Franconia Ridge

Franconia Ridge

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Tripyramids in June


Summits: North Tripyramid (4,180'), Middle Tripyramid  (4,140')
Trail route: Pine Bend Brook Trail
Trail conditions: Mostly dry ground with some areas of mud, short sections of monorail and ice on the north side of North Tripyramid
Weather: Cool morning temps, cloudy with some sprinkles, partial sunshine and warm on descent
Total miles: 9.6
Total time:  6:30 hours

I have not hiked the Tripyramids in quite a while so I was overdue for a return visit. There was sunshine and warm temps in the forecast so it looked like a good day for this hike. I was expecting maybe some remaining monorail but hoping it would be easy to get around without any problems. Scott and Lisa would be joining me today and I was glad to have the company.

As I was coming down through Jackson in the early morn the sun was rising between the Doubleheads and I got the pic! Had some good views while driving across Bear Notch Road on my way to the Kancamagus. I was the second car to park at the trailhead on the side of the road. Scott and Lisa soon pulled up behind me.

It was cloudy as we started our hike. The water crossings were easy and it was good going up to and across the ridge. There was a few sprinkles that didn't last long. As we continued up to North Tripyramid there was sections of monorail and ice that we had to carefully maneuver across and around. There was also some slick ledges to get over.

Up on the summit of North Tripyramid we stopped for a few moments. There's no good views and we kept going. The trail was in better shape on the way over to Middle Tripyramid. When we arrived at the summit I started noticing the biting insects. A few photos and we were on our way back the way we came. We stopped momentarily on North Tripyramid and it was all downhill from here.

As we were descending the sun started to come out and and it was getting warmer. This brought out the black flies and there would be no more stopping without getting ferociously attacked. It was a good trip down and we were back at the trailhead after six and a half hours.

This completed my fourth round toward the Grid. I need three more hikes to finish my fifth round. Even through the remaining monorail and ice, slippery ledges and black flies it was still a fun hike. Nice to have Scott and Lisa along and look forward to another hiking adventure with them soon!

Enjoy the photos!

 Sun was rising between the Doubleheads as I drove through Jackson on my way to the trailhead

 View from Bear Notch Road

 Mount Washington  from Bear Notch Road

 Hobblebush blooming

A unique and favorite burl

 Lots of paited trillium blooming along the trail

 Mossy log

 Mushroom hangs over a flowing brook

 More trillium

 Log bridge over a muddy section of trail

 Hobblebush

 Entering the wilderness

Trail gets rocky

Rock hopping through this section

 Mushrooms on a mushroom


 On the ridgeline approaching North Tripyramid

 The beginning of the remaining monorail

 Snow against moss

Slippery ledges

An arrow points the way

More monorail

More up

 Trail junction to North Slide

 Sabbaday Brook Trail junction

 View from Middle Tripyramid

 Mount Tecumseh

 Looking past Mount Passaconaway to Mount Chocorua

 Mount Passaconaway

 On the summit of Middle Tripyramid

A freshly snapped tree

Descending ledges on North Tripyramid

Ice and snow on the trail

Mossy rock with a leafy top


Hobblebush

Red trillium

Cascading brook

Easy water crossing

Another easy water crossing

What I thought was poison ivy but have since been corrected by a fellow hiker as wild sarsaparilla

Balancing on the log bridge

And one more easy water crossing

Back at the burl

A trio of trillium

Back at the trailhead after 9.6 miles in  6.5 hours



Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!



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