Thursday dawned beautiful! At 7:30am there was a frost on the ground but also clear blue skies: a great day for a big hike. We had a couple of choices from the walks recommended by Carolyn and decided on the more strenuous and challenging as this looked like a good day to get up high. And high we got!

We started off following the Falling Waters Trail to Little Haystack Mountain (4,760ft). This trail was described in our trail guide as having river crossings and waterfalls galore. We set off looking forward to the waterfalls but a bit wary of the river crossings after yesterday's experiences. River crossings galore turned out to be five crossings, sometimes with the trail just crossing to the opposite bank for a few yards. Arghh! However none of the crossings were as difficult as yesterday's and we crossed all without mishap: Jill realising that her tactic of lower, smaller rocks was a safer one for her than Dave's larger rock tactic. Dave's rocks might be further out of the water but you're much less likely to slip off Jill's and fall in!

The waterfalls were beautiful and we spent a little while photographing them, maybe a little too long given the long trek ahead of us but it was too lovely to miss. We'd set off in double layers of clothing but soon found that shedding our thick walking trousers and fleeces was good for the warm sunny conditions we found ourselves in. The path however wasn't as lovely: from the waterfalls it was unrelentingly steeply up, sometimes over huge boulders and we both began to feel the demands of such a strenuous climb. But eventually we broke out above the tree line and could see our first summit a few yards ahead. Joyfully we stopped here to have lunch in the wonderfully warm sunshine and to view the stunning scenery. The views included the nearby of our next summit along the ridge path and the far distant of the summit of Mt Washington above the clouds.

Rested a little we set off along the Franconia Ridge Trail to the second of our summits, Mt Lincoln, which at 5089ft is the seventh highest peak in White Mountains (and the tenth highest in the USA Northeast). A first for us both to climb over 5,000ft from the bottom of a mountain! And then onward to our real summit goal of Mt Lafayette. This is the sixth highest peak in the White Mountains (eighth East of the USA Rockies) and our new highest at 5,260ft. The ridge walk was glorious, much more like walking in the Lakes with open mountain views and rocky terrain. There was a little up and down but pretty much this was easier walking and we enjoyed it tremendously. Shame that one of our fellow ridge walkers was not enjoying themselves as much - or at least her complaints were so loud! We did see many more people than we had on previous days, clearly the good weather had brought people out to this stunning ridge.

As we arrived at the summit of Mt Lafayette we could see clouds beginning to spill in from the North making for atmospheric photos but also taking the temperature down so it was on with the warm layers that we'd wondered earlier why were were carrying and after a quick snack, a decision not to linger too long on the summit. And so to the four mile walk down the Greenleaf and Old Bridle Trails. Even though these trails were not as littered with enormous boulders as the way up it was still hard work for our tired legs and it was with real relief that we sat in the car! We'd climbed 3,700ft and walked 8.8 miles on mostly challenging ground - no wonder we were tired but it was a well-satisfied tiredness. Pleased with our achievements and grateful for the amazing day's hike and fine views of the White Mountains we only had previously seen shrouded in cloud.