Trip report
GetWinter Hike #1: Cloudland Falls
Hiking/Walk DATE: 01/01/2011 - 01/01/2011
Trip/Event Location: Lincoln, NH
US
Trip Leader(s): Gandalf
Max # People: 15
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Easy
Join our GetWinter hikes designed to get you into winter hiking. This is a series of progressively harder winter hikes leading up to a 4,000 footer.
This trip's focus is to get you familiar
Drive up I-93 and continue north to the Franconia Notch Parkway. Note your mileage as you pass Exit 34A. Continue on the parkway for about 4 miles to an exit with signs for Trailhead Parking, Bridle Path, and Falling Waters Trail. If you are driving south on the parkway, take the exit for the Lafayette Place Campground and Trailhead Parking, about 2 miles south of Exit 34B for the Cannon Mountain Tramway. A pedestrian underpass connects parking on either side of the parkway. This hike starts at the east of northbound parking area. We will be driving a blue Toyota FJ Cruiser.
Trip Report/Photos
It was an overcast day with spring-like temperatures near 40 degrees when we set off up the Falling Waters Trail.
It was quite warm and we heated up quickly. We were especially in an upbeat mood...and happy to be back in the company of GO members after the holidays.
Falling Waters can be difficult to ascend in the winter due to ice. We were rather taken aback as to how rapidly the snow was melting with parts of the trail slushy, muddy and bare. The trail had been broken but we decided to use snowshoes since we were sinking a bit under the soft snow. The water crossings, which can be tough, thankfully had their ice bridges holding. The ice bridges did collapse on us a couple of times but we were able to find other ice bridges.
Dry Brook delivers an abundance of natural beauty through a succession of waterfalls and cascades ~ highlighted by the 80-foot Cloudland Falls.
It was a treat to see Cloudland Falls in these warm, winter conditions; partially frozen yet roaring beneath a large opening.
We did the obligatory butt surfing on the return.
What a wonderful hike!
There are 56 photos in Album (Note: Move mouse pointer over larger pic and click on NEXT for better viewing)
What Members Are Saying About This Trip/Event
- It was great to be out enjoying the winter, even in a tee-shirt. Thanks Mike for the hike and Jon for another awesome meal. Great soup Anthony, it was YUMMY! - WalkaboutBrian
- What a fun "spring" like hike with temps in the 40's. Finally a chance to burn some calories gained over the "holi-daze". See you on the next one! - JDNnh
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