Snowshoeing to Lonesome Lake

What in summer is usually a rather easy hike from Lafayette Campground in Franconia Notch up to Lonesome Lake, was a solid winter workout for three diehard GO members who braved a weather report calling for snow showers, to hike this very popular trail.  As it turned out, snow flurries accompanied us all the way to the unheated AMC hut at Lonesome Lake, where we had a fairly quick lunch before our teeth started to chatter.  Too late we found out that the caretaker does not fire-up the stove until 4:00 p.m.  As we started our return trip, the skies suddenly cleared up to reveal a magnificent view of Mt. Cannon all covered in fresh snow.  It was a wonderful sight that made this trip a memorable experience.  Thanks to Rick and Len for making the trip even more enjoyable. 

 We will hike up from the Lafayette Campground parking lot via the Lonesome Lake Trail and then to the AMC hut for lunch.  The hut is open in winter and the main room is heated by a wood burning stove, though just barely so.  The ascent from the campground to the hut is 1.6 mile with a 940 foot elevation gain.  It is, in other words, a relatively easy to moderate ascent.  We will return the same way for a total of 3.2 miles.

Bring snowshoes (microspikes or crampons will probably not be needed).  Bring full winter gear and dress in layers.  Also bring some type of lunch and snacks (hot soup in a thermos is always a great thing to bring in a winter hike).  We should be down before sunset, but it never hurts to carry a headlamp or flashlight in your pack, just in case.