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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Isolation, NH
Trails
Trails: Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 10, 2012
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking of course.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: We skipped the third & then return crossings of Rocky Branch. The crossings today were not a problem for me, as there were dry rocks to use for each. Pepper waded through parts on his, but again no problem. The second crossing is a bit upstream of where the path comes to the river, but there is a herd path to the best line. Poles made it easier to me. If freezing rain really coats the rocks, then the crossings could be tricky and benefit from traction. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: The major news are the blowdowns on the Isolation Trail as it nears the Davis Path. There are quite a few of them blocking the trail. At first they are duckunders, or rollovers, which wasn't that bad now but wouldn't be fun in winter. After that they block the trail enough I lost it going in and ended up wacking roughly along a sometimes winter route. On the way back I took out a major blockage on the Davis Path, went to the trail intersection and went back on the trail, but again lost it and finally to Pepper's relief I went back to by tracks in to get out. Back on the trail on the way out I threw debris out of it and took out some blowdowns, but there's more to be gotten outside the big mess. The mud patches on the upper Rocky Branch were somewhat solidified by the cold but they still require watching the foot placement. The running water section of Rocky Branch as it goes down to the river also requires foot placement but the rocks were mostly dry and not icy. If iced up then it would be slower. Otherwise the trails had maybe one major blowdown per section but these weren't a problem. The mud in the section of Davis Path where the puncheons have deteriorated wasn't solid so watch the foot placement there or get wet. On the whole the trails are in decent shape outside of the blowdown mess.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Pretty easy day for Pepper. There's water to drink, no boulder fields or sharp cystalline ledges, and the crossings were fine with a wade in a crucial spot. He was a bit bored if I took too long on a blowdown but otherwise loved the hike.  
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None 
 
Comments
Comments: Plan E last night became Plan A thinking we could get a longish hike in fast in great weather. It was until we hit the blowdowns. I wasted too much time trying to find the trail; the way to do it is just head in the right direction if it is lost, and focus on the getting around or over stuff. It isn't all that long a distance. It wasn't a big deal on the return hike and would be less so on my next hike. I wouldn't want to do that in snowshoes though. I'm sure some sort of path will develop in winter around things but ideally a group would go in with axes and saws to clean the trail in the blowdown section, although that's a long way to go. Considering the length of trail it really is small percentage. We saw one person at the TH but after that saw no one else. Some tracks, perhaps from yesterday, led up to the blowdowns and ended. As near as I could tell we were the first on the Davis Path to Isolation since the snow. On the way back Pepper found parts of bagel sandwich that had been left just above the last crossing; it must have been after we went through there. I made him put it down although he so wanted it, but left it since I can't have gluten in my pack and had no bags to put it in. I didn't see any footprints in the snow for Engine Hill wack. I was looking for an alternate herd path above the trail that would avoid the crossings just to try it out, but being a space cadet I missed it. It was a beautiful day out, the Presi ridge was a bright white mass below a blue skyand the winds were low on Isolation, and not an issue anywhere else. Despite a late start and the blowdowns we got done pretty quickly for a long hike as the temps made for ideal hiking. What a nice day out.  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail: windriversjohn at gmail dot com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2012-11-10 
Link
Link: https:// 
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