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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Isolation, Southeast Isolation, NH
Trails
Trails: Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur, bushwhacks
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 13, 2010
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Waterbars open on lower Rocky Branch. Crossings 3+4 on Isolation Trail bypassed. Crossing 5 is fully snowbridged. Smaller crossing further up trail is also snowbridged. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Some blowdowns on each listed trail. Lots of leaners on Davis Path past Isolation Was able to remove two blowdowns on Davis Path between Isolation Trail and Isolation Spur. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Rocky Branch Trail was bootable, perhaps with light traction, to the upper ski trail junction. Beyond there, snowshoes a good idea, as the packed route deviates from the trail proper in a few places. Engine Hill bushwhack starts beyond height of land as usual. No signs of recent traffic on Rocky Branch Trail beyond this, or on Isolation Trail where the packed bushwhack route pops onto it. Frozen granular up to this point in the AM, softening up in the afternoon. Engine Hill packed bushwhack route tends to stay around 3100-3200 - a little low (thus sprucy in places), but fairly direct. Bushwhack around crossings 3 and 4 is well packed. Isolation Trail stays kosher beyond crossing 5 for awhile, however it stays south of the quasi-esker, bushwhacking somewhat steeply back to the trail and campsite (some other bushwhack routes have small branches over them). From there, a very short bushwhack to Davis Path. Davis Path saw some recent maintenance, making it fairly passable to the Isolation Spur. After reaching the summit, I went back to the Davis Path, continued south (no sign of any recent traffic) for a fraction of a mile, then bushwhacked out to the southeast crag, which has tremendous views of the Rocky Branch Valley.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21 at franklinwebpublishing dot com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2010-03-13 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/mtisolation-2010-0313.php 
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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