| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield (The Chin), VT |
|
 | Trails: |
Eagle's Cut Trail, Laura Cowles Trail, Sunset Ridge Trail, Long Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 4, 2017 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Winter parking - was full today, Saturday. Parked along side of road below winter parking lot. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Good. Thank you Green Mountain Club. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dog walkers on CCC Road. Lovely dogs - great day for them to be out. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None. |
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|
 | Comments: |
We arrived 9 a.m. and winter parking lot was full. Cold chill in the air (about 8 degrees F). Lots of skiers beginning their trek on CCC road or veering off to Teardrop ski trail.
Snow packed up until Laura Cowles trailhead. We could just see indentation of the LC trail, but lots of fresh, fine powder snow. Snowshoes were a good thing for traction on the steep ascents. Very hard slog hiking up. Half way up, a trail runner in Microspikes passed us (reluctantly as we had made a trail for him). We saw him again as he turned round, but it was nice to follow his postholing for a while. At the exposed part of trail we managed to find our way to the sign at top of trailhead. Visibility was very low, strong winds and very cold. Joe was good at finding the way from Laura Cowles to Sunset Ridge. Tons of snow with drifts. Saw a hiker in the distance going off course to false summit. It was really amazing being on mountain - desolate, otherworldly, feeling very vulnerable. Incredibly beautiful and amazing.
Once on the main ridge of Sunset Ridge Trail we saw hiker tracks here and there. Visibility got better and we were able to keep on trail the further down we went and soon came to packed trail. Getting off the ridge we met a group from St. Michael's College - they had turned around. We passed them and trailblazed to Cantilever Rock. Back down Sunset Ridge Trail we passed the St. Mike's group again. On the CCC road before Eagle's Cut Trail we met the young hiker we had seen at a distance and he thanked us for making a trail which he was able to follow. Saw skiers and dog walkers. Glad to get to the car and sit down. Intense hike. |
|
 | Name: |
Flo and Joe |
|
 | E-Mail: |
aloe@myfairpoint.net |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2017-02-04 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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