The 2 hottest peaks to climb on Franconia Ridge, are Mt Lafayette and Mt Lincoln, two 5000-footers with stellar views of Franconia Notch and the Pemigewasset Wilderness. These two mountains are chic and sumptuous in their very own proper, however they actually come alive in the course of the first two weeks in October, when the climate will get colder and the leaves start to vary colour. The autumn foliage is attractive and peaks on October tenth, yearly with out fail, when the 800,000 acres of timber within the White Mountain Nationwide Forest flip yellow, gold, and crimson. It truly is a sight.
Franconia Ridge has change into a very talked-about vacation spot, partially as a result of it’s so near the interstate freeway. So the trick is to hike it when it’s not fully overrun by guests if that type of factor issues to you. I knew that Lafayette and Lincoln wouldn’t be crowded on a Monday (Oct 3). So there I used to be at 9:00 am on a frosty Monday morning, parking my automobile at somewhat used trailhead, when most individuals are capturing the shit about their weekend on Zoom or on the workplace.
The final time I hiked Franconia Ridge (known as “the ridge”) was in July, with my buddy Ken, once we hiked it in a whole white-out in blowing mist regardless of a sunny forecast. That occurs, nevertheless it wasn’t significantly satisfying. This time, I wished good climate as a result of I wished to rejoice a mountaineering milestone, the completion of my eighth spherical of White Mountain 4000 footers. That peak record contains 48 mountains, together with many 4000-footers, a half dozen 5000-footers, and a 6000-footer – Mt Washington. Regardless of a cold forecast with a morning frost warning, it seemed like it could be a transparent day with low wind on the ridge.
I nonetheless packed a number of layers, simply in case the climate turned nasty or the wind picked up. We’re already within the hearth/wooden range season within the Whites and, though it looks as if summer time was simply yesterday. I’ve began carrying lengthy pants as an alternative of shorts on my hikes and one in all as of late, I’m going to have to modify from path runners to waterproof mids to maintain my toes heat.
There are a few alternative ways to climb to Lafayette and Lincoln, some extra fashionable than others. For this hike, I climbed to the ridge through the Skookumchuck Path which is a comparatively reasonable climb however far much less fashionable than the Falling Waters Path. I first found the “Skook” manner again when once I was part mountaineering the New Hampshire Appalachian Path for the primary time for the reason that ridge in on the AT. The Skook reaches the ridge 0.8 miles north of Mt Lafayette. From there, it’s a brief hike to the Lafayette summit and one other mile south to Mt Lincoln.
The Skookumchuck Path begins simply north of Franconia Notch from a trailhead car parking zone on the north finish of the Franconia Bike Path, which runs for 8.8 miles up the center of the notch (A notch in NH is one other identify for a mountain cross). Whereas the Skook climbs 3000′ to the ridge, it’s not overly steep at any level and doesn’t require any scrambling, till the very very finish, and even that’s not dangerous. It climbs by open forest many of the manner, passing a beautiful stream at 2500′ and spring at 3000′ of elevation the place you may get water. It’s a lot simpler than climbing the Falling Waters Path, which requires not less than three stream crossings, the place you’re certain to get your sneakers moist.
For this hike, I wished to do a loop on trails I hadn’t hiked for some time. So after summiting Lafayette and mountaineering south to Mt Lincoln, I reversed course and hiked again up Lafayette. When you’re up on the ridge, the incremental elevation achieve between the peaks isn’t that important. The arduous work is getting up there.
From Lafayette, I headed down the Greenleaf Path to the AMC hut which stays open till Oct 15, 2022. I refilled my water bottles there from the out of doors hiker faucet after which continued down the decrease part of the Greenleaf Path, which is seldom hiked, following it all the way down to Franconia Notch. From there, I crossed underneath the interstate that runs by the notch and walked north alongside the Franconia Bike Path for an additional 3 miles, looping again to the Skookumchuck Trailhead.
This was a 14-mile route with about 5000′ toes of elevation achieve and I used to be fairly drained once I completed (in 8 hours.) Nonetheless, the additional distance was value it as a result of I solely noticed two individuals on the Skookumchuck and two individuals on the decrease a part of the Greenleaf Path beneath the hut. The ridge additionally wasn’t very crowded and I solely noticed about 100 individuals up there in complete, unfold out over 2.8 miles. I can solely guess what it’s like on a weekend, however I wouldn’t be stunned if 1000 individuals or extra head up there, not less than from the tales my pals inform me.
The foliage was beautiful, though not as far alongside as I’d have anticipated within the Pemigewasset Wilderness, in comparison with the jap facet of the forest close to Mt Washington, the place the reds are rather more evident. The sky was very clear and the mountains in Vermont have been additionally clearly seen on the far horizon. There was no wind and I solely needed to put on a fleece hoody to remain heat.
The views of the peaks within the Pemigewasset have been spectacular together with Garfield, Guyot, Bondcliff, and Carrigain, and Jefferson and Washington, farther east. Whereas I’ve climbed all of them many occasions, it’s nonetheless a pleasure to take a look at their profiles within the distance. I’m extra non secular than non secular, however you possibly can’t assist questioning how one thing so stunning was created by chance and never on function.
Lafayette Lincoln October 2022
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