I checked out the trail guides and selected the Franconia Loop as my objective. The distance and type of terrain covered seemed about the same as the Madison trip so I knew I was up to it. I originally planned to go up the Old Bridle Path to Greenleaf Hut, ascend Lafayette along the Franconia Ridge to Lincoln and Little Haystack then down the Falling Waters Trail. After all the rain I had concerns about the brook crossings on the Falling Water trail. What if, after a long hike, I got there to find the water running dangerously high? I would be faced with the decision to attempt the crossings or backtracking the way I had come, a daunting prospect.

I posted a question about the status of the crossings on the Appalachian Mountain Club bulletin board and got some good feedback. Another hiker had done the same route a couple of days before and said the crossings were manageable, others suggested doing the loop in the other direction - up the Falling Waters Trail. This seemed the best option because I would soon discover the state of the crossings and if necessary could change plans without losing too much time.