NENSA Invites Cross-country Skiers of All Ages to Hike New Hampshire’s Franconia Ridge

NENSA Invites Cross-country Skiers of All Ages to Hike New Hampshire’s Franconia Ridge

August 8, 2004 (Franconia Notch, NH):  The New England Nordic Ski Association will hold their Fourth Annual NENSA Hike this summer along the Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Skiers and hikers are invited to join NENSA members and friends at the trailheads Sunday, August 8th, for one of three hikes. Each hike is of graduated difficulty, all worthy, all exciting, and all great fun.  Tour the summer trails and experience some of the finest views and extended ridge-walking in New England with fellow skiers. 

For youngsters (approximately age 13 and younger) and their families, the BKL Franconia Ridge Hike is one of the classic White Mountain hikes, with inspiring views and open, exposed ridges, starting at 8:30 at Lafayette Place parking lot on the southbound side of Franconia Notch Thruway. A BKL hike coordinator will meet you there with maps. The route ascends the Falling Waters trail to Lafayette Ridge, hike north up the ridge to Mt. Lafayette and descend the Old Bridle Path. The AMC hut is open for water, coffee and snacks. Total distance for the day is about 9 miles.

For more ambitious and experienced hikers, the Franconia Ridge Extended hike offers the same great views and open ridge-walking, only more of it! Meet at the Flume Visitor Center Parking Lot at 7:00 AM, ascend Flume Slide Trail to Franconia Ridge. Bag Mt Flume, Liberty, Haystack, Lincoln, and Lafayette before descending on Skoocumchuck Trail. No water sources after reaching Franconia Ridge. Walk/jog the bike path back to the Flume Parking lot—or you can arrange for a vehicle to be parked at Skoocumchuck Parking lot. This jaunt will total 15 miles to Skook, 23 miles if you come back down bike trail. Trip Leader, Dorcas Wonsavage, is a three-time Olympian and New Hampshire native.

And for the truly fit, physically if not mentally, the Gunners Over-Distance Hike is an all-day affair. Depart from Flume Visitor Center Parking Lot at 7:00 AM, ascend Flume Slide Trail to Franconia Ridge then hoof it to Lafayette, on to Garfield, North and South Twin, Guyot, Bond (stunning views!) before descending to Bondcliff, then down to the Wilderness Trail and exit at the Lincoln Woods Ranger Station/parking lot where the Pemigewasset River crosses the Kancamagus highway. This hike is approximately 28 miles and includes (12), 4,000 foot summits. It is a full day adventure requiring careful preparation, and plenty of food and water. Water is only available at the start, and the Galehead Hut 16 miles into the hike. You must be able to run/trot the flats to complete this hike in daylight. Patrick Cote, former Dartmouth skier and assistant coach for the Colby College team, will lead this testing trip. 

Contact Patrick Cote at the NENSA Operations Office with any questions about these hikes. Pat@nensa.net   207-873-0498

Changes to trip itineraries, weather delays will be posted on the NENSA website, www.NENSA.net.