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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Abraham, Lincoln Peak, Mt. Ellen, VT
Trails
Trails: Battell Trail, Long Trail, Jerusalem Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Summer lot for the Battell Trail was accessible, though it was clear the plowing stops at the junction 1/10-mile away so once the snow deepens down low folks will be in for a very short road walk. Plenty of road-side room at the Jerusalem Trailhead. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few leaners and crawl-overs along the ridge. More of these on the Long Trail North of Ellen, but nothing too major. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: The Long Trail along the ridge briefly coincides with ski trails on several occasions, I'm not sure what restrictions might exist there. Otherwise, an experienced dog ought to be able to manage this hike in the proper weather. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We started this one early to finish before the afternoon sleet, rain, and freezing rain mess began. The Battell Trail and Long Trail up to Abraham was very well packed out, with only light traction being necessary. The ice wasn't too bad on the final ascent to Abraham. There was less, but still some, traffic coming up the Long Trail from Lincoln Gap, snowshoes might still be needed there. Once re-entering the woods beyond the Abraham summit, the trail was only lightly broken out and snowshoes were absolutely essential. Aside from a mess of postholes near Little Abe, the trail along the ridge between the peaks was ski-and-snowshoe broken, but not always well-consolidated so snowshoes were the best choice. The Long Trail North of Ellen was un-broken for the first 1/2-mile until meeting lots of ski tracks through the woods. From there down to the Jerusalem Trail junction was fairly well broken out though snowshoes were still best. The Jerusalem Trail itself was well-broken and light traction would probably be fine all the way, but we just left the snowshoes on until the car.

No views, mild temps, but stiff winds. The lifts were running, but we only saw 2-3 people getting off the Lincoln Peak chairlift. Otherwise we had the mountain to ourselves. Snow depth was only a couple inches at the trailheads, but there was plenty along the ridge, well over a foot overall with knee-deep drifts at times. The unbroken and drifted stretches got 4 sets of snowshoes over them on this day, but more will be needed. No telling what the weather overnight did to conditions. Note that down low on the Jerusalem Trail is a massive setup of tubes and taps for maple sap collection; a few lines block the trail and need to be crawled under or otherwise detoured around.  
Name
Name: madmattd 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-01-04 
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.

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