| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Falling Waters Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 4, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Northbound lot almost filled up. Southbound lot was starting to spill into 93. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings on Falling Waters Trail required getting boots wet. No issues on Old Bridle Path. Outlet of pond on Greenleaf near the hut required a rock hop. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One 10" diameter birch stepover blowdown maybe 1/2 mile up Old Bridle Path. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Sleeper cells present, but none attacking yet. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Falling Waters Trail was mostly snow free until above the top water crossing, after which point the snow depth ramped up to a few feet, all the way to treeline. Due to the amount of barebooters, the monorail has been sort of smashed into a newer, wider monorail, which was supporting booting. Some may want light traction, but I was able to bareboot without too many issues.
The ridge, other than the scrub between Truman and Lafayette, was mostly bare and dry. Also quite busy today.
Greenleaf Trail was snow free and fairly dry above treeline, however there was still plenty of snow on the trees above the hut. Enough bareboot traffic that the monorail is doable.
Old Bridle Path had some snow below the hut, but it quickly became patchy before reaching the Agonies. By the time it wraps back to the notch side of the ridge, the trail was mostly bare. Some trailing arbutus and trillium in bloom.
The hut is now open on a caretaker basis.
If I were hiking this loop again this spring, I would only carry light traction (due to the volume of booters on this loop). My snowshoes went along for the ride on my pack today but were never even a consideration. Elsehwere in the Whites? That's another story. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-05-04 |
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 | 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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