Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Foggy Afternoon on OBP: 10/25/22

An afternoon jaunt up to the first outlook on the Old Bridle Path. The fog was thick in Franconia Notch, but there was sun north of the Notch and I had hopes for clearing along Franconia Ridge. Alas, it was not to be save for a few tantalizing glimpses.

Foggy in the hardwoods.

 



This fall a multi-year reconstruction project, supported by $1 million in Federal funding, has begun on the trails comprising the iconic Franconia Ridge loop. These impressive rock steps about 1.2 miles up the trail were recently constructed by the AMC Trail Crew and the OBP Trailworks crew in partnership with the White Mountain National Forest. (Nice that OBP is working on OBP!) With their flat surface, extra width, and lower height, these steps are carefully designed to keep hikers on the trail. Some existing rock steps that are high, uneven and awkward are often bypassed by hikers. Excellent work!



Severe erosion will present many challenges as the project proceeds.



Interesting rock formation along the ledgy section leading up to the first outlooks.



When I first arrived at the lower outllooks, the clouds briefly parted for views of the slides in Dry Brook Ravine. On the left are the "New York Slabs," so named by the late Guy Waterman, longtime Franconia Ridge Trail steward. On the right is the slide that was triggered by the 2017 Halloween storm, which I climbed this summer.




A closer look at the New York Slabs. This is the remnant of a late 19th century slide, which appears on a 1900 postcard. It bears massive ice flows in winter.




Fog on Agony Ridge.




A look into the south branch of Walker Ravine.



This is an old but still sizeable slide. Last winter I snowshoed up onto the lower part but would like to visit the steep upper section, hopefully next summer. These were the best views I was granted during an hour's stay at the ledge. An interesting outing, nonetheless.




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