The Franconia Ridge Loop consists of two 5 thousand footers, Mt Lincoln (5080′) and Mt Lafayette (5242′). Along with their summits, the spotlight of the loop is the above treeline Franconia Ridge Path connecting Lincoln and Lafayette, with magnificent views of Franconia Notch to the west and the Pemigewasset Wilderness to the east. Nevertheless, by December, this hike resembles a mountaineering expedition greater than an informal climbing loop. Snow, ice, excessive winds, poor visibility, and artic temperatures could make it very harmful for poorly-prepared people who lack winter climbing expertise.
Most individuals hike the loop in a counter-clockwise course, climbing first to a peak named Little Haystack Mountain which can also be on the ridge, earlier than heading north to Lincoln after which Lafayette. From there, you drop down the west face of Lafayette, go the AMC’s Greenleaf Hut, and descend on the Outdated Bridle Path down Agony Ridge. Total, it takes appreciable effort to climb to the ridge from the Notch trailhead, together with a number of stream crossings, and a achieve of 3000′ of elevation over the gap of three.2 miles. The full distance and elevation achieve of this loop is 8.9 miles w/3900′ of elevation achieve.
The Loop
- Falling Waters Path: 3.2 miles w/3050′ of elevation achieve
- Franconia Ridge Path: 1.7 miles w/850′ of elevation achieve
- Greenleaf Path: 1.1 miles
- Outdated Bridle Path: 2.9 miles
After I hiked this route on Dec fifth, I used to be accompanied by two common climbing friends who’re very skilled winter hikers. All of us carried a number of types of traction, together with crampons, ski masks, full face safety to stop frostbite, a number of glove layers, and a group of mid-layers and jackets that we might combine and match relying on the situations up prime. That, along with insulated water bottles, meals, emergency gear, navigation instruments, and satellite tv for pc messengers is the type of stuff you need to keep it up a hike like this. Whereas I’ve been up on the ridge in winter situations a half-dozen instances earlier than, it’s not a hike that I take without any consideration and one which I’d by no means need to do alone.
We didn’t actually know what the climate or path situations could be like up on the ridge as a result of so few individuals have been up it lately. The AMC Hut situated partway up Mt Lafayette is closed for the season and there have been only a few journey reviews posted on New England Path Situations which is the place winter hikers within the Whites share beta about path situations.
However, I’d been monitoring a possible climate window for a couple of days and it regarded like we’d have a 1-day climate window to climb Lincoln and Lafayette in affordable climate. That meant sunny skies, temperatures close to 20F with a 20mph breeze which is mostly a good forecast. Actually, I feel the winds have been most likely nearer to 30 mph based mostly on how a lot we have been getting pushed round up prime. However for the wind, the climate situations have been primo. We had nice views and blue skies.
We met at 8:00 AM on the Falling Waters Trailhead in Franconia Notch, which might allow us to hike all the loop in daylight. Our group consisted of myself, Tom who’ve I’ve executed 5 or 6 large hikes with throughout this previous 12 months, and Wanda who writes articles for SectionHiker and whom I’ve been climbing with since round 2017. They’re each top-notch by way of expertise, expertise, and common sense and it’s very easy to hike with them.
After a couple of water crossings, we began up the Falling Waters Path to Little Haystack Mountains, on the level the place we’d pop above treeline. This path climbs steadily till its reaches a facet path to Shining Rock, simply over 4000′. In heat climate, it’s good to comply with the facet path to this big cliff face and an amazing viewpoint.
We took a brief meals and water break and become our above treeline garb, positioning our face safety gear the place it’d be simply accessible if required. I swapped out my skinny fleece gloves for a lot fluffier ones and Gore-tex Mitten shells to cowl them with. I took off my wind shell and placed on my exhausting shell, which has an adjustable hood, wrist cuffs, and pit zips. I placed on my sun shades and checked to see that my North25 balaclava was simply accessible together with my ski masks. Then got here the ultimate ascent.
We climbed the following 500′ straight up on ice that obtained thicker underfoot the upper we climbed. Earlier than leaving treeline, we agreed to satisfy behind the large boulder on the prime of Litte Haystack which is an efficient windbreak the place you possibly can relaxation, change layers, or have meals and water. I used to be the primary to pop above treeline and into good sunshine. The wind appeared mellow and the views have been beautiful.
We regrouped round that boulder and obtained ourselves organized for the ridge stroll. The solar was shining brightly so my associates placed on sunscreen and heavy sun shades after which we set out alongside the ridge path, encountering heavy ice nearly instantly. Our Hillsound Path Crampons have been adequate however full crampons wouldn’t have been overkill: we simply didn’t need to cease and alter into them simply but. The issue with climbing this time of 12 months is that you simply encounter a mix of rock, snow, and ice so most individuals hike with what are referred to as their “rock spikes” that are already overwhelmed up and duller than what you’d put on later within the season. I compensated by stomping my ft tougher on the ice to get a greater chew. A bit of butt-sliding additionally helped.
As soon as we have been out within the open, the wind actually picked up. The forecast had referred to as for winds from the southwest, so we thought we’d have the wind at our backs on the ridge. However the wind was coming from due west as a substitute and hitting the left facet of my face. It was sturdy sufficient to blow us round on the ice and I used to be involved that my face would get frostbiten. My associates additionally needed to don face safety.
However first, we wanted to get a break from the wind. There are clumps of vegetation alongside the ridge path so we stopped after we obtained to 1 beneath Lincoln and placed on our face safety. Naturally, all of us had completely different gear for this. Wanda used an OuterU masks that lined her nostril and higher cheeks. Tom used a Serius neoprene balaclava and I used a wool North 25 balaclava, which is one of the best system I’ve discovered up to now that forestalls my glasses from fogging. After a fast buddy test to ensure we have been all correctly lined up, we set off to complete the climb up Lincoln.
From there, the ridge stroll went fairly easily, we topped the height, and hiked down the opposite facet earlier than climbing as much as the summit of Lafayette. The wind didn’t let up besides after we hiked behind rock outcroppings or vegetation.
I had Tom snap a couple of footage of me on the Lafayette signal since this was my five hundredth summit on the Grid, which is a serious milestone that individuals climbing the Grid wish to rejoice. It’s referred to as the five hundred Membership. However, there’s loads of climbing left in these last 76 peaks to complete the record.
The wind was nonetheless blowing so we determined to hike down Lafayette and take a break on the AMC’s Greenleaf Hut as a substitute of making an attempt to eat lunch on the prime. The hut is closed for the season, but it surely makes a fairly good windbreak.
It may be tough to comply with the Greenleaf Path down from Lafayette as a result of the cairns marking the highest of the path are complicated. In the event you’ve been following the information currently, somebody died as a result of they missed this flip or the one beneath it, which can also be exhausting to see, and hiked down right into a ravine the place they froze to demise. They have been climbing solo on a foul climate day and so they weren’t terribly nicely outfitted, however even very skilled hikers have issues following this part of path. I believed I’d misplaced it on the best way down (I used to be main), however we discovered it once more buried underneath wind slab additional down.
The remainder of this hike glided by fairly rapidly. We made good time to the hut, had our snack, and headed down the Outdated Bridle Path. It had fairly heavy ice as a result of it’s normally a reasonably moist path, but it surely simply required due care to descend.
As you possibly can think about, this hike was an enormous milestone for me and I’m glad I used to be in a position to share it with my climbing associates. Onward and by all means.
Beneficial Guidebooks and Maps:
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We independently analysis, take a look at, and charge one of the best merchandise. We solely earn cash if you buy a product by way of our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear critiques, newbie FAQs, and free climbing guides.
