Arriving at the notch I was not surprised to find snow falling and gusty winds sweeping across the parking lot. Franconia makes its own weather I swear. Forecasts had changed overnight to higher winds trailing off by afternoon on the higher summits. Bob and Tim were there at 8am. I expected Bill and Stanley the wonder dog but the higher summits forecasts made Bill think twice about bringing a dog along. Tom and Atticus stopped in just as we started up, saying the predicted high winds were changing their plans to Waumbek.
To be honest, we thought about a plan-b hike also. But we cinched up our packs and headed up the packed Old Bridal Path. At the junction, we veered right over the bridge and started up the also packed Falling Waters. There was about 3 inches of new stuff over a hard icy pack. Snowshoes were perfect though someone ahead had success barebooting. A foot placed to either side though would plunge down a foot and a half.
We popped out at tree-line after a slow progress up past Shining Rock. Winds, which were heard roaring just an hour ago seemed to be dying down. Tim led the way and at any time could've easily left us behind. We were passed by a small group and a solo hiker barebooting. Icy winds hit us as we emerged into the world of white and pale grey. Suiting up, we stepped out into a steady breeze.
I guess we expected to be blown over once we reached Little Haystack but the winds felt even lighter here. Visibility was poor but the sun did try and break through now and again. Here the snowshoeing became a pain so we tied them to our packs. Tim would continue with his neat microspikes while, Steve, Tom and I would attempt to bareboot. There were plenty of exposed rocks with isolated patches of ice and snow. Soon we headed out across Franconia ridge to where we imagined Lincoln to be. It wasn't a complete white- out but pretty close at times.
Up and over the bump and we still couldn't spot the top of Lincoln. I'll be honest I was getting a little tired as we trudged up the cone of Lincoln. With Tim leading the way, then me and Bob with Steve, we reached Mount Lincoln at 5,089 feet. My 43rd winter peak was beneath my feet. It would be Tim and Bob's first winter 48 peak and a repeat for Steve.
Now the decision, do we continue to Lafayette or head back the way we came? It was 1:15 and although Lafayette was only a mile away we decided to turn back. When we left the summit the clouds were bouncing over the top. There was no wind at all amazingly and it felt quite warm. By 1:30 we were heading over to Little Haystack. The clouds began to descend and looking back now, we could see further. I don't think we expected to get any views at all but boy would the mountains give us a treat on this day!
All of the sudden we got blue skies overhead and the warm sun broke through. The lighting was incredible, all fuzzy and it lit the little hollows and micro-drifts in the snow. Diapensia all black and shrivelled showed nothing of the promise of new blossoms in June.
We enjoyed a leisurely stroll back to Haystack as the curtain of cloud continued to drop to the valley. Looking down into the notch, it was as if the grey cotton candy swooped down and then up and over Kinsman ridge to completely overwhelm it.
Mount Liberty to the south emerged from the murk surrounded by cloud. The lower Mt Flume still hid it's broad head.
Mount Washington stood clear and proud off to the Northeast while the ridge to the north was still under the clouds. We were above the clouds here while other higher peaks were still hidden. Bondcliff emerged but the higher Bond was still hidden. What looked like a dorsal fin of a dolphin cloud raced over the southern pressies (or was that a running cat?) It was easy to imagine different shapes here above the clouds.
Mount Washington looking like a volcano below
With the afternoon waning, we decided to head down. We wore headlamps for the final half mile or so after some fun glissades down.
