Kathy and I headed up to Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire on the weekend of July 15th & 16th. First on the agenda was a traverse of the Franconia Ridge from Mt. Lafayette to Lincoln, Little Haystack, Liberty, and Flume. This hike was a fourteen mile trip, and required a bicycle ride back to our car at the end. Next, on Sunday, we simply moved to the other side of the Notch, hiking up to Lonesome Lake, and then onto the summit of North Kinsman. The weather on this trip was a bit warm, but provided for fantastic views. This is our fourth trip to the White Mountains, and the second in the summer season. We had a great time, and can't wait for a return trip to the Whites.
Fantastic pictures! I climbed Lafayette as a young man. My friends and I ran into bad weather towards the summit, with the final 500 feet hunkered down during a tremendous lightning storm. We reached the gray, windy, cloud-enveloped summit wet and freezing. I remember being concerned that we may be in a bit of trouble since we did not have adequate wet/cold weather protection. The despair grew and we prepared for the long foggy climb down in bad conditions. Then, a miracle. The clouds began to disperse, and within five minutes we were bathed in warm sunlight and treated the spectacular views as seen in your photos. From despair, fear, and survival to basking in warmth and scampering joyfully on the summit. To this day, I consider that experience a life-changer.