| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 5, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I got there at about 9 AM and there were still spots for about a dozen or so cars. Lot's plowed, melted in most places. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Things are still frozen solid as far as snow bridges. The worst crossings are minor seeps down low, and a one-step wonder. Your feet ought to remain dry on this one. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail is in fine shape. No significant blow-downs or anything like that. Note at the summit of Haystack, string "fences" have been set up to keep folks off sensitive plants. Mind where you step! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One pup at the trailhead on the return; alas none on the trail or the summits. |
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 | Bugs: |
I'm happy to report the mosquitoes and black flies were held in abeyance by the winter weather. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost: nasty weather. Feel free to dispose of responsibly. Found: the most bluebird of bluebird days! |
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 | Comments: |
Wow, what a day for a hike. The Higher Summits Forecast called for clouds of varying levels of cover, with wind and cold. Some days, you're thrilled they blew the forecast. I hiked the last two of my winter 48, and my fourth season 48 (as well as two hundred something-th for my grid) in fine weather. Temps in the 20s to start, mid-30s to finish, with abundant sunshine -- it's winter still, but it sure felt like spring is indeed coming! Views from the top were only marginally cut back by a high altitude haze. It was almost a "curve of the earth" view, extending well into Vermont and Maine. Wow!
The trails are nicely tramped down with minimal postholes. I used snowshoes on the way up, a bit tired of the extra weight on my feet, but happy for the heel elevators and that bit of extra traction. On the way down, it was lightweight crampons and plenty of glissades. Snow on the trail is a bit fluffy and drifted in spots nearer the summits on both ends. The ridge varies between deeper drifts, odd patches of blue ice, and bare rock and scree.
The photos took themselves on this one; see them and read the trip report on my blog. Share and enjoy! |
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 | Name: |
Protean Wanderer |
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 | E-Mail: |
hiker@proteanwanderer.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-03-07 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2022/03/06/trip-report-hiking-the-franconia-ridge-classic-in-winter/ |
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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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