Mt.Flume & Mt.Liberty via Flume Slide 10/11/06

The Flume Slide Trail is a very dangerous trail. I have done this 3 times up Mt.Flume and each time it is just as difficult. I don't believe there is any good time to do this trail as the steep slabs on the slide are always wet. Those that will tell you it's easy,or it's nothing, or I'm a wuss, are probably the ones who have made those ugly herd paths around the tough wet spots. All that being said it is still one of my favorite hikes.

White House Trail to Liberty Spring Trail

Liberty Spring Trail to Flume Slide Trail

Start of Flume Slide Trail 2.6 miles to the foot of the slide

Lilbirdie starting Flume Slide Trail

Still some beautiful fall colors in October

Lots of leaves on trail as most of the foliage has past

Red Squirrel scolds me from above

Rubble on Flume Slide trail thru the woods

Starting up the slide

Lilbirdie starts up the old slide.

If you think it stays like this, think again.

Gray Jay 56 climbing up the slide.

Use of hand holds is necessary.

Slide is wet as usual

Water seeping on slide and this is the trail to climb.

Not the paths hikers have created around it.

Gray Jay 56 climbing wet slabs on Flume Slide

Gray Jay 56 on slide

Gray Jay crosses atop the wet slabs.

Almost done with the wet stuff.

Ha Ha Ha, not even close to being done.

More steep climbing

More wet steep climbing

Up, Up 

More wet steep climbing!

Up, Up

  

Lots more steep climbing ahead but dryer

Steep, Steep climbing

Trail goes up and to the right on the slide

Lilbirdie looks back for a small view thru the trees 

We ain't done climbing yet

Up,Up we climb............it ain't easy.

Looking down at Lilbirdie as she climbs a tough spot

Slide now gets into more wooded area nearing the top

Lilbirdie......."Are we almost there yet?" 

"You told me this was an easy one Gray Jay."

"I should have know better with you"

Nearing the top of Flume Slide Trail

Lilbirdie arrives at junction of Flume Slide Trail, Osseo Trail 

& Franconia Ridge Trail

Lilbirdie prepares for wind on Mt.Flume

Gray Jay 56 does the same

Last tricky climb to summit of Mt.Flume.

Notice the blue blaze on the right.

Gray Jay 56 on Mt.Flume

Gray Jay on Mt.Flume

Mt.Liberty from Mt.Flume

The Franconia Ridge from Mt.Flume.

Of course I should also mention

 that Mt.Flume too is on the Franconia Ridge.

Looking down one of the other slides on Mt.Flume

View of side of a slide off Mt.Flume

Lilbirdie on the summit of Mt.Flume

Lilbirdie hikes over to Mt.Liberty from Mt.Flume

Scrambling up to the summit of Mt.Liberty

Mt.Flume from Mt.Liberty look at those slides

Summit of Mt.Liberty

Lilbirdie on the summit of Mt.Liberty

Looking over the edge from the summit

Cannon Mt.& cliffs from Mt.Liberty summit

Leaving the summit 

Lilbirdie gives you an idea how huge the boulders and cracks are 

 Hiking back down Liberty Spring Trail

from the Franconia Ridge Trail

 Gray Jay 56 rests & has lunch with Lilbirdie 

at Liberty Spring Campsite's water supply area

 Liberty Spring Campsite tenting platforms

Some fall color still left back at the parking lot.

It was a long day but just wonderful.

Again I must stress that Flume Slide Trail 

is a dangerous trail and I would not 

recommend it for family hiking.