East Franconia Notch Traverse

[MarcHowes]

Date(s) Hiked: 9/16/06

Trails(s) Hiked: Liberty Spring, Flume Slide, Franconia Ridge, Skookumchuck

Total Distance: 13.5 or so Miles

Difficulty: Very Difficult

Conditions: Very warm, lack of water on ridge trail, very moist on flume slide trail

Special Required Equipment: Boots, Extra water would be useful.

Pictures http://hoosactunnel.net/nonhoosac/NH/EastFranconia060916

Trip Report:


Fun hike, I was supposed to do this with a college friend and his GF but his GF got sick 30 mins into the trip so we turned back. I lost a lot of time because of this. Flume slide was very very slippery and steep. What a relief it was when I reached Franconia ridge trail! The ridgeline isnt too tricky but dont be fooled! there is quite a lot of vertical! I reached Flume, Liberty, Lincoln, and Lafayette. I wanted to get Garfield but I lost so much time and I needed water (2L not enough!) so I had to nix that. Great views, perfectly clear day. 80% of the hikers on Lincoln/Lafayette were from Quebec.

About 5500 Vertical and about 8.5 hours for those wondering.

 

[MichaelJ]

The ridge is a great hike! Other folks trying this one out should consider adding on the Osseo Trail next time, to really lengthen it out. Or ... stash a bike a Skookumchuck and ride back to your car at the Whitehouse (Liberty Spring) parking area: the bike path is just beyond the bushes at the end of the lot).

 

[Moose]

I 2nd MichaelJ's comment about the Franc. Ridge. One of the best in the Whites IMO. When I hiked Flume last fall the wife and I did it via the Osseo trail to avoid the slippery slide. I've enjoyed your great pics in the numerous reports you posted. Hoping to get back up there as work has been keeping me busy lately.

 

[MarcHowes]

Funny thing is my original plan was to bike back to my car, then I had my friends register interest. I still put m bike up at the N bike trail head just in case. We drove their car up to the parking lot in the morning, and when my Friend's GF got sick I had to drive them back up there so I just left my car there and they dropped me off at the flume trailhead...


I guess in other words everything worked out so I didnt need a bike I will be using one for my cannon traverse tho...

 

[MichaelJ]

No need to post publically exactly where/when your bike will be hidden but what do you plan to do for the traverse? Up from Lafayette Campground and down Kinsman Ridge?

 

[MtnMagic]

No need to post publically exactly where/when your bike will be hidden ...

I could use a free bike! ; >

Great hiking, Marc. One of my very fav hikes. I looked up the Flume Slide, gain is 2450' Osseo to Lafayette is 2200' gain. And with some of the finest views in The Whites!

 

[MarcHowes]

I have two plans, I do not know which one I will do yet. One requires more biking than the other.

Long bike trip is starting on 116 and ascending mt kinsman tr hikking south peak then north then reversing to south then over cannon balls to cannon via kinsman ridge then down kinsman ridge into the notch where my bike will be stealthfully hidden, guarded by laser gun turrets and Hungry German Shephards Then I will ride my bike all the way around back to my car.


Second option is to start at Lafayette Campground and work my way up to N kinsman then south and North and follow the same route as the above hike. Bike trip will be much shorter, or possibly not needed. This option will probably win. I'll do this hike in October, got other plans for this weekend

 

[Mike P.]

On the second option there is a trail that goes around on the western side of the lake that you can walk if I remember right (did this back in 1995, first NH wike with my wife) & it's not too long, other wise it's the bike path & not too long.

One of a few options I have in mind for October is a Franconia Ridge trip, probably not the whole ridge (done it 3x already including once this year) but up Liberty & down Skookumchuck to a bike left there in the AM. (I'd lock it since the key is on the same keychain as the car key, it's the only other key actually - Whistle, knife, light, remote car key also, not a starter. )

 

[MichaelJ]

On the second option you could also come down Hi-Cannon and thus hike right back to Lafayette Campground. You miss out on the Notch overlook above the cliffs, but you get some great Lonesome Lake overlooks as well as ... the ladder!

 

[Jonni]

That ladder is niiiice! Interesting getting up to it, but well worth it all the same.

 

[MarcHowes]

I am making a gesture similiar to MichaelJ's Avatar I guess we'll see which way I go when I actually do the trip. Anyone want to start a pool?

 

[ChileMass]

Marc - once again, really great pictures. The shot down to the notch with Cannon's cliffs in back and the hut in the foreground is very cool.......

 

[MarcHowes]

Thanks chile

Now, if you want to see some nice foliage shots of Washington look at my moriah-wildcat thread. Lots of greats shots there (also lots of bad ones, good ones are further down).

 

[ChileMass]

Dude - those shots from the Carters rule. You are my fkg hero.

I'm warming up the time machine so I can go back 20 years for a while and climb all the Whites until I get my fill of it. Then I'll come back and hang with my wife & kids again, cause I'd miss them, after all. But damn - I am jealous of the free time you obviously have to make these climbs........

Great shots, they make me salivate for next summer......