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View Full Version : Franconia Ridge Loop Hike (September 2nd)


KSearl
09-11-2010, 05:46 PM
Hi Everyone,

Jill and I hiked the Franconia Ridge on September 2nd, which was our 3rd wedding anniversary. We ascended Falling Waters Trail to Little Haystack, over Lincoln to Lafayette and descended Greenleaf and the Old Bridle.

The temp was about 90 degrees with decent humidity. Visibility was hazy at times but also clear at times. The hike took us 9.5 hours total (including all breaks) which I know is slower than average. However, this was a long hike by our standards so we were pretty tired by the end.

All in all, the views were phenomenal and we were not disappointed. A very detailed trip report and pictures can be found on my latest blog posting at Live Free and Hike NH: http://www.livefreeandhikenh.blogspot.com/

Below are some of my favorite pics from the trip:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs436.snc4/47943_1429046323696_1158978130_31043060_8225911_n. jpg
Cloudland Falls

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs629.snc4/58923_1429048923761_1158978130_31043081_676423_n.j pg
Jim Salge helped me identify this little bird (he thinks, based on the picture only) at the top of Little Haystack as a junco. After looking at some online, I think he is right!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs609.snc4/58923_1429048963762_1158978130_31043082_3566646_n. jpg
Mount Lincoln from Little Haystack

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs154.ash2/41045_1429050243794_1158978130_31043087_2584331_n. jpg
Mount Flume and Mount Liberty (Left to Right) from Little Haystack

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs294.snc4/41045_1429050523801_1158978130_31043094_6467329_n. jpg
The Bonds...very exciting for me...I've never seen them before!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs314.snc4/41045_1429050563802_1158978130_31043095_2322190_n. jpg
Owl's Head...Is the visible slide in this picture the slide trail??? Does anyone know?

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs609.snc4/58973_1429051923836_1158978130_31043104_4226542_n. jpg
Another question, this pond is on the northwest corner of Owl's Head, east of Lafayette. It is not on any maps??? Any ideas???

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs609.snc4/58973_1429052003838_1158978130_31043106_1134525_n. jpg
Glabrous Sandwort

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs412.snc4/47545_1429052963862_1158978130_31043108_5737917_n. jpg
Cannon from Lincoln

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs307.ash2/58716_1429054843909_1158978130_31043125_7759882_n. jpg
Lafayette from Lincoln

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs627.snc4/58716_1429054923911_1158978130_31043127_5834680_n. jpg
Awesome slide on the southwestern slope of Lafayette

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs204.ash2/46685_1429056643954_1158978130_31043142_4530503_n. jpg
Jill and I on the summit of Lafayette

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs624.snc4/58432_1429058003988_1158978130_31043149_7445242_n. jpg
Jill on the summit of Lafayette...just chillin

Simply put, this was really an incredible hike!

Karl
ow2010
09-11-2010, 07:09 PM
Awesome pictures Karl! I like the labels too...now I can correctly label the Bonds in my own photos, haha.
mtruman
09-11-2010, 07:39 PM
Awesome Karl! The pictures are fantastic. What a great way way to celebrate your anniversary too. Congrats to you and Jill on three years and best wishes for many more.
KSearl
09-11-2010, 09:06 PM
Awesome pictures Karl! I like the labels too...now I can correctly label the Bonds in my own photos, haha.

OW2010 - Thanks...however, you're assuming I correctly labeled the Bonds in the first place...ha ha ha!!!


Awesome Karl! The pictures are fantastic. What a great way way to celebrate your anniversary too. Congrats to you and Jill on three years and best wishes for many more.

Mark - Thanks very much. Hiking the Ridge was the best way to spend our anniversary!

Karl
ow2010
09-11-2010, 11:14 PM
Haha, well I did double check with hikethewhites.com, but it was a starting point to figuring out what those mountains in my pictures were since I almost always find myself too lazy to look at a map :p
Snow Miser
09-12-2010, 03:20 PM
Very nice TR and photos on your blog! I really enjoyed reading it. I wanted to do the very same hike on Sept. 5th, and know I really want to do it more. Happy Anniversary to the two of you. :)
d.b.cooperisalive
09-12-2010, 04:57 PM
Karl, first great pics. My wife of 30 years hiked this same trail 1 1/2 months ago. This was our third hike ever. The first three being, Sunapee, Kearsarge, and Willard. So this was a huge jump in trail challenge especially since we are in our 50's and not in hiking shape. This was complicated by myself having open heart surgery last Oct. This is this reason I took up hiking. I really enjoy doing it but it is hard for us because we are not in hiking shape yet. Hiking Franconia Ridge was a huge challenge for us. Our legs felt like rubber after 2 hours and it took us 10 hours total with breaks. To be honest I regretted doing it during the hike because we weren't trail ready but looking back I feel an immense since of accomplishment the next day that I was able to do this incredible hike. The views were incredible. Congrats on your 3 y anniversary and again nice pics.
KSearl
09-13-2010, 08:11 AM
Bob, thanks for the kind words. Glad you liked the blog too.

D.B. Coop, Thanks. I know the feeling you are talking about. When you start to regret a hike because you feel you took on too much, but push through anyway, you are always happy you did. There is no better feeling of accomplishment than that. 10 hours is a pretty good time too!
Jimmy Legs and Little d
09-14-2010, 02:54 PM
Karl,
Enjoyed reading your report on the blog and great pictures too. Don't sell yourselves
short on being slow hikers. It's more enjoyable to pace yourself than make it into a race. A first aid kit is a must; we've had our share of minor and a few major mishaps over the years.

Donna:)
KSearl
09-14-2010, 09:30 PM
Enjoyed reading your report on the blog and great pictures too. Don't sell yourselves
short on being slow hikers. It's more enjoyable to pace yourself than make it into a race.

Thanks Donna, appreciate it. That's our thought too...it's not a race...it's living life and enjoying the scenary.

Thanks again,
Karl
Melvin Glover
11-24-2010, 07:51 PM
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but where can my friends and I camp if we wanted to seize the day and make this loop a two day? Is it against restrictions to backcountry camp? And no, we do not wish to stay at Lafayette Place.

Thanks, Melvin
mtruman
11-24-2010, 08:11 PM
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but where can my friends and I camp if we wanted to seize the day and make this loop a two day? Is it against restrictions to backcountry camp? And no, we do not wish to stay at Lafayette Place.

Thanks, Melvin

See my reply to your original post...