Summary

Join us on a 4 night/5-day spectacular backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch! Includes:

* Backpacking across the panoramic Franconia Ridge

* Climb ten 4,000 footers: Liberty, Lincoln, Lafayette, Garfield, Galehead, South Twin, West Bond, Bond, Bondcliff, and Zealand

* Sunsets on top of Mt. Liberty and West Bond

* Stops at Zealand & Thoreau Falls to cool off

* Thursday trek out is short and downhill so we will stop for a celebratory breakfast when we get back to our cars.  

The trip would start Sunday, June 18th and finish Thursday, June 22nd. Here is a breakdown of where we would stay each night and there is $15 per person fee each night only payable in cash:

Sunday: Liberty Springs Campsite 3,870’, Miles: 2.6 Elevation Gain: 2,450’.  After dinner sunset hike to Mt. Liberty that is 1.2 miles roundtrip with 600’ elevation gain.  

Monday: Garfield Ridge Campsite 3,900’, Shelter available.  Miles: 7.7 Elevation Gain: 3,250’

Tuesday: Guyot Campsite 4,580’, Shelter available. Miles: 5.5 Elevation Gain: 1,800’. Then 3.8 miles roundtrip to the summits of Mt. Bond and Bondcliff with 900’ elevation gain. After dinner sunset hike to West Bond that is 1 mile roundtrip with 350’ elevation gain.  

Wednesday: Ethan Pond Campsite 2,860’, Shelter available.  Miles: 9 Elevation Gain: 950’

Thursday: hike back to our cars with breakfast afterwards. Miles: 2.9 Elevation Gain: None

It is strongly advised you obtain a guidebook and map to become familiar with this route. There will be opportunities to refill our water bottles during the day except for our 2nd day when we hike across the Franconia Ridge.   

Equipment: Backpack, 3 season backpacking sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpacking tent, personal first aid kit, water bottles or bladder, backpacking stove with fuel, cookware and utensils, food 4 nights and five days, headlamp, layered clothing, rain gear, water/camp shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.,

We’ll carry a water filtration pump for everyone to use to purify our water. To reduce the weight of your pack, we highly recommend you contact another participant to share tent, stove, fuel, food, etc.  Bring a small pack for the excursion to the summits of Mt. Bond and Bondcliff from Guyot campsite.

Miles: Approximately 27.7 miles

Total Elevation Gain: 10,300 ft

Participants: Max 6

Level of difficulty: Strenuous

The pace of this hike will be moderate. The hike may be delayed by one or two days if there is an unfavorable weather forecast.

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house [with Wi Fi] near Waterville Valley, NH the night before the backpack as well as the day we finish. The cost is $25 for each night and everyone cooks their own dinner in our kitchen. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. 

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

We’ll first spot cars where we end up then carpool to Franconia Notch. The finishing trailhead is off US 302 directly opposite Webster Cliff Trail, 1 mile south of the Willey House Site. Drive up the Willey House Station Road to the parking area below the railroad tracks. We’ll be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.