Team ChacoPak

Monday, May 13, 2013

Franconia Traverse via Falling Waters and Old Bridle Path

Got to the trailhead at 8am and was on trail by 8:15. Falling Waters Trail is a really beautiful trail in the first mile. The climb up the falls was fun. The rest fo the climb was great. Before the Alpine Zone there is a strecth of about half a mile of frozen icy monorail and post holes. It got tricky in spots but I was glad I had microspikes. I used them for about half an hour before the ice disappeared. The ridge was perfect. There were hikers on top of Lafayette when I was at the bottom so I got cool shot of someone standing on the summit. Grayson did very well. He is solid muscle and can hike anything. We stopped for a snack before heading above treeline. I was nervous about high winds, but the ridge had some gusts of maybe 30 mph. Nothing to be alarmed over. The traverse went quickly because it was pretty cold. We kept moving and settled in behine the rocks in the rocks walls between Lincoln and Lafayette. Grayson is really starting to hit a stride with how easily he can naviagate tough little rock scrambles. He is really quick. The Mushers Wax works great on his paws, although he is a little red, but nothing that seems to bother him. We hung out and had lunch in the foundation on Mt Lafayette. Grayson Summited number's 4,5,6 on his 4000 Footer list. I have been giving huge food rewards on summits and he loves earning his peanut butter Wet Noses Cookies. So here are the pictures from a really amazing hike. This was me and Grayson's first solo-hike together. I could definitely tell a difference in his demeanor when Wak is not with us. He still seems very happy, but he misses momma.

Walker Brook Falls

Little Haystacks

Franconia Ridge

Monday morning

Grayson on Mt Lincoln

Grayson and Chaco on Mt Lincoln with Mt Lafayette behind us

COOKIE!!!!!!

Grayson Mt Lafayette

Grayson and Daddy

You can see the Old Bridle Path going down off the mountain

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Southern Presidentials- Pierce, Eisenhower, Franklin

Set out from Crawford Path parking lot on Saturday afternoon, late. The first half to 3/4 mile is wet and rocky. The Fallsa re beautiful and flowing nicely. The ice and snow start on the climb up towards Mitzpah Cutoff and its a monorail of quickly loosening packed snow about 2 feet deep in spots. After Mitzpah Cutoff is just a matter of slogging up to Mitzpah Hut. We arrived to find the Hut open. Nauman tentsite had platforms with 2-3 feet of snow and ice. We got shovels and had to dig out a spot for the tent. There was some pretty thick ice. So we cooked dinner and had some time to just hang out but it got chilly so we got Grayson ready for his first night in the tent. We prepared for barking and restlessness. As soon as he crawled in, he went right to sleep and slept through the night. He loved sleeping next to us! I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and the stars were incredible. What a gorgeous night.
We woke up about 5:30 am and had a great breakfast. We had to fuel up for being above treeline. Grayson ate really well too. The climb out of Mitzpah was a sluggish snowy mess. Once we came out above treeline the temps rose. We kept taking off and puting on microspikes as there was still deep snow in between the summits. The views were amazing so Ill just let the pics speak for the rest of the blog. We did see folsk without traction turning around at about 3000 feet. Traction will probably be necessary for the next month for above 3000 feet, especially on the Presidential's.