Franconia Ridge

 

Franconia Ridge

Traversing the Ridge on a Summer Day

 

Bob and I arrived at the trailhead early on a summer morning. The parking lot was not yet full, but there was plenty of action. The lot was on the east side of rte 3 across from Lafayette Campground, and two of the most popular trailheads in the White Mountains were located there. The Falling Waters Trail diverged to the right and ended at Little Haystack on the Franconia Ridge. The Old Bridle Path turned left and traversed the old and well-worn pathway up over the ridge and ended at Greenleaf Hut. The summit of Mt Lafayette was a long mile above and beyond the hut on the Greenleaf Trail.

Our plan was simple: ascend the Falling Waters Trail to its end above treeline at the summit of Little Haystack (4760') on the Franconia Ridge. From there, we would head north on the Franconia Ridge Trail over the summit of Mt Lincoln (5108') and on to Mt Lafayette (5249'). The section of the Franconia Ridge Trail from Little Haystack to Mt Lafayette was also part of the Appalachian Trail (AT). From the summit of Lafayette we would leave the AT and descend towards the west on the Greenleaf Trail until we reached the hut, then we would follow the Old Bridle Path down the ridge and back to the car. From the summit of Little Haystack to just above the hut, the trail was above treeline and fully exposed to the elements. Today, however, looked like a great day to hike up high, the weather was perfect and this is one of the most scenic hikes in all of New Hampshire.

 

On the Falling Waters Trail

Falling Waters Trail





Bob






At the summit of Little Haystack. The rocks lining the trail are intended to keep the hiker on the path and spare the fragile vegetation from the pounding of thousands of boots. The high peak in the distance is Mt Washington, the highest point in the White Mountains. The rocky face on the ridge in the center-right is Mt Guyot near the junction of the Twinway and Bondcliff Trails. 





Mt Lincoln from Little Haystack






Climbing towards Mt Lincoln. Mt Garfield is the peak in the distance above my right shoulder.






Ascending towards Mt Lincoln






Looking south at rte 3 far below







Looking south down the Franconia Ridge Trail from Mt Lincoln. After reaching Little Haystack, the trails descends a bit and crosses the ridge to climb Mt Liberty (center of picture). It then descends Liberty and climbs to the summit of Mt Flume (left center). The Franconia Ridge Trail ends on the summit of Mt Flume.






Mt Lafayette from Mt Lincoln






Greenleaf Hut can be seen on top of the ridge in the right-center of the picture. Cannon Mountain is across the notch on the left. The building near the summit is the top of the tramway. The cliffs of Cannon Mountain once held the great stone face of "The Old Man in the Mountain", long the iconic image of New Hampshire and the White Mountains.






Mt Lincoln on the right, Mt Lafayette on the left





Mt Lafayette on the right, the Old Bridle Path on the left. The hut sits above and beyond the second hump in the left center of the picture.





Bob reviewing the route of our descent




 

Laudizen King