11/28/2013 Mount Lafayette

Thursday 11/28/2013 (Thanksgiving Day)

Mount Lafayette via Old Bridle Path

I wanted to build up an appetite for Turkey Day, and was hoping to bag Mount Washington, but the summit forecast just looked too brutal with 70-80 mph winds and low visibility, so I headed to the Franconia Notch Trailhead with plans to get up to Greenleaf Hut, assess the weather, then decide whether to go for Lafayette and possibly the ridge line over to Falling Waters for the hike down.  With all of the rain we got the previous day, I was expecting lots of ice on the trail.

I arrived at the trail head, where only one other running truck was in the parking lot.  Alas, not another hiker, but someone using the facilities.  Having the parking lot all to myself is a strange feeling and I was looking forward to having this very popular hike to myself.  A light snow shower was falling down and temperature was 25 degrees at the trail head.  I got situated with winter boots, gaiters, ice ax, crampons, micro spikes, etc and headed off.  At the bridge, I decided to take Old Bridle Path up instead of Falling Waters.  The snow kept falling for most of the hike up.  There was about 2-3 inches of fresh powder on the trail with no boot prints ahead of me.  At the lower elevations, there was plenty of signs of fresh game tracks scampering across the trail.  It was pretty cold on the way up, and I had gloves on from the start.

That covering of snow made the going pretty easy and the ice underneath really wasn't a factor.  There was no need to break out the micro spikes as I continued the gradual ascent.  At the first clearing before the trail switches directions, there was no view to speak of as the snow kept falling and visibility was low.  The falling snow just seems to enhance how quiet it can be up here.  I kept climbing, marking the way with my boot prints, for anyone who might be following behind.

I eventually reached another clearing that follows a ridge with views of Lafayette, Lincoln, etc. on the right.  No views today as everything was in the clouds.  I kept waiting to hear some evidence of the 70-80 mile hurricane force winds predicted today, but so far so good.  It was certainly getting colder, but with no wind, the change in temperature was barely noticeable.

There are some places on this trail where the trees hug the trail fairly tightly and it's always one of my favorite spots going through the snow covered branches that make a white corridor.  Eventually the sign indicating Greenleaf Hut is about a quarter mile away appears and the steeper ascent begins.  There is still plenty of ice, but lots of spots where I can avoid the ice and keep climbing.

I take out the camera to video the final approach to the hut and I see the usual signs of the hut being locked up tight and boarded up for the winter.  Something catches my eye at about the same time I hear a the faint sound of an alarm going off.  I then spot a wide open window on a corner of the building.  The huge piece of reinforced wood that had been bolted to the window had been ripped off and thrown on the group in two pieces.  There are no footprints or any other track near the window.  I yell inside but get no reply. I'm just tall enough to peek in and I think I'm looking in the kitchen area.  There are no signs of anyone inside as far as I can tell and there is no way for me to investigate further.  There is also no way to somehow cover the window, so I continue on.  (When I got back to my car, I called up the Pinkham Notch Center and a live person answered (wow),  I was transferred to trail maintenance and another live person answered.  I filled him in on what I observed and he was going to send up a crew to fix the damage.)

During this section, from the hut to above tree line, the trail was extremely icy.  I probably could have thrown on the micro spikes, but there were still footholds and snow that made the going manageable without extra traction.  It was about this junction, right before the shelter of the trees goes away for good, that I started to hear and feel the wind.  I stopped right before the exposure began and got myself situated for the bitter cold and wind to come. I threw on another layer under my shell, took my last drink of water for a while and threw on my balaclava.  I also had my Neoprene face mask ready to go in my shell pocket and a pair of goggles stuffed under my shell.

I left the protection of the trees and headed off into the boulders and rocks, which were covered in snow.  The wind started to really pick up coming from my left and it never let up.  Luckily the wind wasn't hurting visibility and I could usually pick out the next two cairns fairly easily during the ascent.  There are a few sharp turns on the trail along the way, which would have been harder to spot if visibility was half of what it was.  It's very easy to mistake a snow covered tree in the distance as a snow covered cairn, so any time the trail ahead didn't make sense, I stopped and evaluated.  I was glad there were no boot prints leading the way so I could work it out.  (not that the boot prints are always right either!).   There is one section near a very large boulder and the trail goes around the boulder before heading back up, even though you may be inclined to go up before the boulder.

After the trail turns sharply to the right, the wind really became ferocious.  I hunkered down behind a cairn for some cover and threw on the Neoprene face mask for some much needed extra protection, as I didn't want frostbite on my nose!  All of the fabric on my shell, gloves, etc became frozen solid.  I was still really comfortable and visibility was still good, so I made the final push to the summit.  Even though I couldn't see it, I knew I was getting close.  All of a sudden, I can see the trail signs at the summit straight ahead.  Mount Lafayette is close!  I quickly remove one glove shell and grab my camera.  Once it's on, I throw the glove shell back on and hit the summit.  What a great feeling!  Everything is socked in and there are no views to be had.  The wind really packs a punch up here, but not as strong as the winds on Mount Washington that have tried to knock me off my feet.

As I survey the ridge line and the path to Mount Lincoln, visibility is low and the wind shows no signs of letting up.  After assessing the situation, I reluctantly decide to bypass the trip to Falling Waters and head back down the way I had come.  The wind is so powerful, that only about half of my boot prints are visible on the way back to the hut.  When I'm back in the shelter of the trees headed back to the hut, the skies open up a bit with patches of blue sky.  I push back my rock solid frozen hood on my outer shell and take off my frozen Neoprene mask and balaclava.

I make my way down from the hut and start to get some better views of the Franconia Ridge as I continue down (although Lafayette remains in the clouds).   As I continue to follow my boot prints down, I see another hiker headed up.  I tell her she'll probably get better views than I did and I keep heading down.  With only about a half mile to go to the trail head, I encounter two more folks headed up.  It's fairly late in the day to start up, but they both have full packs, so I assume they are prepared.

Back at the parking lot, there are now 6 cars so some folks must have headed up Falling Waters.  I put on dry boots, a dry hat and a toasty Patagonia fleece, then start to head back south.  Thankfully the Dunkin off exit 23 is open (it's not great coffee, but beggars can't be choosers) and I grab a coffee for the ride home.

Looking back at the higher summits forecast, winds were steady at 70-80mph, although I think the winds I felt were about 50mph tops.  Wind chills brought temperature down to 30-40 below zero and it was for sure bitter cold up there.

Another great day in the White Mountains!   Thanksgiving dinner hasn't tasted this good in years!!

Trailhead- snowing

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path / Falling Waters Trail Junction

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Old Bridle Path

Greenleaf Hut - Window Busted Out

Greenleaf Trail / Old Bridle Path Junction

Greenleaf Hut - Window Busted Out

Greenleaf Hut - Window Busted Out

Greenleaf Hut - Window Busted Out

Greenleaf Hut - Window Busted Out

Greenleaf Hut - Window Busted Out

Greenleaf Hut - Window Busted Out

Greenleaf Hut

Greenleaf Hut

Greenleaf Hut

Greenleaf Trail

Greenleaf Trail

Greenleaf Hut - Looking Back

Greenleaf Hut - Looking Back

Greenleaf Trail

Greenleaf Trail - lots of exposed ice near summit

Greenleaf Trail - near summit

Greenleaf Trail - near summit

Greenleaf Trail - near summit

Mount Lafayette Summit - bitter cold and windy

Mount Lafayette Summit - bitter cold and windy

Mount Lafayette Summit - bitter cold and windy

Mount Lafayette Summit - bitter cold and windy (nice shot!)

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing

Headed back down - skies clearing (Panoramic Shot)

Turkey Time!!

Summit Conditions for Mount Washington

11/28/2013 - Mount Lafayette - Old Bridle Path Trailhead

11/28/2013 - Mount Lafayette - Start of Old Bridle Path 

11/28/2013 - Mount Lafayette - Old Bridle Path (3000 feet elevation)

11/28/2013 - Mount Lafayette - Old Bridle Path (3500 feet elevation)

11/28/2013 - Mount Lafayette - Old Bridle Path (Greenleaf Hut- window busted out)

11/28/2013 - Mount Lafayette Summit!!  (super windy + super cold = super fun!)

Google Earth Image

Google Earth kmz file of hike available here