Mount Liberty

Trail: Bike Path, herd path, Liberty Springs Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Spring Snow

“Liberty springs is in decent condition and the ridge is rather rough and very much so a tunnel from Liberty to the col between it & Flume. Snowshoes went on at the start of the herd path and stayed on until back at my car. Depending on how much snow we get the next couple days, could def be crawling in places on the ridge. Completely unbroken from the junction over towards Little Haystack”

Trail: Bike path, Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail

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

“Started this day a bit earlier than the group. The hike was originally going to be galehead, which is one of the nine left I need to complete my winter 48. Overnight 6 inches of fresh snow of sand-like quality was dumped. I hiked 2 miles in from the Basin parking lot off i93. This brought my vertical gain and total miles to numbers i want to maintain for conditioning. Overall the day was not as cold and dry as it has been, but the air was wet and humid. It felt colder. There was much traffic on liberty springs trail. Summit socked in, not much to note other than good company. Liberty is always a decent choice for quick vertical gain in the winter. It is very easy to drive to...”

Trail: Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Liberty Spring Trail, bike path

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

“Banner day on Franconia Ridge. Almost no wind, warm temps, endless views. Climbed over the big ice pile in the lot (go up the right side) in order to access the tunnel under 93. Spikes from car to Little Haystack (you'll definitely want some form of traction past the hut). Snowshoes went on at Little Haystack to junction with Liberty Springs. Whoever broke this section out is a navigational wizard...lots of twists and turns. A couple of trail runners barebooted this section earlier in the week, and they left a few deep deep postholes and what I would call a few spruce crevasses...none of which impeded my progress but I do wish there was a video. You would need a light to see the bottom. You will 100% want snowshoes for this section if you go tomorrow, and 200% will want them after any snow we get. Switched back to microspikes for the rest of the hike...the Basin parking lot up to Liberty is well packed...not icy but probably want traction for the steep sections. Liberty out to Flume is noticeably less traveled, but still fine for just micros. Lots of low hanging spruce...picked up a few more scratches on my face. Bare booted most of the snowmobile track from the Basin to Lafayette Place...only 2 snowmobiles the whole time...stepped off the groomed trail as they approached...don't do that...it is chest deep!”