Talisman
New member
Date(s) Hiked: 8/7
Trails(s) Hiked: Flume Slide to Franconia Ridge & down Liberty Spring
Total Distance: ~9.9 miles
Difficulty: Flume Slide Trail was about a challenging ascent as I've seen in the East.
Conditions: Sunny, dry and few bugs
Special Required Equipment: Water and sturdy shoes
Trip Report:
Great day for a hike on Franconia Ridge and I wanted to try the Flime Slide Trail. This route up Flume isn't used much and the narrow trail was in great shape with no erosion until the ascent up the slide. The slide was challenging but with rain, ice or snow could be dangerous. I wouldn't want to descend on this trail. Once on the Franconia Ridge the views were spectacular and I could easily see the smoke from the cog railway on Washington, Jay Peak, Willoughby Gap, Camel's Hump, Cardigan and Kearsarge.
There were some nice looking lines off of the summit of Flume that looked like a challenge to ski in the winter time.
The ridge hike to Liberty was relaxing and the balsam and spruce smelled good in the sun. On the summit of Liberty is where we finally met other hikers also enjoying the view. Several people asked about the hike up the Flume Slide and it seems doing an out and back on the Liberty Spring to Franconia Ridge is the common loop. The descent down Liberty Springs was a good hike and we met many people ascending some day hikers and others with full packs. Liberty Spring has a fairly consistent gradient and footing from the summit to just before the junction with the Flume Slide trail.
Another enjoyable loop in the White Mountains.
Trails(s) Hiked: Flume Slide to Franconia Ridge & down Liberty Spring
Total Distance: ~9.9 miles
Difficulty: Flume Slide Trail was about a challenging ascent as I've seen in the East.
Conditions: Sunny, dry and few bugs
Special Required Equipment: Water and sturdy shoes
Trip Report:
Great day for a hike on Franconia Ridge and I wanted to try the Flime Slide Trail. This route up Flume isn't used much and the narrow trail was in great shape with no erosion until the ascent up the slide. The slide was challenging but with rain, ice or snow could be dangerous. I wouldn't want to descend on this trail. Once on the Franconia Ridge the views were spectacular and I could easily see the smoke from the cog railway on Washington, Jay Peak, Willoughby Gap, Camel's Hump, Cardigan and Kearsarge.
There were some nice looking lines off of the summit of Flume that looked like a challenge to ski in the winter time.
The ridge hike to Liberty was relaxing and the balsam and spruce smelled good in the sun. On the summit of Liberty is where we finally met other hikers also enjoying the view. Several people asked about the hike up the Flume Slide and it seems doing an out and back on the Liberty Spring to Franconia Ridge is the common loop. The descent down Liberty Springs was a good hike and we met many people ascending some day hikers and others with full packs. Liberty Spring has a fairly consistent gradient and footing from the summit to just before the junction with the Flume Slide trail.
Another enjoyable loop in the White Mountains.
