Mount Lafayette

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

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Postholes

“I chose to go up Falling Waters which definitely was the trail less traveled. Most seem to have gone up OBP- apparently I didn’t get the memo! Only one set of old tracks I could see on Falling Waters and they appeared to be bare boot. Not too many post holes down low but about 0.5 mi below Shining Rock they started and were quite deep. Falling Waters in general from start to finish was hard-packed with anywhere from 1-3” of unconsolidated powder on top. Once I reached the ridge there was a fair amount of bare rock on Haystack, more so on Lincoln, and less so on Lafayette. Definitely could have switched to spikes but once my snowshoes are on they generally stay on. Once I hit Greenleaf it was back to deeper unconsolidated snow- maybe 3-4” especially once I got to the trees. OBP was more hard-packed and one could definitely wear spikes. I chose snowshoes from door to door because I hate switching and because if you step off trail you’ll sink to China!”

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

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Postholes

“Beautiful conditions on the ridge today. Nearly 40 degrees down low with wind and single digit temps up high. Blue skies and just enough clouds to make the sky pop. Now what you care about... Short version: Snowshoes door to door, but spikes will work above tree line. Old Bridle Path - Firm base but 2"-3" of chop up top. Skiers have helped to pack sections of it down, but snowshoes were the obvious choice for me today. Saw a few people without snowshoes and they didn't seem to enjoy sinking 2-3" with each step. Nor were they talkative when I said Hi. Probably a lesson about wearing snowshoes in there somewhere. Greenleaf - Snowshoes needed through the tree tunnel from the hut to treeline. Otherwise you're going knee deep a lot. Some post holes, but most seem to have been cleaned up over the last few days. Spikes or snowshoes from the treeline to the ridge - your pick. The ridge - Snowshoes or spikes will work. Falling Water - Alternates between choppy mess and post holes to hard pack from butt sledders. Snowshoes are a no brainer if you want to enjoy your day.”

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

Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes

“I had the ridge to myself. Snowshoes were the way to go. sections of Falling Waters could have been done in spikes but much easier just to keep the snowshoes on all the way up. Some deeper drifting above Cloudland Falls through to Little Haystack. The ridge was its usual bony self with some deeper drifts making snowshoes the appropriate choice. On Greenleaf Trail heading down to the hut it continued to be very bony until entering the trees where there was substantial drifting through to the hut. The drifting continued on upper half of OBP. Three bare booters made it up OBP just beyond the hut where they got tangled in some spruce traps where they turned around heading back down OBP. They continued to punch through on the fringes of the trail on the way down. I was able to clean up their mess a bit but more snowshoe travel is needed to get the trail into good condition.”