tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post5285342339020251361..comments2024-03-18T10:33:45.820-04:00Comments on Mountain Wandering: Steve Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403760631302934834noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-78431122698654687782013-08-16T22:49:53.707-04:002013-08-16T22:49:53.707-04:00Dell,
The trails I used to climb Mt. Lafayette we...Dell,<br /><br />The trails I used to climb Mt. Lafayette were the Skookumchuck Trail (trailhead on Route 3) and Garfield Ridge Trail. It's 10.2 miles round trip to do Lafayette this way and has much less traffic than the Old Bridle Path/Greenleaf Trail route. This would be more like a 7 to 8 hour trip. Mine took 12 hours because I lingered a long time on the summits. Be sure to save it for a nice day! <br /><br />SteveSteve Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403760631302934834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-68214311720025416682013-08-16T10:58:15.520-04:002013-08-16T10:58:15.520-04:00My family and I are coming to New Hampshire for th...My family and I are coming to New Hampshire for the first time next week, and I'm looking for some of the less traveled/popular (read: not so many tourists like myself) hikes. this one above looks awesome - how long is the actual hike? you mentioned 12 hours start to finish, not quite what we're up to...<br />What is the name of this particular trail, so I can look for a map/trail head location?<br />thanks!dellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-34549685372444969882013-08-11T22:13:37.919-04:002013-08-11T22:13:37.919-04:00Thank you - it's a great place!
SteveThank you - it's a great place!<br /><br />SteveSteve Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403760631302934834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-80943331325513452332013-08-10T21:17:31.498-04:002013-08-10T21:17:31.498-04:00Awesome pics Mr.Smith. I feel like coming there ri...Awesome pics Mr.Smith. I feel like coming there right now. The place is really mind-blowing.adventurernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-73667492259467873952013-08-09T20:38:08.219-04:002013-08-09T20:38:08.219-04:00Thanks, John and thank you for reading.
SteveThanks, John and thank you for reading.<br /><br />SteveSteve Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403760631302934834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-13705679180032039982013-08-09T08:06:58.257-04:002013-08-09T08:06:58.257-04:00Nice job! Great hike!Nice job! Great hike!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07207596601831592867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-34139588173936922512013-08-06T09:01:12.922-04:002013-08-06T09:01:12.922-04:00Thanks, Amy! I've thought about following the ...Thanks, Amy! I've thought about following the brook up from the bike path like you guys do. And thank you for the awesome blackberries - I ate half a pint at one sitting!<br /><br />SteveSteve Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403760631302934834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-1160861489413762342013-08-05T19:24:33.570-04:002013-08-05T19:24:33.570-04:00Nice outing and a fun read, thank you. Skookumchuc...Nice outing and a fun read, thank you. Skookumchuck is favorite trail for hiking and cross country skiing. We often bushwhack from the bike path following the brook up instead of from the new trailhead. Your photos are wonderful and count me as one of the jealous people.<br />Amy P.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-26614277493141699542013-08-03T15:15:50.589-04:002013-08-03T15:15:50.589-04:00Thanks, John! Frank O. Carpenter opened the trail ...Thanks, John! Frank O. Carpenter opened the trail up the west ridge of Lincoln. He described it briefly in his 1898 guidebook to Franconia Notch and the Pemi Valley (viewable at Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=v3Ky0-iBatoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=frank+carpenter+franconia&hl=en&sa=X&ei=U0L9UZjwOu2l4APH9IGgDQ&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=frank%20carpenter%20franconia&f=false). Of the trail, he said, "The new path cut in 1897 makes this splendid peak accessible to climbers with strong muscles and cool heads." I went on a whack up this spectacular ridge in 1989 with a group led by Guy Waterman. There were a couple of tricky scrambles near the top. <br /><br />For Owl's Head, folks used to go down the Lincoln Slide, up Owl's Head, then back up and over Franconia Ridge via Lincoln Slide again. This was before there were trails up Lincoln Brook and Franconia Brook. I don't think OH was too popular in those days!<br /><br />Steve Steve Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403760631302934834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-34446581835430884632013-08-03T12:40:41.705-04:002013-08-03T12:40:41.705-04:00Hi Steve,
Totally agree with you about the Skooku...Hi Steve,<br /><br />Totally agree with you about the Skookumchuck Trail being the nicest and quietest approach to the upper Franconia Range.<br /><br />As always, I learned new things from your report. For example, I was unaware of the short-lived trail up Carpenter's Ridge that was opened in the late 1800s. And, I never knew that the Lincoln Slide was once the recommended route for approaching Owl's Head. Is it correct to assume that hikers used the Lincoln Slide for both the outbound and inbound leg of the trek??<br /><br />Also, thanks for captioning the photo of the foundation for the old Lafayette summit house. I recall someone telling me that it was the ruins of a horse corral. It's difficult for me to image that horses could negotiate that rocky terrain! <br /><br />Excellent report! You certainly got a abundance of classic vistas from along the Franconia Ridge.<br /><br />John<br />1HappyHikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02242409292439585691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-55243188494989702772013-08-03T10:20:25.710-04:002013-08-03T10:20:25.710-04:00Thanks, Joe!I hadn't been up Skook for a few y...Thanks, Joe!I hadn't been up Skook for a few years and had sort of forgotten how nice of a trail it was. I assume you went a mile up it to head for Big Bickford. Great open woods in there. It looks like there might even be some views on Big B. now from a blowdown area.<br /><br />I couldn't have asked for a better summer day up on the ridge.<br /><br />SteveSteve Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403760631302934834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814464431995035927.post-57259529817034252922013-08-03T08:30:30.841-04:002013-08-03T08:30:30.841-04:00Very jealous of this one Steve. One, I've only...Very jealous of this one Steve. One, I've only hiked the Skookumchuck for a mile or so and have been wanting to do the whole trail for years. That section at 4200' is gorgeous. And, I haven't been on the ridge without snow in few years. <br /><br />You sure picked the perfect hike for such a day. Stunning photos.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing,<br />JoeJustJoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07657236449099527872noreply@blogger.com