Summit: Mount Lafayette (5,260'), Mount Lincoln (5,089')
Trail route: Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Falling Waters Trail
Trail conditions: Soft packed snow to unconsolidated snow
Weather: Cold temps and windy, frigid windchills across the ridge
Total miles: 8.8
Total time: 6:45
The last weekend of Winter is here and I needed one more hike to complete my Winter 48 4,000 footers. It would be one hike and two summits, Mount Lafayette for W47 and Mount Lincoln for W48, to finish. Even subzero windchills in the forecast did not stop six hiking friends from joining me...Jill, Robin, Guy, Jim, Scott and Lisa. These are very experienced hikers and we have all hiked in some challenging conditions. I was hoping the weather today would be a little bit better than what was forecast.
Upon waking up this morning I stuck my head out the door. It was breezy and cold and I could see the early morning stars in the sky. A few moments later I looked out the window and heavy snow was blowing sideways. It was a snow squall and the skies cleared again. I loaded the car and was on my way to Franconia Notch, the wind was blowing all the way there. As I got to the notch I could see the summits were in the clear and was hoping it would stay that way.
I pulled into the parking lot and Jim was already there, everyone else soon arrived. We all put on traction and carried our snowshoes. Just after 8:00 AM we were on the trail and heading up on the Old Bridle Path. There was some occasional wind as well as areas along the trail with no wind. The trail was well packed with a few inches of fresh overnight snow. Care had to be taken to stay on the trail, a step off the trail would result in postholing.
As we hiked up through the Agonies, a series of steep sections of the trail, we were fighting off tree branches due to the depth of the snow putting us up high in the trees. We arrived at the Greenleaf Hut and stopped for a brief break. It was time to add some layers and get something to eat as we would soon be above treeline where the wind would have its way with us. The break was good and we were now on our way up to the summit of Mount Lafayette.
There was still a section of trees that protected us from the wind but we were soon on the exposed slope of Lafayette. It was windy and cold but tolerable. We kept moving up over some steep sections of ice and it was not long before we were standing on the very cold and windy summit of Mount Lafayette. I took some photos and a panoramic video. It was not a day for lingering long and I moved down the other side out of most of the wind.
We all gathered momentarily in a less windy spot and looked out across the Franconia Ridge. The wind was howling and whipping the snow up into a frenzy. We started our hike across the ridge to our next summit, Mount Lincoln. There were times when we had to lean sideways into the wind. My goggles had a frozen film on them that rendered them useless. I had sunglasses that provided some help but was able to get by with just my balaclava and pulling my hat down low.
We arrived at the summit of Mount Lincoln and surprisingly there was just a slight breeze blowing and it was very tolerable. Still not a day for basking but we stayed long enough for photos and my panoramic video, after all this was Winter summit #48 for me! But I still needed to get down from the summit in order for it to count so we continued on to Little Haystack Mountain.
It was an easy hike to Little Haystack. From here we started our 3.2 mile descent to the parking lot on the Falling Waters Trail. The trail was soft but we stayed in traction and the snowshoes got a free ride today. Water crossings were no problem. Back at the parking lot there was a cold wind still blowing. That did not stop us from having a trailgate celebration before heading home.
This hike and these summits were a great way to finish my Winter 48 4,000 footers. Even the weather cooperated with full-on winter conditions but better than I expected! I want to Thank Jill, Robin, Guy, Jim, Scott and Lisa for joining me on this final winter hike. We have been on many hikes together and they are always fun to hike with! Now it's on to the next list!
Enjoy the photos and videos!
Sun shining on Cannon Mountain as we leave the trailhead
Everyone is ready to go
We're going up the Old Bridle Path and down the Falling Waters Trail
A favorite tree on this trail
First view of the Agonies ahead
Strong winds are blowing snow out of the ravines
Lafayette and Lincoln our destinations for today
Wind is whipping up the snow
Guy leading us up to the Agonies
This is not the spot to wander off-trail
Enjoying a sunny section
Getting steep
Up into the Agonies
Winding around snowy trees
Getting closer to Greenleaf Hut
Mount Lafayette
Another section of snowy woods before reaching the hut
Greenleaf Hut
Adding layers and something to eat at Greenleaf Hut
Eagle Lake below Mount Lafayette
Leaving the hut for Mount Lafayette
Passing by Eagle Lake before going up
Looking back at Greenleaf Hut
Looking past the Agonies to Lonesome Lake
Above treeline
A steady climb up the exposed slope of Mount Lafayette
Windy ascent
Still climbing up
Some interesting ice
Jill and Robin coming up the ice
On the summit of Mount Lafayette for #47
Jill coming down from the summit of Lafayette
Gathering just below the summit of Lafayette before moving across Franconia Ridge
Mount Lincoln is our next summit
Jim on the way up
Jill and Robin on the frigid Franconia Ridge Trail
Guy maneuvering on an icy section of trail
On top of Mount Lincoln for summit #48
On Mount Lincoln (#48) with Mount Lafayette (#47) behind me
A look down between the ledges
A view of Lonesome Lake through the ledges
Making our way down from the summit of Lincoln
The parking lot can be seen far below
Looking back at Mount Lincoln
Robin is almost to the summit of Little Haystack Mountain
Flume and Liberty
Presidential summits
Looks like white coral
Starting our descent on the Falling Waters Trail
Coming down Little Haystack Mountain
Bypassed Shining Rock today
Easy water crossing
Robin takes a quick break
A hole in the snow
Open water
Icy teeth
More icy teeth
Jim wants to play on the ice
Jim is behind the ice
Scott under the ice
Frozen waterfall opening up
Lots of hanging ice
Lots of snow
Easy water crossing
No problem with this water crossing
Open water under a waterfall
Solid snow bridge across this water crossing
Wooden bridge across this water crossing
Almost back to the trailhead
Back at the beginning and I have officially completed my Winter 48 4,000 footers
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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