Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Franconia Ridge for fun

 It is not often that you get to show friends from far away the frequently walked paths up in the White Mountains.

Friends from university and beyond came to America to visit and we planned a trip up to Franconia Ridge.

Liz and Dave had taken us on a few amazing walks in Cape Town and in the Cederberg when in 2012 when we visited South Africa so it was great to do a 4000 footer with them.

We started up the Falling Waters trail which has some beautiful waterfals and rapids

Which we couldn't resist stopping at for a few minutes each to take in the water and cool air.


And of course the obligatory people in front of waterfall shot of Liz and Dave
And a panorama of two streams meeting.

 


before topping out on the ridge itself for a group shot courtesy of a passer by.


The view looking back across the ridge is always spectacular and the weather was perfect for the day.  Very little wind and cool enough to enjoy the effort!


 

On the way down we took an obligatory stop in the AMC hut coming off Mt Lafayette we saw one of the porters carrying provisions in this impossible looking contraption.



And then in what is one of the most satisfying things about this loop being able to survey the ridge that we had just climbed on the way down from the hut.

 

With one final stop to look at a stream on the Bridle Path