Date: 2018-07-21
From: Franconia Notch

To: Garfield Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh what a glorious day. The hike took me over Fraconia Ridge and four mountains standing over 4,000¢ high. With an average grade for the hike of over 15 percent there were some very steep and sometimes extremely steep ascents and descents. However, it was all worth it. The 2,800¢ climb to Franconia Ridge Ridge Trail was spread over less than three miles. There is a campsite and a spring just before the trail intersection. I had already sucked my water dry and stopped here to refill my hydration. bag. The stream provided only a trickle of water with a flow rate of about .3 liters per minute. Just before reaching the campsite I caught up with Don¢t Care (DC), who I met at the Hikers Welcome Hostel. DC is hiking with Willow, who was waiting for him at the Franconia Trail intersection. I ended up leapfrogging with them the rest of the day.The trail dropped down a bit before climbing to Little Haystack Mountain. The climbing was a little more technical here. The excitement was bulging though. I pulled myself up and over one boulder that offered a view back to the south and west. There was a fabulous view of Liberty Mountain here. I continued hiking up the open ridge. It was less than a 1/4 mile to Little Haystack. Dozens of day hikers were converging on the spot, most of them coming up a side trail from a parking area far below. At the top everything opened up and I could see for miles in every direction. To the west stood the Kinsman Peaks and Moosilaule. Behind them were other mountains I had crossed stretching all the way back to Vermont. To the north stood Mount Lincoln and a clear view of the trail that led to it. To the east stood Mount Washington. All around were layers upon layers of distant peaks and ranges. The trail headed due north now and I joined in a stream of hikers with their sights set on Mount Lincoln, rising above 5,000 feet. The austere ridge stayed above tree line and the trail weaved around and over large boulders and rock formations. The climb up Lincoln was significant, but easily done in the pure excitement of the moment. I made it to the top a little past noon. More jaw dropping views. Mount Lafayette was now in view. It stood a couple hundred feet higher than Lincoln. I paused for lunch in behind a boulder where I was shaded from the sun. It was another mile to Mount Lafayette. The ridge once again dipped down into a saddle before climbing to the top. More of the same from the summit¢fabulously wonderful, magnificently awe inspiring, glorious views. The trail would turn north from here with Mount Garfield being the next peak. It stood with prominence and I could tell that getting to, over and down it would be hard hiking. It was! The trail descended steeply off of Lafayette, dropping back below tree line. It crossed over a smaller ridge before starting the extremely steep 800¢ climb to the open summit. I climbed off trail to the summit and took in more views. Then came the steep descent off of Garfield. I was hoping to make it to Galehead Hut today, but hit the Garfield Tenting Area about half way down the mountain. It was 4:30PM and I had already told myself that I would start looking for shelter after 4PM. Plus, there was no guarantee I would be able to get in on work for stay at the hut, which was still a couple of miles away. I retrieved water from a steam before hiking a quarter mile up to the shelter. I stopped by the caretakers tent to checkin and pay the $10 fee. A nice new shelter had just been built. I decided to stay there with the threat of rain and high winds tonight.Oh, what a glorious day!Peace & Blessings - NSElevation Data:Ascent - 5,310Descent - 2,820Grade - 15.2Weather:Day - 70 / SunnyNight - 52 / Chance of RainOver The Horizon: Mount Washington