Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Notes

What an incredible day we had! This was supposed to have been our hike last Friday but Mother Nature vetoed that plan so we pivoted and hoped she would allow us to redeem ourselves today and she did. Falling Waters was surprisingly dry this morning so we had no issues with the tricky spots that are slick when wet. Up higher the footing was excellent and we made it to Shining Rock in pretty good time for a couple of AARP hikers. The winds were non-existent and the views plentiful as we broke out above treeline and we were just in awe. It doesn't matter how many times I have done this hike, it blows me away (sometimes literally) every time. We chatted with folks snacking on Little Haystack, met a nice gentleman from Kentucky and hiked with a 22 year old from Pennsylvania on his very first hike in NH on his birthday. The footing was nice and dry heading down the Greenleaf Trail until we popped back into the woods where it got sloppy. The top portion of Old Bridle Path is also rather wet and muddy and the rocks were a bit slick. Down lower, things dried out more and it was faster going. We hiked back out with our friend from PA. May he have safe travels as he drives back home tonight. This was just a stellar day - I told 2 guys heading up Greenleaf trail that I don't think they have a word for days this incredible. We need to invent a new descriptor. LOL

Parking

There were definitely some cars in the parking lot when we arrived at 7:15am. When we finished at 1:15p there were more cars in the lot but there was still room. No fee to park and there are outhouses and porta potties available that are well stocked.

Water Crossings

All easy rock hops today.

Wildlife

Back in Hell as of today. No hornets.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Notes

What a great weather day for this hike. Lotsa sun and low winds although they had a little chill. A bit of a rehab/post pneumonia shakedown hike and I'm happy about how things went - lungs are clear. I went up Falling Hiker trail and down the OB. Trail conditions were great although a few avoidable muddy spots. Great views all around. It was great to chat with many hikers from all over. Also, work crews are installing wood steps on the slabs up high on Old Bridle. Winter hikers know where that is.

Parking

About 2/3 full at 7:45.

Water Crossings

Easily rock hopped.

Wildlife

Dead. Gone. Blown away.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Notes

I checked the weather both last night and this morning and thought I might score a weather window. Nope. Today was a reminder that Mother Nature always calls the shots and I am just along for the ride. The trail was pretty dry to start with the usual areas of running water and mud. Everything was totally socked in on the ridge and there was a light misty rain. Visibility was not an issue so I was very comfortable continuing. Even with the damp conditions, the rocks were grippy. I met quite a few friendly hikers and crossed paths with many headed to the hut. The clouds made for a really nice day. Sometimes gray moody days are the best days!

Parking

There was plenty of parking at 7:15am and when I finished the lot was still only about 2/3rds full.

Water Crossings

Easy rock hops today

Wildlife

Not an issue today at all.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Notes

After checking the weather last night I knew this was a day to get up high. FW is in nice shape. There are areas of wet trail and mud but all was very manageable. The wet rocks in the usual tricky spots around Cloudland Falls require care. The ridge was nice and dry with a mild breeze most of the way which helped with the bugs. The summits were in and out of the clouds which was just lovely. Greenleaf Trail was mostly dry and mud free. OBP had the usual muddy spots but the mud is drying and was mostly supportive. The rocks were dry which allowed for faster travel. With an early start, the trails were relatively quiet and the hikers I met were friendly and seemed to be enjoying the day. Many of us greeted each other with exclamations about what an awesome day it was. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else today. :)

Parking

There was lots of parking when I arrived at 6:30am. The lot was full upon my return before noon.

Water Crossings

Super easy rock hops today.

Wildlife

No issues until I got to the ridge then the black flies were annoying and biting. They rudely continued following me until I was past the hut on my descent.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Notes

Trail conditions are much like Heat Lightning reported yesterday. Old Bridle Path is muddier than Falling waters but you can kind of get around it. The trails above treeline are just perfect. It was a great day to be up high! The trails are getting busier for sure but everyone was friendly and seemed to be enjoying the day.

Parking

Plenty of room at 7:30am Bathrooms are open and there are porta potties also available.

Water Crossings

Easy rock hops even for wimpy short legged folks

Wildlife

Good grief. They have taken over. Not too bad down low but above treeline they are horrible. The breeze helped when it blew strong enough but when it died down, I felt like Pigpen from Charlie Brown with a cloud all around me and all over my face. I think my bug spray acted like a flavor enhancer.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Notes

did the loop counterclockwise. There may have been a handful of areas of snow smaller than a dish plate near the shining rock junction on falling waters otherwise it's all gone. trails are all in great shape for the crowds come this weekend, we appreciate the updates along the ridge and coming down the top of greenleaf to keep us on the trail. Even very little mud of note. Cold day but still got some nice sunburn...oops.

Parking

tons of space today

Water Crossings

we had one foot go in the drink going up falling waters otherwise it was all hops

Wildlife

surprisingly few today

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Lincoln Woods Trail, Osseo Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail, Twinway, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur

Trail Conditions

Notes

Awesome pemi this morning-started at 2:45 to minimize heat, bugs, and potential afternoon thunderstorms. Saw fewer than twenty hikers all day (no other trail runners), and had every summit minus Liberty to myself! Strong winds and big old clouds kept it comfortable until the eight mile run down from Bondcliff, which felt like I was running through hell it was so dang hot with minimal leaf coverage in the hardwoods. Leave the spikes at home! There was one stretch of stubborn unavoidable snow just before breaking treeline on Guyot. It only lasted five minutes. It was reported that the Zealand-Guyot stretch is still deep and nasty as of this morning. Top of Garfield and West Bond essentially all melted out. Get it before the LW closure!!!

Parking

Tons of space today

Water Crossings

Easy rock hops

Wildlife

Early start and elevated winds kept all the nasty buggers away. There were lots of regular old flies along the ridge in the woods but they were minding their own business!

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Old Bridal Path

Trail Conditions

Notes

Theree's still a bit of stable monorail on FWT just below and above shining rock. It was solid and covered in dirt which afforded good traction. No other snow or ice along the entire loop. This was a fantastic day for this hike. I have never started this loop so late but there weren't too many to be enjoyable.

Parking

Main lot full (couldn't get there until 10:00) but I got lucky at the campground parking as a party had just finished.

Wildlife

Still none all day, but there were a few buzzing but not biting at trailheads.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

OBP, Franconia Ridge, Liberty Springs

Trail Conditions

Notes

On the ridge between Falling Waters and Liberty Springs trail intersections there are sizeable patches of snow hanging on. There is about 1/2 mile stretch in the middle that had surprising amount of snow nearly non-stop, still up to 2+ feet deep and spanning the entire trail side-side. It was also surprisingly solid to walk on (the next few days may put a dent in this). My best description is 'pre-monorail', you could see where it would melt out fastest and where it would hang on down the center of the trail. Still didn't need traction on any of the snow patches (poles were enough) Doing the loop clockwise is the way to go. Getting the roadwalk (bike-trail walk) from Basin to OBP knocked out 1st and starting to hike from OBP trailhead set us up for success. We got to the summit of Lafayette before the crowds and by the time that rush-hour on the Franconia Ridge Superhighway picked up we were already passing Falling Waters intersection and continuing South.

Parking

Basin NB had maybe 5 cars when we started at 7:30 & was still not full when we finished the hike. Basin SB was the same. Lafayette parking lots were getting pretty full by 8am.

Water Crossings

Liberty Springs trail has 1x crossing that took a few minutes to figure out the best rock-hop

Wildlife

I inhaled my first bug of the season partway up OBP. I think the word got out about a bug-eater on the loose, so the rest stayed away nearly the entire hike. Descending on Liberty Springs they started to show up ~2500'. They weren't biting, just nuisance gnats. They really didn't seem to be doing anything much, they were like College Kids flitting around trying to figure out what to do with their life

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Old Bridge Path, Green leaf trail, Franconia ridge trail, Falling water trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Going up Old Bridge Path and Green leaf trail which are dry and getting muddy at the top with some small monorail but no ice at all. Small patches before you hit the peak of Mt Lafayette. Super windy on the ridge on the day I hiked. No snow or ice on the ridge at all. Going down Falling water trail and found black ice and monorail for about a mile. Traction device and poles are needed here. Keep your spike in your hand for about an hour since the ice is on and off.

Water Crossings

All could be rock hopped without much effort

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Installment #2 of the "how messed up is your knee really?" show. It seems it's not too messed but I will keep up with my testing. The trails are dry or mushy with water run off and some mud down low. There are some areas of intermittent ice and monorail here and there but you can get around it. I picked my way up to about .75 miles from Shining rock. Then it got too tedious for me so I put on spikes. I used them until I popped out above treeline on Little Haystack and then took them off. Above treeline it is mostly bare rock with the occasional area of stubborn snow hanging on. I did put spikes on for a short stretch down to the Greenleaf hut mostly because I was worried about my knee. I kept them on for about .75 down Old Bridle Path before taking them off again. The monorail is holding up nicely I didn't post hole at all. The ice is soft enough that I had good bite even with dull spikes. I only saw a handful of people today but all seemed to be having a great day. I realized I hadn't been on the Ridge since December so I was WAY overdue to hike the loop. What an excellent day!

Parking

Plenty of room to park. I didn't check to see if the restrooms were open.

Water Crossings

Even #Teamfunsized managed to rock hop all the water crossings without wet feet or going for a swim.

Wildlife

Oh they are out. Not biting but out. Little suckers are flying around like they own the place.

Also on this trip

Notes

Two hikers from Quebec became disoriented on Franconia Ridge Trail between Mount Liberty and Little Haystack Mountain in darkness and knee-deep snow while using the All Trails App for navigation. Conservation Officers convinced them to turn back and assisted them down 2.2 miles of steep icy trail, exiting safely at 2:22 a.m. without injuries.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Skookumchuck Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Falling Waters Trail, Bike Path

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Skook is much drier down low than Wednesday, patchy snow starting at 2700', dusting at 3200', minor monorail stretches, never thought of putting on spikes for the ascent. Minor snow & ice patches in shady pockets on the ridge and monorail in the high scrub between the summits. Spikes went on at treeline on falling waters, off at 3200' with the end of consistent monorail & ice tho many patches in places almost all the way down to the trailhead. Took a long lap thru the notch on the bike patch back to my car. Amazing how the difference in trail usage between Skook and the other ridge trails has on shoulder season conditions. Skook will likely be melted up to 4000' in a week whereas falling waters and the ridge scrub might still have significant snowpack until the end of May

Parking

Skook lot 1/2 full

Water Crossings

All easy rock hops

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Falling waters, Franconia Ridge, old Bridle Path

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

My dog and I started out about 9 AM up Falling waters. Because of freezing and thawing, do not trust what’s left of the monorail at low elevations and stick to the dirt. It is slick! I ate it hard about a quarter mile in. Water crossings are low and manageable for spring time but Rocks were very icy in the morning. I bare booted until about a half mile from the top of little haystack. Then spikes were pretty necessary with the icy monorail. The ridge had very little snow left, except for right before the summit of Lafayette. I didn’t put my spikes back on until below the Hut, but if I did it again, I would put them on at the beginning of the descent. The second half of the descent was mostly bare dirt and rock. My dog is an avid hiker and had no trouble at all.

Water Crossings

Sketchy glaze ice in the am at all water crossings on Falling Waters. Was able to stay dry with waterproof boots.

Wildlife

Not yet!