Nobody else showed up for this trip and I was the first one in the parking lot. There was 8" of fresh powder down low and increasing to 12-14+ inches up high (with knee deep drifts). You are not going to believe this but I broke the trail all the way from the parking lot to the top of Mt. Lafayette! Mt. Lafayette in New Hampshire, is 5,260 feet high with 3,600 feet elevation gain.

When I pulled into the parking lot I was the only car there. The summit ridge was enveloped with dark gray clouds and the sky was overcast in the Notch. I looked at the trail to see if I needed snowshoes and to my amazement the trail had not been broken. This is a highly popular trail, even in winter, and I've always seen it broken.

With a bit of anxiety since I was the only person around I put on my snowshoes and began to climb. I was breaking about 8" inches of snow at the start and this increased to 12-14 inches as I climbed higher. When I reached the first overlook on the ridge I saw that the Bridle Path up ahead had some sunlight so my spirits lifted. However Mt. Lafayette was still socked in.

A couple of guys caught up with me and they broke trail for about a 1/4 mile...it was a nice break. (So yes, I did not break trail the entire way). I passed them when they stopped for a break and made my way to Greenleaf Hut. I was tired but felt I had enough of a reserve to go for the summit. The two guys caught up with me but they were not going any further. Mt. Lafayette was completely socked in but I felt no wind at Greenleaf Hut. It was 11:30am.

I began to climb and I encountered knee deep snow drifts in some spots. The wind started to pick up at about 10mph. I put on my neck gaiter and covered my face up to my nose. The wind was on my back so I knew I'd feel it on the way back. The temperature was around 25 degrees so the wind chill was not too much of a factor at this point. 

As I climbed further I hit the clouds and the world below me disappeared. I followed the ice and snow covered cairns. I entered a frozen, lifeless world. I felt so isolated. I eventually reached the summit where the winds were now between 30-40mph. I made it! I reached the summit at 12:30pm.

The way down was quick and easy. I did put my goggles on because the wind that was on my back on the ascent was now in my face. I started to run into people climbing up. I ran into two cute guys about .25 up from the Greenleaf Hut who decided to turn around because they had a holiday party to attend to back in Boston. They had Australian accents which always gives me goosebumps.

It was about this time it began to snow and I felt that I could not have timed this any better. Whiteout conditions may now be happening near the summit. I then ran into a group of about 7 who did not say much...they were running behind schedule. I ran into two more guys who had just left the hut and were making a summit bid.

The way down was a breeze but about one mile from the car I tripped over a hidden branch in the snow and pulled my obliques on the right side. I started to feel sharp pain and I had to slow my pace down quite a bit. Almost every step I took was painful. I was back at the car at 3:30pm.

I don't think I'll ever have the opportunity again to make first tracks up to the summit again. This will certainly be a memorable day for me. This was the mountain gods gift to me this holiday season. Fun, but rather tough day. WooHoo!

Because of my injury I was unable to lead the hike to Goodrich Rock the next day so Markus stood in for me. I am getting better.