went through (all courteous, friendly, slowed down to pass me).
Dunno what the new storm will bring… But I’m sure whatever is dropped can be managed in snowshoes!! :) |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-01-28 |
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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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