Jeff, Richard and I headed to Franconia Notch on a relatively warm November day to ascend a few New Hampshire 200 Highest peaks. We also redlined a couple of trails and hit Mount Lafayette because it was in between. Big Bickford Mountain and Eagle Cliff didn’t have trails and were about as opposite as bushwhacks could be. Big Bickford was a fairly level and wide open bushwhack. While Eagle Cliff was shorter, it was much thicker and basically a cliff scramble in places. Due to mashed potato-like snow underfoot, the trip took longer than expected, and we finished the bushwhack and hike out by headlamp.

ROUTE

• Left car at Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway parking lot on Tramway Drive, Franconia, NH
• Started at Skookumchuck Trail parking off Route 3 in Franconia, NH
• Hiked up Skookumchuck Trail to point at level with col between trail and Big Bickford Mountain
• Bushwhacked north to Big Bickford Mountain and back
• Continued left on Skookumchuck Trail to intersection with Garfield Ridge Trail
• Turn right on Garfield Ridge Trail to Mount Lafayette summit
• Turn right on Greenleaf Trail to gap at Eagle Cliff
• Bushwhacked west to Eagle Cliff and back
• Turn right on Greenleaf Trail and continued to trailhead near Tramway Drive

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 12 December 2020
Distance: 12.2 miles
Moving Time: 06:59
Pace: 34:17/mile
Elevation Gain: 4628′

Tracing White Mountains Trails:
Greenleaf Trail
Skookumchuck Trail