Summits: Mount Flume (4,328'), Mount Liberty (4,459')
Trail route: Lincoln Woods Trail, Osseo Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Liberty Spring Trail
Trail conditions: Trails were broke out with loose, unconsolidated snow
Weather: Cool with temps in the 20's and 30's, blue sky and sunshine with a spectacular undercast
Total miles: 10
Total time: 7:30
Today would be a milestone hike for me. Mount Flume and Mount Liberty would put me at #288 for the Grid which is the halfway point to 576. I would be joining Jill, Mark, Larry and Jim for this hike. The weather forecast seemed to be favorable and the trail reports had the trails broke out from recent snow. I had no idea how spectacular this hike would be.
The favorable weather forecast was looking quite questionable with an early morning cloud cover when we met at Lincoln Woods. There was a large group of hikers moving out on the trail at the same time we were. We managed to get by them and were on our way. It was a quick hike to the Osseo Trail. We put on microspikes and continued up the trail just as the large group arrived. That was the last time they would catch up to us.
Although the trail was broke out it was loose and unconsolidated. We put on snowshoes and they would stay on for the rest of the hike. When we arrived at the wooden steps we found them to be completely buried and it was tough going up this steep incline with snowshoes. At the Downlook a low cloud cover obscured the views. As the trail leveled out the snow depth increased along the way. There was an incredible amount of snow in the woods through here for this time of year.
We reached the Franconia Ridge Trail junction. I walked down the Flume Slide Trail just far enough to see that it had not been broke out. That was not a surprise knowing how difficult that trail is. We continued our climb up Mount Flume. Reaching the first view there was an incredible undercast to be seen with blue sky and sunshine above. We made it up over the open steep section with a no-fall zone to the left of the trail.
Arrived on top of Mount Flume for my #287 summit for the Grid. We had it to ourselves which is nice because there's not a lot of room up there. The views were spectacular. We took a short break to enjoy the views then continued on to Mount Liberty. This proved to be a little more challenging than it usually is. There were countless small trees that were bent over the trail from heavy snow and were now frozen in place. Some were walk-throughs and many were walk-unders that required bending low to get under. It was a tiresome snowshoe hike across the col.
Up on Mount Liberty the amazing views continued. We took an extended break here. The temperature was tolerable and there was just a gentle breeze. There were many hikers up here and everyone was enjoying the incredible views. This was my #288 summit and put me halfway through the Grid. We had something to eat and took lots of photos. We could've stayed longer but it was time to begin our descent.
It was a good hike down the Liberty Spring Trail. Water crossings were easy even with snowshoes on. The final crossing was across a log that was rather awkward with snowshoes but everyone made it across without a problem. It was a short walk up the snow covered bike path to the parking lot.
This was one of those hikes that was better than expected. Trails were broke out, weather was spectacular and the views with undercast were amazing. I could not have asked for a better hike to mark my halfway point of the Grid. With 288 summits completed I now have 288 more. Thanks to Jill, Mark, Larry and Jim for joining me on this milestone hike. The adventure continues!
Enjoy the photos and videos!
The hike starts here
East Branch of the Pemigewasset River
Sun shines through the tree as we start up the Osseo Trail
Mark and Jim on the Osseo Trail
Larry on the Osseo Trail
There's a wooden ladder somewhere beneath the snow
Jill coming up the steep section of buried wooden steps
Larry climbing up into blue sky
The trail levels out
Larry reaches the end of a dead end trail and has to turn around
Jill pausing in a forest buried in snow
Backpackless Mark heading up the trail
Mark and Jim are the first to arrive at the Franconia Ridge Trail
The Flume Slide Trail was not broke out
Mark framed against a sky of blue
Jim high up on Mount Flume almost to the summit
Looking out over undercast
Undercast in Franconia Notch
Mount Moosilauke
Jill and Larry climbing up to the summit of Mount Flume
Looking down Flume Slide
Interesting cloud layers
Mount Liberty
Mount Flume summit is up ahead
A look back at full sunshine and undercast
Group shot on the summit of Mount Flume
Mount Liberty our next summit of the day
Zooming in on the summit of Mount Liberty
Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette
Zooming in to Mount Lincoln two hikers can be seen near the summit
Mount Lafayette zoomed in
Mount Garfield
Mount Bond and Bondcliff
Zooming in to Bondcliff
Bondcliff up close
Mount Chocorua
Rime ice on the trees
Heading into the col between Flume and Liberty
There were many of these bend-overs in the trail that became tiresome to get through
Another bend-over
...and another bend-over
Snow corridor
One more bend-over
Woods full of snow
A view just below the summit of Mount Liberty
Walking up into the sun on the summit of Mount Liberty
On the summit of Mount Liberty for #288 of the Grid
The constantly moving undercast surrounds Bondcliff
Looking across the Twins and Bonds to the Presidential summits in the distance
Zooming in on the Mount Washington summit cone
Undercast surrounds Mount Moosilauke in the distance
Mount Flume #287 behind me while standing on Mount Liberty #288
Franconia Ridge
Mark starting the descent
A look back at Mount Liberty
Another view of the undercast while descending
Descending into a snowy woods
Water crossing
Another water crossing
Larry doing the log crossing in snowshoes
Jill's turn on the log crossing
The hike ends here after 10.5 miles in 7:30
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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