Elevation: 3,066 ft (overall) 3,323 ft (total)
Time: 2:53 (Summit) 5:10 (Total)
Trails: Whitehouse Trail, Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Bike Path
Along with our normal crew for the Flags on the 48 event, today we had a few additional member including some currently active in the military. We all trickled in at our own rate and were all gathered with gear ready to go by our intended start time. We started with the short mostly flat walk along the Whitehouse Trail to the bike path and then the Liberty Spring Trail.
Once on the Liberty Spring Trail, our group started to spread out some with all of us going at our own pace. We planned our start time to give us plenty of time to get to the summit, so if we all went at different paces we still had plenty of time to get the flag up by noon. The trail was easy going to start with gradual grades and good footing. There was one brook crossing lower down, but it was easy to negotiate with plenty of stones to step across.
Stream crossing
After the crossing, the trail starts to get steeper. Not quite as bad as I was expecting though. The only other time I have been on this trail was 6 years ago and I came down it, so I didn't remember well how steep it would be. The map made it look like it would be a bit steeper than it seemed though. Around Liberty Spring tent site many of our group took another break and we grouped back up some here. Then we spread out a bit again as we neared the ridge. The last bit to the summit along the ridge is nice, with some easy grades and just a bit of elevation left to gain. It went by quickly and soon we were starting to gather back together at the summit.
Putting together the new pole
With last year's wind bending the old flagpole, Jim had come up with a new setup for this year that included a few improvements. Being new though, we wanted to start getting it up early so that we could figure out all of the tricks for getting it secured and the flag up it. By the time our team member with the flag made it to the summit, we had the pole up and were ready to raise the flag. The military members of this year's group helped us with the process of getting the flag out, up, and secured. Once everything was secured, one of our other group members sang the National Anthem for everyone that was now on the summit.
Bringing the flag to the pole
Raising the flag
During the National Anthem
During the National Anthem
For a little over 2 hours, most of us just relaxed around the summit. A few made the trek over to Mt. Flume though to bag another peak while in the area. We had good weather on the summit, but many of the nearby or higher peaks were at least a little bit in the clouds. This made it a bit hard to make out many other flags, but we were able to spot some, including the one on the wooded summit of Owls Head just sticking out of the trees. Before it was time to take the flag down, we have had a flyby from the NH National Guard Black Hawk helicopter.
Looking up Franconia Ridge
Black Hawk flyby
Flying on the summit
After taking down the flag just after 2pm, we packed up our gear again and headed down the mountain. Again, we spread out a little bit breaking into smaller groups as we settled into our own paces. The decent was pretty easy with no issues. There was one very brief sprinkle of rain, but it didn't even make the rocks wet it was so quick. Before too long, we were hitting the bike path where most of us skipped the Whitehouse Trail and took the shortcut through the trees instead. Soon everyone else was down as well and we said our goodbyes before some went home and a few of us went back to Jim's cabin for a quick meal.
A rainbow below us in the Pemi
Route for the day
For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE
