| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 14, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Large paved lot in excellent shape. No pay-to-park fees. No facilities. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All minor crossings on Rocky Branch Trail were easy. The first crossing of Rocky Branch at trail junction was reasonable if you got boots wet (which they probably were anyway after the trail!). The other four crossings of Rocky Branch on Isolation Path were also relatively easy, although #3 and #4 could be a little tricky if you're trying to stay dry. Water levels appeared to have dropped a bit on return trip. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Quite a few blowdowns on Isolation Trail, particularly at beginning near Rocky Branch crossing #1 and end of trail near Davis Path junction. Most are easy stepovers that have been there awhile. A few required some maneuvering. As previously noted, trail crews have cleared most of the issues at end of trail near Davis Path (THANKS - this must have been a mess a few weeks ago). Only one step over left in here. The log bridges on Davis Path are shot. All rotted, pulled free from nails, many broken. Work more like see-saws then bridges. I don't believe I saw a single trail blaze on any of the trails. These trails look like they would be very hard to follow in winter after a fresh snow. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Trails all fine for dogs with plenty of drinkable water, particularly Isolation Trail, but plan on doing a lot of cleaning. Your dog will be a muddy, dirt covered disaster by the end of the day. |
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 | Bugs: |
Mosquitos were out but not overly aggressive. Lot of very aggravating horse flies on the flat stretch of Rocky Branch that follows height of land over to Isolation Trail. Some bees, horseflies and mosquitos on summit but just enough breeze to keep them away. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
none |
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 | Comments: |
Glad today was a "dry" day for the hike. This really is a wet trail and other than some flats on the section of Rocky Branch that cuts over height of land to Isolation Trail and some sections between the first and second crossing of the Rocky Branch River the footing is rough and wet, with lots of tree roots, wet rocks, mud, etc. Many sections of the "trail" are nothing more than stream beds or rock filled marshes. Hike times much longer than it appears on map just looking at contours. One other note: the junction of the Rocky Branch and Isolation Trail is very vague. Shortly before the river there is a well defined intersection with a sign about trail closings. The path to the right looks very well traveled (I assume this is a bushwhack or winter route that cuts off the corner and avoids the first river crossing)but it had birch trees laid across it as if to indicate it was closed. This was NOT the junction. If you continued left you eventually came to a camping sign and the river. On the other side of the bank there are rock steps that lead up the bank to an old trail sign. It is very difficult to see from the far bank and AMC Guide does not indicate this very well (although it does state trail is on west bank of river). Little confusing the first time through but fine after. Isolation Spur trail still has the plastic sign mentioned in prior reports and was easy to spot heading South. |
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 | Name: |
DayTrip |
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 | E-Mail: |
bblanchette0709@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-07-15 |
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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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