Looking west to Mt. Monadnock

We headed south toward Pack Monadnock, but time was short so we reversed direction in the saddle.

There was a nice view to the north as we descended North Pack.

View to the north as we descend North Pack

We were on the trail for 2:23. Minor delays caused by ice on the ascent. Lunch (for both of us) on the top.

Lunchtime on the Old Bridle Path

We reached the Greenleaf Hut after an amazing hike up the ridge to 4200′. There are no pictures because we were hiking in fog.

Madeleine at Greenleaf Hut

Now, the AMC huts aren’t exactly what you might expect when you hear “hut.” Besides being dry (we were in the cloud at the time), there is very good food, light, and running water.

Madeleine reading in the Greenleaf Hut.

The next morning, we headed for the summit of Mt. Lafayette. Conditions were poor. Visibility was 200 ft and winds were gusting to 60 mph.

Madeline is at the summit of Mt. Lafayette.

Leonard at the summit of Mt. Lafayette.

From the summit, we headed south along the Franconia Ridge. The view was limited.

View from the Franconia Ridge to the west.

We reached the southern end of our trip along the ridge at Little Haystack.

Madeleine at Little Haystack

From there, we headed down the Falling Waters trail to complete our loop.

You can watch the video:

The Google Earth view is available at: Google Earth Bulletin Board

We started and ended our vacation in Seattle visiting Christopher and Nell. Day 1 was a trip to Snoqualmie Pass. This is a very nice area with high peaks and great views. We attempted to hike to Snow Lake. The trail crossed a snow field that we decided might not be safe, so we turned around. As we returned, a rescue party passed us headed up the trail to find a hiker with fractures of his hand and leg.

We spent time in Seattle and took the ferry to Bainbridge Is. The Underground Tour was entertaining and interesting. The quick version is that after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the city decided to rebuild first and raise the level of the streets later. Raising the level of the streets was desired because the city had been built just above sea level. The City filled in the streets by putting up walls on the street side of the sidewalks. Once the streets were filled in a sidewalk was put between these walls and the front of the buildings. The result is that buildings have tunnels running around them under the modern day sidewalks.

A Tunnel On the Underground Seattle Tour

For light, the sidewalk had glass bricks installed.

These panels let light into the tunnels of old Seattle.

Christopher took us to a Mariners game.

Nell and Christopher at the Mariners Game

Lauren, Madeleine, and Trish (l-r) at Mariners Game

Christopher used to live in the Fremont area where there is a restaurant with a rocket ship attached, a statue of Lenin, and a troll under the north end of the Aurora bridge.

Madeleine and Lauren on the Fremont Troll

Of course, we went to the Pike Place Market.

This is the view to the west. Nothing much to see on this cold and snowy day.

Many trees have been damaged during the long, snowy and icy winter.

Here is a view up the trail from near the bottom.

Back at the peak, Monadnock was largely snow covered.

It was a beautiful day. I hope to go back up next weekend.