The Franconia Ridge Loop consists of two 5 thousand footers, Mt Lincoln (5080′) and Mt Lafayette (5242′). Along with their summits, the spotlight of the loop is the above treeline Franconia Ridge Path connecting Lincoln and Lafayette, with magnificent views of Franconia Notch to the west and the Pemigewasset Wilderness to the east. Nevertheless, 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 those that lack winter climbing expertise.
Most individuals hike the loop in a counter-clockwise path, 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 From there, you drop down the west face of Lafayette, move the AMC’s Greenleaf Hut, and descend on the Outdated Bridle Path down Agony Ridge. General, it takes appreciable effort to climb to the ridge from the Notch trailhead, together with a number of stream crossings, and a acquire of 3000′ of elevation over the gap of three.2 miles. The full distance and elevation acquire of this loop is 8.9 miles w/3900′ of elevation acquire.
The Loop
- Falling Waters Path: 3.2 miles w/3050′ of elevation acquire
- Franconia Ridge Path: 1.7 miles w/850′ of elevation acquire
- Greenleaf Path: 1.1 miles
- Outdated Bridle Path: 2.9 miles
Once I hiked this route on Dec fifth, I used to be accompanied by two common climbing friends who’re very skilled winter hikers. All of us 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 group of mid-layers and jackets that we may combine and match relying on the circumstances up high. That, along with insulated water bottles, meals, emergency gear, navigation instruments, and satellite tv for pc messengers is the sort of stuff you need to stick with it a hike like this. Whereas I’ve been up on the ridge in winter circumstances 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.
We didn’t actually know what the climate or path circumstances could be like up on the ridge as a result of so few folks have been up it not too long ago. The AMC Hut positioned partway up Mt Lafayette is closed for the season and there have been only a few journey stories posted on New England Path Situations which is the place winter hikers within the Whites share beta about path circumstances.
However, I’d been monitoring a possible climate window for a number of days and it seemed 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. Actually, I feel the winds have been most likely nearer to 30 mph based mostly on how a lot we have been getting pushed round up high. However for the wind, the climate circumstances have been primo. We had nice views and blue skies.
We met at 8:00 AM on the Falling Waters Trailhead in Franconia Notch, which might allow us to hike all the loop in daylight. Our group consisted of myself, Tom who’ve I’ve finished 5 or 6 massive hikes with throughout this previous 12 months, and Wanda who writes articles for SectionHiker and whom I’ve been climbing with since round 2017. They’re each top-notch by way of expertise, expertise, and common sense and it’s very easy to hike with them.
After a number of water crossings, we began up the Falling Waters Path 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 became 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 laborious 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.
We climbed the following 500′ straight up on ice that bought thicker underfoot the upper we climbed. Earlier than leaving treeline, we agreed to fulfill behind the massive boulder on the high of Litte Haystack which is an effective windbreak the place you possibly can 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 attractive.
We regrouped round that boulder and bought ourselves organized for the ridge stroll. The solar was shining brightly so my buddies placed on sunscreen and heavy sun shades after which we set out alongside the ridge path, encountering heavy ice virtually instantly. Our Hillsound Path 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 issue with climbing this time of 12 months is that you simply encounter a mix of rock, snow, and ice so most individuals hike with what are referred to as their “rock spikes” that are already overwhelmed up and duller than what you’d put on later within the season. I compensated by stomping my toes more durable on the ice to get a greater chew. A little bit butt-sliding additionally helped.
As soon as we have been out within the open, the wind actually picked up. The forecast had referred to as for winds from the southwest, so we thought we’d have the wind at our backs on the ridge. However 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 buddies additionally needed to don face safety.
However first, we would have liked to get a break from the wind. There are clumps of vegetation alongside the ridge path so we stopped after we bought to at least one beneath Lincoln and placed on our face safety. Naturally, all of us had totally different gear for this. Wanda used an OuterU masks that coated her nostril and higher cheeks. Tom used a Serius neoprene balaclava and I used a wool North 25 balaclava, which is one of the best system I’ve discovered up to now that forestalls my glasses from fogging. After a fast buddy test to verify we have been all correctly coated 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 after we hiked behind rock outcroppings or vegetation.
I had Tom snap a number of footage of me on the Lafayette signal since this was my five hundredth summit on the Grid, which is a significant milestone that individuals climbing the Grid prefer to rejoice. It’s referred to as the five hundred Membership. However, there’s loads of climbing left in these last 76 peaks to complete the listing.
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 making an attempt to eat lunch on the high. The hut is closed for the season, but it surely makes a fairly good windbreak.
It may be tough to comply with the Greenleaf Path down from Lafayette as a result of the cairns marking the highest of the path are complicated. When you’ve been following the information recently, somebody died as a result of they missed this flip or the one beneath it, which can be laborious to see, and hiked down right into a ravine the place they froze to demise. They have been climbing solo on a nasty climate day and so they weren’t terribly effectively geared up, 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 remainder of this hike glided by fairly shortly. We made good time to the hut, had our snack, and headed down the Outdated 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 possibly can 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 buddies. Onward and by all means.
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