Huntington Ravine, Nelson Crag - Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Huntington Ravine Trail, Alpine Garden Trail, Nelson Crag Trail, Old Jackson Road - 8-18-2013

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Huntington Ravine, Nelson Crag, NH

	Trails:	Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Huntington Ravine Trail, Alpine Garden Trail, Nelson Crag Trail, Old Jackson Road

	Date of Hike:	Sunday, August 18, 2013

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Pinkham Notch is a massive, full service parking area with extensive overflow lots and room on Rte 16. Pretty full Sun AM and PM but there were spaces open.

	Surface Conditions:	Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

	Recommended Equipment:

	Water Crossing Notes:	Water very low on the trails. One major crossing and several minor crossings on Huntington Ravine Trail were all very easy with dry feet. A few small crossings at end of Nelson Crag Trail all very easy. The crossings on Old Jackson road were almost completely dry.

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	All the trails in great shape. A few fairly easy step overs at beginning of Huntington Ravine Trail. Drainage ditches and log bridges on all clear and in good shape. Many fresh paint blazes on Huntington Ravine Trail. Other trails all generally well blazed. The Nelson Crag Trail is pretty overgrown in many places, particularly the last section as you approach treeline. Trail was easy to see but it was non stop face-slappers in sections.

	Dog-Related Notes:	Nelson Crag Trail is doable for dogs but would not recommend. No water along it until bottom and there are a lot of small ledge scrambles and rough sections along the way, particularly 1/2 mile section before tree line and the ascent away from auto-road junction. Huntington Ravine Trail approaching "The Fan" and beyond is DEFINITELY NOT FOR DOGS. Other trails were fine.

	Bugs:	None really. Few stray gnats and flies here and there. Plenty of spiders in the rocks above tree line and saw several fluorescent green and purplish looking grass hoppers in the low bushes in Huntington Ravine. Pretty cool.

	Lost and Found:	none


	Comments:	Trails are super dry right now. Great time to do the steeper trails with ledges and climbs like Huntington Ravine. Only wet area was approx the 1/2 mile or so approaching tree line on Nelson Crag Trail. There was a series of smooth, wet ledges with a fine slime on them that were EXTREMELY slippery. I actually fell twice on them coming down. The Huntington Ravine headwall definitely looked different to my 43 year old eyes vs the 20 year old eyes that looked at it the last time I climbed this trail. There are some pretty steep and tricky ledge scrambles on this trail. The very long smooth ledge starting the trail (which the AMC Guide describes as the hardest) is actually not all that bad (although on a wet day I could see where this is VERY dangerous). The harder ledges are definitely after this area, with several near vertical ledges with good drops below and two steep narrow chimneys, all of which require linking several sets of hand and foot holds together to climb. A lot of the hand and foot holds in these areas are pretty small and narrow. Also, in previous trail reports I had read that trail along side of "The Fan" was very overgrown and tedious. I went right up "The Fan" on the boulders. The footing is actually pretty good and square. I stayed generally to the right side of it and made a line toward the gap to the right of the deep gorge with water running through it and it brought me to the trail again and the base of first ledge. Much better views too. This trail probably is indeed the hardest in the Whites but extremely fun. Nelson Crag Trail is also a very, very nice trail that doesn't seem to get a lot of discussion. Very nice views and variety of terrain make it very enjoyable walk.

	Name:	DayTrip

	E-Mail:	bblanchette0709@gmail.com

	Date Submitted:	2013-08-19

	Link:	https://
		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.