Mt. Carrigain on Monday, 12/31
The forecast for tonight and monday is for snow. 2-5 inches by monday night in the valley (North Conway forecast). That means we'll be hiking while it's snowing. The mount washington observatory is forecasting low winds with snow accumulating until evening when it starts blowing around like crazy and visibility drops to zero. Most of the snow is supposed to be falling during the night tonight and the first part of the day tomorrow during our ascent. SPUNGIE & MADDOG ON FRANCONIA RIDGE
I don't mind hiking in the falling snow, but (just to state the obvious) it means having to
1 - park and prep while it's snowing
2 - hike in clothes that are relatively good at shedding snow (rarely breathable enough to permit a fast pace)
3 - follow the ridgeline in poor visibility (but good communications conditions)
4 - unpack/change/depart/drive home in snowy conditions
Because this is not a high-wind event during the day, just steady falling snow, it sounds like a lovely hike to be honest (even the slog up the sawyer river road).
One other consideration: The unplowed road represents a high entry-fee to many hikers which suggests that the trail could be poorly tracked (although the road itself could be packed from xc-skiers and snowmobilers). The last VFTT entry mentioning Carrigain was 11/22 when the road was still driveable. I'll be wearing snowshoes.
[Major Update 12/30]: Plan Aborted Due To Weather
All agents are advised to report to command headquarters for further orders.
The story from down south is this...
ReplyDeleteSNOWFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT INTO MONDAY
MORNING.
SNOW WILL BEGIN AROUND 10 PM. MOST OF THE SNOW WILL FALL FROM
MIDNIGHT TO 6 AM...WHEN SNOWFALL RATES MAY REACH 1 INCH PER HOUR AT
TIMES. SNOW MAY ALSO MIX WITH OR BRIEFLY CHANGE TO SLEET OVERNIGHT.
EXPECT THE SNOW TO TAPER OFF BY 9 AM MONDAY.
TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO BECOME DIFFICULT TONIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY
MORNING...FROM THE COMBINATION OF POOR VISIBILITY AND SNOW COVERED
ROADS. PLAN TO HAVE TRAVEL COMPLETED BY THIS EVENING...AND ALLOW
EXTRA TIME MONDAY MORNING IF YOU MUST DRIVE.
The southerns are going to have to decide as we will be leaving mighty early Monday morning. These conditions will make the drive longer to the start.
Lots to think about I am awaiting to here from the MPM.
The conditions hiking do not seem bad...yes clothing will be the challenge may require 3-4 changes.
My main concern is the drive up...it will be tough.
With that said...we do not have to do Carrigan we can get something closer meaning old faithful...Franconia Ridge...Moosilauke...open to suggetions...
Or we can do something Tuesday...
While we're waiting for the PM to throw in his 2cents, notice that I've figured out how to add picture captions. This one was from last November w/ Spungie and the UM/UF.
ReplyDeleteSweet that was a fun day...MZ I am worried about the drive up tomorrow morning and conditions plus being a work day for most god knows what other idiots will be on the road...I think a closer hike option may be better...again we will wait to see what the MPM says...
ReplyDeleteStuck in GA... we were supposed to leave at 5:45pm today but cannot get out until tomorrow. It appears that our flight was the one flight cancelled out of all the Delta direct flights to BOS! What luck eh?!
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do tomorrow, enjoy it and be safe. I'll be looking forward to getting in on the next adventure. And yes, I'll bring my salmon colored jacket to compliment TMail's pack and MuthaZ's vest!!!
To MPM
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thls_tMuFkc