Apart from the fact that we had to retrace terrain we'd just crossed, we had mostly accomplished what we had set out to do: have a scenic and fun walk along Franconia Ridge. We had gotten almost all the way to Lafayette, and in the process had summitted two peaks. And, the total distance would end up being almost the same (as if we'd done the intended loop).
It wasn't long before we were back at Little Haystack, and soon we were back down below treeline, where we de-layered and started a rapid descent down the nicely-graded trail.
An un-eventful walk back down the trail ended with our 5:10pm arrival at the trailhead. Successful. Mostly.
And now, a little video to tidy off the visuals of the hike. Click directly on the frame below to start it.
Video, Franconia Ridge Hike - Click on video to start
Chris is a connoisseur of fine food, and when he asked what might be a good place to eat, I suggested the Gypsy Cafe in nearby Lincoln. I had been there several times before with Jenn, and I found the atmosphere and the food to be of high quality. We went, we ordered, and were most satisfied. An appetizer of Arctic Char in a spicy aioli-type sauce was nicely tangy, and an order of Enchilades Rojas (for me), and Jamaican Jerk Chicken (for Chris) fit the bill nicely.
Anyway, to Chris: thanks very much for being a cheerful and capable winter hiking companion. Oh, and next time, we keep looking for the nut until we find it!
