Hitting the Trails: 05/11/2014 Franconia Ridge

Sunday, 05/11/2014

Little Haystack / Lincoln / Lafayette

Haven't blogged some of my recent hikes, as I've stayed clear of the summits. I needed to get back on the ridge line! The weather was fantastic. Decided to head up Falling Waters since I continue to see lots of snow and I would rather go up the steeper trail with the ice and snow. After a full season of winter hiking, carrying overnight gear, and cold weather gear, I broke out the trusty out Osprey Talon 33 for this one. Wow, even with a full 3 liter hydration pack, I never even realized the backpack was on, I was breezing through, with much less weight and trail runners. I got a nice early start, and passed only one group of 2, who had stopped to put on micro spikes. I just kept using the narrow trail handholds and spotting the exposed rocks to keep heading up. There were a couple of steep, icy sections that did not last very long and the trail was very manageable. I hit the ridge line and had Little Haystack all to myself with no one in sight. The breeze picked up a bit, but very comfortable. After a leisurely stroll to Lincoln, with lots of pit stops soaking up the sun, I headed towards Lafayette. Another long sit at the summit just enjoying the views and the rays. I reluctantly started heading down Greenleaf and passed a bunch of folks heading up. Great day!