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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Washington, NH
Trails
Trails: Great Gulf Trail, Gulfside, Crawford Path, Nelson Crag Trail, Alpine Garden Trail, Winter Cutoff, Chandler Brook Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, September 20, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking at Great Gulf 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Standing/Running Water on Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Rock hops with wet boots in a few places. There's a lot of crossings on the Great Gulf and Chandler trails. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A fair number of blowdowns on Great Gulf. One very muddy and wet stretch on Great Gulf above Chandler's intersection. The upper rock slide area required some cairn searching to stay on trail, but I didn't feel it mattered much; follow the slide up. But we heeded Georg's advice to stay left more than where one would expect to go, and keep an eye out for the cairns which were hard to pick out of the rock field. Chandler had a few slick rocks/roots. The Winter Cutoff is more trail than "road" in places, and has some woody brush growing in it that hides the "trail" in one place. This is a wet boots or socks/sandals hike but much of the woods trails were in fine shape and above treeline the usual boulder fields are dry. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Pepper gives today's hike a 3-4 paws up, at least for today. There's plenty of water for sip n dips on Great Gulf & Chandler. He found his own routes around any obstacle. Despite the sunshine the temps were comfy and he only needed water on the Nelson Crag section. There are stretches with sharp crystalline rock and it is a longer more remote hike; one would not want to carry a larger dog out due to roughed up paws. We met very few hikers away from Washington, so Pepper had a lot of freedom. We saw a nice German Shepherd on the summit. 
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None 
 
Comments
Comments: This hike is what happens when one spaces out and misses the Madison Gulf trail intersection. It turned out to be the perfect day for the Great Gulf. Fantastic weather, great conversation and superb views made for a terrific day. Too bad we can't repeat it tomorrow. We also spaced out coming down Nelson Crag but hiked back up to get to the Alpine Garden trail over to the cutoff & Chandler. Lots of fine waterfalls on Great Gulf and Chandler. Excellent views into the Great Gulf and the peaks to the north of it from Nelson Crag & the winter cutoff. The various trails into and out of the Great Gulf are some of the best we've been on. Great fun. It was nice to chat with Guy again on top. Thanks Pepper and Erica for such a splendid day.  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-09-20 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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