Hiking a Franconia Ridge Loop in December

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Hiking a Franconia Ridge Loop in December


Hiking a Franconia Ridge Loop in December

The Franconia Ridge Loop consists of two 5 thousand footers, Mt Lincoln (5080′) and Mt Lafayette (5242′). In addition to their summits, the spotlight of the loop is the above treeline Franconia Ridge Trail connecting Lincoln and Lafayette, with magnificent views of Franconia Notch to the west and the Pemigewasset Wilderness to the east. However, by December, this hike resembles a mountaineering expedition greater than an off-the-cuff climbing loop. Snow, ice, excessive winds, poor visibility, and artic temperatures could make it very harmful for poorly-prepared folks that lack winter climbing expertise.

Franconia Ridge Loop

Most folks hike the loop in a counter-clockwise course, climbing first to a peak named Little Haystack Mountain which can be on the ridge, earlier than heading north to Lincoln after which Lafayette. From there, you drop down the west face of Lafayette, cross the AMC’s Greenleaf Hut, and descend on the Old Bridle Path down Agony Ridge. Overall, it takes appreciable effort to climb to the ridge from the Notch trailhead, together with a number of stream crossings, and a achieve of 3000′ of elevation over the gap of three.2 miles. The complete distance and elevation achieve of this loop is 8.9 miles w/3900′ of elevation achieve.

The Loop

  • Falling Waters Trail: 3.2 miles w/3050′ of elevation achieve
  • Franconia Ridge Trail: 1.7 miles w/850′ of elevation achieve
  • Greenleaf Trail: 1.1 miles
  • Old Bridle Path: 2.9 miles

When I hiked this route on Dec fifth, I used to be accompanied by two common climbing buddies who’re very skilled winter hikers. We all carried a number of types of traction, together with crampons, ski masks, full face safety to forestall frostbite, a number of glove layers, and a set of mid-layers and jackets that we might combine and match relying on the situations up prime. That, along with insulated water bottles, meals, emergency gear, navigation instruments, and satellite tv for pc messengers is the form of stuff you need to keep it up a hike like this. While I’ve been up on the ridge in winter situations a half-dozen occasions earlier than, it’s not a hike that I take without any consideration and one which I’d by no means need to do alone.

First stream crossing
First stream crossing

We didn’t actually know what the climate or path situations can be like up on the ridge as a result of so few folks have been up it not too long ago. The AMC Hut situated partway up Mt Lafayette is closed for the season and there have been only a few journey experiences posted on New England Trail Conditions which is the place winter hikers within the Whites share beta about path situations.

But, I’d been monitoring a possible climate window for a number of days and it regarded like we’d have a 1-day climate window to climb Lincoln and Lafayette in cheap climate. That meant sunny skies, temperatures close to 20F with a 20mph breeze which is known as a good forecast. In actuality, I believe the winds have been in all probability nearer to 30 mph primarily based on how a lot we have been getting pushed round up prime. But for the wind, the climate situations have been primo. We had nice views and blue skies.

Cloudland Falls
Cloudland Falls

We met at 8:00 AM on the Falling Waters Trailhead in Franconia Notch, which might allow us to hike the whole loop in daylight. Our group consisted of myself, Tom who’ve I’ve performed 5 or 6 huge hikes with throughout this previous yr, and Wanda who writes articles for SectionHiker and whom I’ve been climbing with since round 2017. They’re each top-notch when it comes to expertise, abilities, and common sense and it’s very easy to hike with them.

Just below treeline. Cannon cliff in background.
Just under treeline. Cannon cliff in background.

After a number of water crossings, we began up the Falling Waters Trail to Little Haystack Mountains, on the level the place we’d pop above treeline. This path climbs steadily till its reaches a facet path to Shining Rock, simply over 4000′. In heat climate, it’s good to comply with the facet path to this enormous cliff face and a fantastic viewpoint.

We took a brief meals and water break and become our above treeline garb, positioning our face safety gear the place it’d be simply accessible if required. I swapped out my skinny fleece gloves for a lot fluffier ones and Gore-tex Mitten shells to cowl them with. I took off my wind shell and placed on my onerous shell, which has an adjustable hood, wrist cuffs, and pit zips. I placed on my sun shades and checked to see that my North25 balaclava was simply accessible together with my ski masks. Then got here the ultimate ascent.

First glimpse of Mt Lincoln
First glimpse of Mt Lincoln

We climbed the following 500′ straight up on ice that acquired thicker underfoot the upper we climbed. Before leaving treeline, we agreed to fulfill behind the massive boulder on the prime of Litte Haystack which is an effective windbreak the place you may relaxation, change layers, or have meals and water. I used to be the primary to pop above treeline and into sensible sunshine. The wind appeared mellow and the views have been beautiful.

We wore face protection to prevent frostbite
We wore face safety to forestall frostbite

We regrouped round that boulder and acquired ourselves organized for the ridge stroll. The solar was shining brightly so my associates placed on sunscreen and heavy sun shades after which we set out alongside the ridge path, encountering heavy ice virtually instantly. Our Hillsound Trail Crampons have been ample however full crampons wouldn’t have been overkill: we simply didn’t need to cease and alter into them simply but. The downside with climbing this time of yr is that you just encounter a mixture of rock, snow, and ice so most individuals hike with what are known as their “rock spikes” that are already crushed up and duller than what you’d put on later within the season. I compensated by stomping my ft more durable on the ice to get a greater chew. Somewhat butt-sliding additionally helped.

Once we have been out within the open, the wind actually picked up. The forecast had known as for winds from the southwest, so we thought we’d have the wind at our backs on the ridge. But the wind was coming from due west as an alternative and hitting the left facet of my face. It was robust sufficient to blow us round on the ice and I used to be involved that my face would get frostbiten. My associates additionally needed to don face safety.

Mt Lafayette is dead ahead.
Mt Lafayette is lifeless forward.

But first, we wanted to get a break from the wind. There are clumps of vegetation alongside the ridge path so we stopped once we acquired to 1 under Lincoln and placed on our face safety. Naturally, all of us had completely different gear for this. Wanda used an OuterU masks that lined her nostril and higher cheeks. Tom used a Serius neoprene balaclava and I used a wool North 25 balaclava, which is the perfect system I’ve discovered up to now that forestalls my glasses from fogging. After a fast buddy examine to verify we have been all correctly lined up, we set off to complete the climb up Lincoln.

From there, the ridge stroll went fairly easily, we topped the height, and hiked down the opposite facet earlier than climbing as much as the summit of Lafayette. The wind didn’t let up besides once we hiked behind rock outcroppings or vegetation.

This was my 500th summit of a four thousand footer for the Grid.
This was my five hundredth summit of a 4 thousand-footer for the Grid and one hundred and fortieth summit for the yr.

I had Tom snap a number of photos of me on the Lafayette signal since this was my five hundredth summit on the Grid, which is a serious milestone that individuals climbing the Grid wish to have fun. It’s known as the five hundred Club. But, there’s loads of climbing left in these ultimate 76 peaks to complete the checklist.

The wind was nonetheless blowing so we determined to hike down Lafayette and take a break on the AMC’s Greenleaf Hut as an alternative of attempting to eat lunch on the prime. The hut is closed for the season, but it surely makes a fairly good windbreak.

It might be tough to comply with the Greenleaf Trail down from Lafayette as a result of the cairns marking the highest of the path are complicated. If you’ve been following the information currently, somebody died as a result of they missed this flip or the one under it, which can be onerous to see, and hiked down right into a ravine the place they froze to loss of life. They have been climbing solo on a foul climate day they usually weren’t terribly properly outfitted, however even very skilled hikers have issues following this part of path. I believed I’d misplaced it on the best way down (I used to be main), however we discovered it once more buried beneath wind slab additional down.

The Old Bridle Path comes down Agony Ridge.
The Old Bridle Path comes down Agony Ridge.

The remainder of this hike glided by fairly shortly. We made good time to the hut, had our snack, and headed down the Old Bridle Path. It had fairly heavy ice as a result of it’s normally a reasonably moist path, but it surely simply required due care to descend.

As you may think about, this hike was a giant milestone for me and I’m glad I used to be in a position to share it with my climbing associates. Onward and by all means.

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