Hut to Hut in the White Mountains

It's Still Winter, yet I am already gearing up for Spring. Got to enjoy some muddy hiking come March 21st! I just went to go buy a new map called Hut to Hut on the Appalachian Trail. It shows Lonesome Lake, Greenleaf, Galehead, Zealand Falls, Highland Center, Mizpah Spring, Lake of the Clouds, Madison Spring, Pinkham Notch and Carter Notch. Out of all these Huts I have been to seven of these Huts. I hope to visit the others this summer so I can have all of them to my list. I have never stayed at any of the huts, though I hope to also change that this summer as well. Here are a few Huts that I have visited:

The Greenleaf Hut in Franconia Notch

Lonesome Lake Hut in Franconia Notch

Madison Spring in the Presidential Range

Lake of the Clouds Hut near Mt. Washington

Have you been to any of the Huts on the Appalachian Trail?

Which one is your favorite to visit or stay at? 

Happy Hiking!

I'm Dreaming of a Winter Hike in Franconia Notch

I have done this hike in the Fall but never thought about doing it in the winter until now. I would love to do the OLD BRIDLE PATH to Greenleaf AMC Hut. At the same time see Eagle Lakes. The trail is 2.9 miles, but it's not a hard trail and there are MANY beautiful views along the way. Seeing these beautiful views this fall has been making me wonder what those views look like in the winter months. I think it would be awesome to use snowshoes when going up this trail, but last time I went hiking there wasn't enough snow to use them. This winter has been lacking snow in the White Mountains. Though winter hiking in just with boots has been easy due to little snow. Has anyone done this trail in the winter months?

Franconia Ridge: Mt. Lafayette Part 2

Mt. Lafayette Part 2

So, I ended with reaching Greenleaf Hut. 

It was a very nice hut, there were other hikers around and inside the hut. 

Most of the hikers showed up as we were leaving so I am sure it was 

even more crowded inside and around.

Here is a pictures of the Greenleaf Hut:

Remember that if you want to stay at the hut

you need to make reservations ahead of time!

 Here is the Hut before it got to crowded (morning)

Inside the Hut when we arrived there for a snack break and relax.

After we were down eating our snacks and resting, 

we got up and headed out. We started on the Greenleaf Trail.

This trail takes you to Mt. Lafayette. It is 1.1 miles. 

The trail is rocky, no trees and views all the way up!

It is very windy once above treeline so you need 

a jacket/windbreaker to keep warm.

Here are a few pics of the trail up:

This was taken about half way up the trail...

...and as we were going up, many hikers were coming down. 

It was close to 1:30 when we reached the top of Mt. Lafayette.

When we reached the top, there is a trail sign.

There were still many hikers out, talked with a few.

I enjoy meeting new people along my travels.

I love the markers. I always have to take pictures of them.

This one is on top of Mt. Lafayette.

We then eat again, and sat where it wasn't windy.

It was great just looking at the views of the mountains

around us. I always have a hard time leaving when I

get on top of mountain. But I was excited to hike the Ridge.

So, then we headed out again along the Franconia Ridge, 

here is a picture of me with Mt. Lafayette behind me!

Happy Hiking:)

Next part will be the Franconia Ridge and Mt. Lincoln

The Franconia Ridge -BucketList- crossed off Part1

The Franconia Ridge

I have always wanted to hike the Ridge for years. I think my first hike up one of the mountains (Little Haystack) back in 2004 and saw the ridge. From then on, I wanted to hike across this beautiful ridge, but I didn't want to go alone. This year I made friends with someone who wanted to hike this Ridge as well, and we had planned for a month now that we were going to hike this ridge before winter set in. On Oct. 10th, we we set to this adventure in the white mountains. I was so excited that I missed Lafayette Place parking, I had to go all the way around to try again, this time not missing the turn. 

We headed up a path that lead to this sign:

This sign is at the head of the Trail we started up .2miles which then splits by a small bridge. We went up the Old Bridle Path to get to GreenLeaf Hut. GreenLeaf Hut was 2.7 miles after the split near a small bridge.

Heading up the Old Bridge Path was easy at the start for about a mile or so, then after you make the corner near the Walker Cascades it starts to become a steeper hike. Though I would say that I found this trail to be a nice trail to hike up, very open and not rocky. After another .7 miles is when we could start seeing views. There were many stops along the way to the Hut where we found ourselves stopping and taking pictures. Here are a few of those pictures:

 Our first view on the Trail...I loved seeing the clouds roll over the mountains

 I had to take a picture of the Ridge we were going up,
the green arrow is the way

we are going to get to the Hut

 The view of Cannon Mountain (Cliff) from the Trail

I love this picture. This group was always near us along our adventure.

We called them the sixteen candles,
for the group had sixteen people and theblasted through the trails.
What a great view to stop and take a break at though:)

After trailing the Old Bridle Path for more then two hours, we came upon the GreenLeaf Hut. It was near a lake called Eagle Lake. This is the hut as we came upon it:

Happy Hiking

Next Blog: The GreenLeaf Hut, Greenleaf Trail and Mt. Lafayette