January 10, 2009
Today's original plan was a traverse of the Wildcats, Carters, and Moriah, but in the Whites and especially in winter, you need to grab the above treeline days when you can get them. Today was one of those days, so we changed the plan. After spotting cars at Trudeau Road, Drew, Cath, Larisa, and I started off on the Old Bridle Path about 8:30ish.
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After .2 miles we turned onto the Falling Waters Trail.
Drew crossing the bridge.
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Lots and lots of icicles
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Winter wonderland
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Larisa approaches treeline
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Rime covered signs on the 4780' summit of Little Haystack, an unofficial 4000 footer.
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It wasn't an official 4, but Larisa celebrated anyway.
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Everyone else switched to microspikes while I stayed in my snowshoes. I headed out in front of the group while they but on their microspikes. On to Mount Lincoln.
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Cairn covered with rime ice.
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More cool rocks
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Cath, Drew, and Larisa are catching up.
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Looking west into Vermont.
Drew, who is from Vermont, helped us pick out Camel's Hump, Mansfield, and Killington.
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Looking over to Mount Washington.
Unfrozen Caveman and Tim Seaver were doing a Presi Traverse today.
It was definitely a 'Presi' day, but it was also a 'Franconia Ridge' day.
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Cath reaches the 5089' summit of Mount Lincoln.
This made #9 for me this winter.
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We continued on to Lafayette. Here's a 360° video clip.
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Here's an awesome panoramic shot that Larisa took.
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Looking back to Lincoln
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We met Ron going the other way across the ridge. He is one half of the amazing dynamic duo (father-daughter team Ron/Catherine). I had emailed Catherine earlier in the week that I was hiking the Wildcats and Carters today.
"This isn't the Carters", said Ron.
"It was too nice a day," I said.
We chatted a few minutes before continuing on.
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Larisa on the 5260' summit of Lafayette.
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Another hiker took a group shot of the four of us on the summit.
That makes #10 for this year.
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"I'm always amazed by rime ice," I said. I then added, "But I wouldn't want to be out here when it was forming."
"It would be fun to watch," said Cath. She then added, "From inside a bubble."
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Cath took this picture of Larisa and I. To the left is Mount Garfield, our next objective.
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As we reached the junction with the Skookumchuck Trail (say that 5 times fast) we met MEB and company.
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We continued our descent while the MEBster and friends headed up.
"We'll put our snowshoes back on down there," said Cath.
"Way ahead of you," I joked still having mine on.
Leaving the Alpine Zone
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We had been on the Appalachian Trail since Little Haystack. It's easy just follow the white blazes. Ha!
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It was fun breaking trail through the deep snow. The key that made this so fun was that we were going down. It was fun while it lasted, but then we had to break trail uphill to Garfield. I was behind Cath who was breaking trail. She's a little machine and just kept going in going. I didn't think she would ever stop. She's quite light so even though she was breaking trail, I was breaking trail behind her.
"You're too light, Cath. I'm breaking trail too." I said.
"I've been accused of that before," she said.
As we neared the summit, Larisa took the lead.
As she reached the 4500' summit she layed across a large rock.
"She's tired. We've finally seen it," joked Cath.
It was true. This was the first time any of us had seen this young, energetic gal tired.
This was a new winter peak for me (#28). And #11 for this winter. It was Larisa's 24th for this winter. Woo-hoo! halfway.
Looking back to Franconia Ridge.
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Well, no one else had been up to Garfield today. That meant more trailbreaking as we headed down.
A few minutes into the descent, we saw a fox. Larisa took this picture.
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For more of Larisa's photos from the day click here. To read her trip report (with photos) click here.
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Halfway down the mountain we saw some tents from some hikers who were winter camping. This was good news. It meant the trail was broken out down to the trailhead. It was 7:00 p.m. when we finally reached our vehicles. I didn't hear a 'Woo-hoo' from Larisa.
"No woo-hoo, you MUST be tired," I said to Larisa
"WOO-HOO," said Larisa.
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