-Woke up thinking of hiking moat mountains, decided against the 2 hour drive & decide to go with my go to hike. Something on franconia ridge. Trail reports indicated snow was gone for the most part. Jumped in the car, & after grabbing some shite gas station coffee start time was 0330. I like to part in the campground vs falling waters parking lot for easy south bound exit after the hike.
-Nothing noteworthy up falling waters other than the trail seemed drier than usual (as dry as going up a waterfall area can be). Sun came up about 0510. Maybe 10 minutes of patchy monorail just before the summit of little haystack existed. Carried micros just in case but no need.
-Above tree line the wind must have been 15-25 sustained, & in combination with the crisp high 30 low 40 degree weather it was breathe taking. To me this always feels refreshing. The off the cuff manner in which i did this hike i didnt carry gloves. This was not an issue windchill temps were 34-36. My hands were raw on the way done to greenleaf. I had the ridge to myself (the way i like it) other than one group of kids.
-Total time was roughly 390 minutes.
