NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Blue Mountain - North Peak, Blue Mountain, Blue Mountain - West Peak, NH
Trails
Trails: Washbuburn Road, unknown roads, herd paths, bushwhacks
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, January 20, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: from rt. 3 in columbia at the mt. blue variety store we drove in washburn road. the road is currently being used as part of a logging operation until just beyond the summer gate. we parked a bit back from this point at a prominent left turn with another gated road straight ahead. one could currently drive to and park a few minutes further in at the summer gate, but this would require driving up a pretty icy hill where it looks that even a bulldozer got squirrelly.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: some small drainages descending west blue were not a problem.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: we walked the road all the way up to cleveland notch. initially is was travelled by trucks and equipment to the logging operation then snowmobile packed up to the notch. some ice underneath the packed snow is spots. at the notch we followed a road partway up north blue before bushwhacking straight up to the recognized highpoint in mostly open woods. snow was semi-consolidated and while occasionally supportive punching through was common. up to 3+ feet with deeper drifts. back at the notch we headed to blue ultilizing old roads and the prominent herd path/trail that runs along its north ridge. here we found some of the best going of the day with typically supportive snow over about 3000 ft. lots of fresh moose tracks along the trail. some tunnel like sections of spruce, but mostly open going. the trail pretty much disappered near the summit and we made the short bushwhack to the recognized highpoint. lots of snow, but it was mercifully supportive if you walked gently. tough descent to the blue/west blue col with deep snow and lots of submarining and punching through. mostly moderate woods, but the snow laden evergreens quickly had us quite wet. we sidehilled the first false bump then headed up west blue where we found some thicker spruce to push through up to the recognized highpoint. from the summit we headed north holding just west of the crest of the mountains north ridge and had immediate nice woods which only got more open as we descended. the snow was deep and rarely supportive i was hard pressed to remember the last time a descent required so much physical effort. we briefly followed some old log/skid roads, but found the snow friendlier in the open woods so we continued on our line reaching a log landing just before rejoining the road/snowmobile into cleveland notch. from there is was a quick walk back to the car.  
Name
Name: bryan, Nordic Gal 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bryancuddihee@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-01-21 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved