Less Freaky on Franconia

Leaders
Bjorn Poonen (B coC), Monika O'Shea (C rS)
Program
Winter School
Type
Hiking
Terrain level
C
Trip date
Saturday, February 1st
Difficulty rating
Difficult (L4)
Prerequisites
A winter hike of at least 6 miles and 3000 ft gain, and a hike in some season with 4000' gain. Solid with layering technique. Physical condition for a hike of this length and elevation gain.

Want to do the most classic exposed ridgeline dayhike in New England but would like to NOT get blasted in the face by icy cold winds all day, and also NOT sprint the whole thing? Unlike like the freaks on the other Franconia trip, we will be going the very sensible direction of clockwise to put that strong northwesterly at our backs, and unlike the freaks on the second other Franconia trip, we will be hiking it, not running.

The Franconia Ridge is one of the most iconic hikes of the Whites, with amazing views on both sides, and 2 miles of really fun above-treeline exposed terrain. The hike is an 8.9 mile loop with 3950 ft. elevation gain (map). Full skin coverage is required for the above-treeline section: goggles, balaclava, warm gloves/mittens, etc.

We will leave Cambridge early and stop for a quick breakfast along the way.

Mandatory in-person pre-trip meeting Thursday, January 30, 6:00pm in the Student Center. Participants will be expected to show their full face covering and to adjust their crampons to their boot length there.

Expected cost per person: $5 fee, $15 gear rental, $25-$40 drive. If you can drive your own car or are willing to drive a rental car, please edit the lottery preferences on your MITOC profile to show this.

We can exchange high fives with the other Franconia Ridge group as they go their "more-awesome-than-us" way of counter-clockwise.

Signup

Algorithm
first-come, first-serve
Maximum participants
6
Signups opened at
Jan. 29, 2025, noon
Signups close at
Jan. 30, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Notes
  1. Describe a winter hike you have done before (location, length, elevation gain, and how long ago, if you remember them).
  2. Have you hiked above treeline in the Northeast in winter before (not required)? Where?
  3. Have you used crampons before (not required)?
  4. Fergalicious or Super Freak? 🎵
Signups are open!
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