MtnMagic
New member
Date Hiked:
April 22, 2006
Trails Hiked:
The bushwhack to Liberty Spring, up the Flume Slide, across Franconia Ridge and return via Liberty Spring, plus the bushwhack back to the bike path.
Total Distance:
With bushwhacks, 8.7 miles, which on the trail is normally 10.3 miles.
Difficulty:
Moderate for hiking the Flume Slide Trail. For one who has never climbed this trail, it is challenging to strenuous on extremely steep, open ledges, which are wet, icy, and most slippery.
Conditions:
Spring conditions on the trails and at the summits. No new snow (4.22.06) with a combination of dry sections, water flowing down the trails, mud, and above 3600' hard-pack ice, with corn and rotten snow. However today, (4.23.06) tonight, and tomorrow will see moderate rain and snow accumulation in the higher elevations.
Special Required Equipment:
10 point crampons recommended. Two other hikers *descended* Flume Slide with one using only stabilicers. Geesh!
Trip Report:
Ghostdog and I, members of the Four Thousand Foot Club, met New Hampshire and the Jeneral at the Basin Parking lot East on the North side of I-93 just before 8:30. We walked a short distance south on the bike path then bushwhacked eastward, merging with the Liberty Springs Trail, which is part of the A.T. This saves about .8 of a mile each way that I discovered when exploring the area in 2001.
Our original route plan was the Liberty Spring Trail to Mt. Liberty and an out and back from Mt. Flume and descend the Liberty Spring Trail. Just before the junction of Flume Slide Trail, we decided to attempt Flume Slide, with Jen relating she is afraid of heights and steep ledges. This trail certainly has both with many foot and finger holds and scrambling up the extremely steep, bare ledges.
It was almost a 2 hour walk to the foot of the slide and a full 2 hours, including about and hour in crampons, to climb the 2450' elevation gain in just .7 of a mile up the very steep slide. This was a major milestone for Jen and Brian as they had never scrambled up any slide for so long and so very steep. Most importantly, they had no fear and were most elated! On the trail we met Tim with 10 point ‘pons and Rob with just stabilicers who were about to descend the icy and wet Slide trail. Wow!
At the summit of Mt. Flume, we had a rest stop, took photos, drank water and crystal light, had a small snack, and I gave these brave companions hearty congratulations on their successful achievement to reach the summit by the difficult, slippery, and exhausting Flume Slide Trail. On to Mt. Liberty we proceeded wearing crampons, a few postholes along the way, stopping for a long rest on the summit, eating lunch, pointing out other mountains, and to just soak up the spectacular 360° views.
We reluctantly left the summit for our return to the real world. Down the icy and hard-packed trail with crampons we descended to the tent platforms that had some blow downs and also one on a railing. We looked in the log book and saw that Chickety passed by only two days earlier. She and Posterboy completed GA->ME during ’05.
The ice was mostly melted at about 3600’ so we removed the crampons, continued on until it was time to bushwhack back to the bike path. I congratulated Jen and Brian for a superb slide climb and reaching their 15th and 16th 4’k summits, with 33% of the 48 completed. Another wonderful day to play in the mountains!!
April 22, 2006
Trails Hiked:
The bushwhack to Liberty Spring, up the Flume Slide, across Franconia Ridge and return via Liberty Spring, plus the bushwhack back to the bike path.
Total Distance:
With bushwhacks, 8.7 miles, which on the trail is normally 10.3 miles.
Difficulty:
Moderate for hiking the Flume Slide Trail. For one who has never climbed this trail, it is challenging to strenuous on extremely steep, open ledges, which are wet, icy, and most slippery.
Conditions:
Spring conditions on the trails and at the summits. No new snow (4.22.06) with a combination of dry sections, water flowing down the trails, mud, and above 3600' hard-pack ice, with corn and rotten snow. However today, (4.23.06) tonight, and tomorrow will see moderate rain and snow accumulation in the higher elevations.
Special Required Equipment:
10 point crampons recommended. Two other hikers *descended* Flume Slide with one using only stabilicers. Geesh!
Trip Report:
Ghostdog and I, members of the Four Thousand Foot Club, met New Hampshire and the Jeneral at the Basin Parking lot East on the North side of I-93 just before 8:30. We walked a short distance south on the bike path then bushwhacked eastward, merging with the Liberty Springs Trail, which is part of the A.T. This saves about .8 of a mile each way that I discovered when exploring the area in 2001.
Our original route plan was the Liberty Spring Trail to Mt. Liberty and an out and back from Mt. Flume and descend the Liberty Spring Trail. Just before the junction of Flume Slide Trail, we decided to attempt Flume Slide, with Jen relating she is afraid of heights and steep ledges. This trail certainly has both with many foot and finger holds and scrambling up the extremely steep, bare ledges.
It was almost a 2 hour walk to the foot of the slide and a full 2 hours, including about and hour in crampons, to climb the 2450' elevation gain in just .7 of a mile up the very steep slide. This was a major milestone for Jen and Brian as they had never scrambled up any slide for so long and so very steep. Most importantly, they had no fear and were most elated! On the trail we met Tim with 10 point ‘pons and Rob with just stabilicers who were about to descend the icy and wet Slide trail. Wow!
At the summit of Mt. Flume, we had a rest stop, took photos, drank water and crystal light, had a small snack, and I gave these brave companions hearty congratulations on their successful achievement to reach the summit by the difficult, slippery, and exhausting Flume Slide Trail. On to Mt. Liberty we proceeded wearing crampons, a few postholes along the way, stopping for a long rest on the summit, eating lunch, pointing out other mountains, and to just soak up the spectacular 360° views.
We reluctantly left the summit for our return to the real world. Down the icy and hard-packed trail with crampons we descended to the tent platforms that had some blow downs and also one on a railing. We looked in the log book and saw that Chickety passed by only two days earlier. She and Posterboy completed GA->ME during ’05.
The ice was mostly melted at about 3600’ so we removed the crampons, continued on until it was time to bushwhack back to the bike path. I congratulated Jen and Brian for a superb slide climb and reaching their 15th and 16th 4’k summits, with 33% of the 48 completed. Another wonderful day to play in the mountains!!
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