Mt Liberty

Route: Recreation Trail - Liberty Spring Trail - Franconia Ridge (in and out)
Distance: 8 mi
Duration: 5.5 hours including all breaks
Elevation Gain: 3250'

Back to reality after a spectacular day hiking Liberty with the girls on Sunday. We started at 8:35 from the Flume Visitor Center/Rec Trail.  Our timing was perfect all day in regards to the weather and passing fellow hikers, meeting just enough folks to enjoy some chit chat without making the girls too uncomfortable with the delays.  Every Carolina Dog-type I’ve ever hiked with is an impatient, trail-focused peakbagger!

The Rec Trail was almost entirely bare of snow and is a nice rolling warm-up.  Shortly after the second bridge was the beginning of the Liberty Spring Trail and Ty immediately found it.  She scampered off ahead while I did my best to keep a good pace for Sage.  I don’t know how I’m going to handle inclines once she gets adopted; we've become nicely in sync with her moderate, steady pulling powering us forward!  With her assistance, we reached the junction with the Flume Slide Trail in 20 minutes.

I enjoyed the relative ease of the trail with its easy-moderate grades and good footing.  Upon referring to my 4000 Footers book, the trail design made sense as it was an old logging road.  Inevitably, with the weather we’ve had and brilliant morning sun, there was a lot of mud and puddles along the trail.

The puddles turned to running water walking up the hill after the trail intersection before drying out a bit.  Approaching 2000'  we began to see the first signs of monorail.  They were quickly melting, truncated sections that were easy to walk around or over, being slippery but not icy.

The only water crossing more than a one-step came at 1.9 mi/2050'. It wasn’t too bad (Ty did it several times) but with a clumsy human with way too much gear for her pack’s dimensions and a leashed dog wary of running water, it took some time to get us across but we did it without any tantrums or splashing.  

Most crossings

The one that challenged Sage and I

Then up and over the first staircase, through some more open hardwoods with a nice leafy cover before the real work began.

Around 2500' (appx 2.25 mi) the tree cover becomes denser and the snow’s recession was dramatically less than below.  I’d already dumped my snowshoes a few hundred yards back (they’re really, really not needed) and had opted to bring my Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro’s for traction.  I knew the snow would be of the slushy, melting variety and with the extra pull of Sage being hooked to me, I preferred them over my Kahtoolah’s. 

The ladies scan the forest while I put on traction

And then the work began.  I wouldn’t call the trail “steep.”  It’s no scramble.  But it was a “one step in front of the other” kind of trudge for awhile.  I gave myself a pat on the back for remembering my trekking poles and again seriously questioned my ability to go upwards sans 1-dogpower. 

In the evergreens, the ultralight dusting from the night before was melting off the trees, giving the impression it was raining beneath bluebird skies. 

At appx 3000' (if I'm remembering my GPS's unmarked waypoints correctly!), the grade lessened.  Not considerably but enough of a reprieve to be thankful for and I started thinking we should be seeing signs for the tentsite soon.  And happily, we did, as I was getting a little tired of the trees raining on us.  The tentsite is reached after 3.4 miles of hiking at 3870'.

Another 10 minutes and we reached the ridge, where the trail signs showed just how much snow is still left.

Have I mentioned how much I love ridges?! Magical. It’s the only word I have.  The blue sky, the low trees with moss and rime hanging off them, it’s enchanting. 

Ty posing with her new buddies

Gazing across the Pemi Wilderness to Washington

Gazing down the notch between Cannon and Lafayette

Liberty has been on my mind for awhile, it felt so good to finally capture this photo!

It wasn’t long before we reached the ledge from which the standard Mt Liberty picture is taken from and I tried unsuccessfully to get the girls to pose.  Ty was especially upset about something; I believe she may have slipped into the krummohlz while hiking ahead with a faster pair.  In any case once I abandoned my picture-taking for forward motion, and she was fine. 

We traversed a very short, narrow, and slippery monorail for a minute then walked up the open ledge to the summit.  The smooth rock is free of snow but the sections in between are still snowy.

Looking down at the open ledge leading to the summit.
It's not as steep as it looks,

We were treated to minimal breezes, bright sunshine, and the company of only two other (very tolerant and cool) people at the summit.  The girls humored my skipping around taking pictures and trying to pose them, whined a bit while I snacked, then finally settled a wee bit once a couple groups arrived.  They really outdid themselves allowing me to sprawl out on a rock and enjoy the sunshine for a few minutes.  A couple of other dogs arrived and I was too lazy to leash Ty so I could close my eyes so I opted to pack up.  

Sweeping view of Franconia Ridge east over over to the mountains of southern Maine

Large, open summit

Flume

The ski slopes of Loon

Nothing much to report about the descent.  It was quick and fun and I finally just couldn’t go any faster so Ty had to slow down for me.  The lower section of Liberty Spring Trail was quite a bit drier than the morning but with the rain that's falling as I type, that's bound to change.

Jogging buddies

Liberty was a perfect progression in difficulty as we try to get back into bigger hikes and the conditions right now – perfecto!  Between the warm weather and clear, wet ground switching to stable monorail, many different clothing combinations will work.  I saw people without traction but microspikes or similar are strongly recommended.  Snowshoes – not needed! I spoke to a few folks who went over to Flume and they said they weren’t needed in the col either, just stay on the monorail.  

Then there are the views.  I didn’t know where to point my camera nor where to end a pano shot!  Nothing but 360* of breathtaking views.  As for the girls, they were in heaven.  Lots to sniff, engaging trail features, not too strenuous, and a good trip to have a dog on a leash without worrying about being dragged into a boulder or over a cliff.  The summit has some steep drops but the rocks on the south side create a natural barrier and there’s thick trees elsewhere.   Plus the girls have solid instincts.  Very solid, in fact, I couldn’t get Ty to go anywhere near the edge for a photo. It’s a nice open summit and since we were lucky enough to beat the crowd, it’s a really nice place for pups to wander within reason.  I surmise a lot of folks were over on Washington due to the nice weather and I’m fine with that, it was nice to see folks on the trail but it reminded me that summer and crowds are coming and I’ve definitely become the awkward chick on the trail!

Welcoming Spring on Imp Face

The original plan for today involved our foster pup Savannah on her first hike, another bipedal hiker, and the loop to Arethusa Falls (tallest waterfall in NH) and Frankenstein Cliffs to get some good mojo going for the new season.  Instead, Savannah went and found herself an incredible home!  Her family fell in love with her photo and wanted to meet her ASAP.  ULPR processed their application and the next morning, they drove over ten hours to come for her. 

The rest of the plan dissolved after that and I settled on Hedgehog due to forecasted snow.  I’m such a dork - I don’t sleep well the night before a hike and at 5:20 I was up and doing my final check of the weather.  They pushed the snow’s ETA back to the evening so I scrapped my Hedgehog plans for Imp Face in the Carter Range, excited for the up close-up views of the Presidential range, in the clouds or not.

Imp Face had darted across my radar before but I dismissed it once I read it described as steep with rough terrain.  Matching the hike to Tango’s lower energy level and stamina is crucial to him having a good time.  Today it is seemed like a great choice, covered in snow, still in the cooler weather (but mercifully warmer than it has been!), and perfect “winter” mileage for us. 

Signs of spring!

The Imp Trail is an almost-loop.  There is a very short (.2-.3 mile) road walk (plenty of shoulder space) between the northern and southern ends.  I think the best direction is clockwise, starting at the northern trailhead.  Imp Face is approximately 2.2 miles from that trailhead.  Then it is a gentle .9 miles to the North Carter Trail junction, where (for the loop) you turn back down the southern portion of the Imp Trail.  That way, if one chooses to shorten the hike, they get the payoff and then can simply turn around.  For me, the morale aspect is just as important.  I’d much rather hit the high point first.

The dogs were ecstatic to hit the trail.  It begins gently and we glimpsed running water for our first time this year.  Perhaps inspired by the impish outcropping for which the prominence earned its name, the trail is a funky one.  The grade varies frequently over its course.  After beginning gently and becoming more moderate, it kicks into steep mode, then gentle, steep, moderate…..  If I had better map-reading skills, I could provide more detail, but where the ascent truly begins, that all changes and it is mostly just steep with few reprieves.  Hiking poles would have been very helpful, had I the sense to bring them but I do not generally use them and it slipped my mind.  The dogs were generally far ahead of me and Tango required even fewer breaks than me, although he definitely tried to turn a few quick rub downs into full-on massage sessions!

Looking ahead to the destination

Ty beat me to the views

As I trudged upwards, knowing we were close, I looked up a straightaway to see gleaming sunlight and knew we were there.  I told the dogs to be careful (yes, we have conversations) and they proceeded ahead and were looking out at the expansive view when I arrived onto the small platform that is the Face.  Wow.  I must’ve said that word 20 times.  First off, the clouds weren’t as thick as anticipated (except around the cone, as usual!) and Mount Washington was stunning. I am always in awe of Presidentials, especially in the snow, when they are imposing in the most spectacular way.  I took a zillion pictures, none of which do them justice.  I tried to take our traditional “summit” photos but Ty felt like being a brat, looking miserable in all of them.  She has worked hard on managing her impatience when we stop but today was not a day of improvement.  Tango was much more cooperative so I snapped a few shots of him.  I waved goodbye and we disappeared back into the woods. 

Tango being an imp by mooning Mr. Washington

Ty on one of her uncooperative days.  Her trail manners, recall, and
practice with a new command were impeccable so I can't complain!

Up until that point, the trail was well broken out.  Continuing on from the Face, it was choppy in points but still broken out and a very gently grade to the North Carter Trail junction, where we had what is normally our “summit snack.”  The southern side of the trail is not in the greatest shape.  Some sections are mildly or severely postholed.

Quick tangent on snowshoes: Under the majority of circumstances where snow is beneath one’s feet, they are a must.  In fresh powder, they are needed for floatation.  Once the weather warms, the snow melts and, again, one sinks.  The deep footprints left behind (postholes), are nasty for other hikers to try to maneuver and even more challenging for dogs.  Please wear your snowshoes, or, if you’re unsure, ask for advice!

Remember your snowshoes or you'll get stink face from your fellow hikers!

They were full steam ahead, I was taking my time
staring at the sky - hence their dirty looks!

Thankfully, the dogs were in their usual “all business” mode, trotting downward and the sun was out so it was beautiful.  By the time we reached the car, clouds had taken over and I was stoked that our timing seemed to have been perfect.  The more cold weather hiking we do, the more I like it and the more bittersweet it feels to great spring.  Dogs had fun, I had fun, I’m tickled pink the weather gods were kind to us again, and apparently, we get to check another off of the 52 With a View list, so all in all, another great day in the Whites!