Mt. Lincoln tent site options

[roadsclr]

Hi everyone,

I will be hiking in August from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch over a 3 day period. I was hoping to stay at Greenleaf Hut the first night but it's booked solid. Does anyone know if there are any areas in the vicinity to set up a 2 person tent? My tentative itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 - Rt. 3 to Mt. Lincoln/Greenleaf hut area.
Day 2 - continue on to Guyot Campsite.
Day 3 - finish at Rt. 302.

Any and all advise is greatly appreciated!

:-?

Spider Walker

[Rambler]

Little Haystack over to Mt. Lincoln and Lafayette is an open ridge with steep sides. No camping there! Mt. Liberty to Little Haystack is in groves of trees just over your head, not much up or down, but camping options limited to none. There are tent platforms at the Liberty Springs Tentsite, just below Mt. Liberty on the AT. Another place to find a tent spot would be on the Skookumchuck Trail just north of Mt. Lafayette.
(The trail from the Greenleaf Hut all the way to that junction is on open, exposed ridge) The Skook.... trail quickly drops into woods, so you'll find a spot to tent. I'm not sure about water there.
Do not be mis-led by the mileage between Mt. Lafayette and Mt. Garfield. The Garfield Ridge Trail drops way down, then back up. It is not an easy 2.7 miles and the trail passes above, not along the edge of Garfield Pond.

Try to avoid Guyot shelter on a week-end or get there by 3. There is a caretaker and fee. Franconia Ridge and the Bonds are some of the most beautiful terrain in the universe. I am not kidding!
Mt. Lincoln: http://community.webshots.com/photo/71600504/1071601413045831896mfGGzL


http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=71600504&security=fPVbjU

BTW: You do not have to hike out to Route 302. The AMC shuttle will pick-up at the trailheads on Zealand road in the summer months. Stop # 7:
http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodging-shuttle.cfm

[betic4lyf]

i remember that when i hiked there, there was a campground called garfield coming of the ridge, and another in the other direction

[bearbag hanger]

The data book (2006) shows Garfield Ridge Campsite about 3.9 miles from the turn off to Greenleaf Hut. That would be a 10.3 mile day from Franconia Notch, which shouldn't be a problem if you're in reasonable shape. My hiking buddies stayed there in 2004 and didn't mention any problems.

There is also a commercial campground down from the Greenleaf Hut, but I think it's quite a ways off the trail. I think you would be back at Franconia Notch on a different trail. It's where you might go if you have to bail out.