| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, December 12, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Was plowed after we arrived and we got boxed in by snow-banks. Managed to escape.
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There is water in most of the small streams but they are not a problem.
3rd crossing of Rocky Branch looked bridged but we did not attempt it and I would not trust it.
We crossed at the 5th crossing and it is almost bridged (ice) with 6" of fresh snow on top. There is a crack of open water which requires a jump on the ice. Part of the bridged area collapsed under Cinnilla but she was over it and avoided the water. Test the ice carefully before crossing. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A handful of blowdowns in area around the tent-site are easy "duck-unders" now but with a good snow-layer some of them are going to awkward to deal with. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A good snow-layer made for much improved conditions compared to the past few weeks. No trouble for Cinnilla today but it was hard to keep her paws from balling up. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Georg, Cinnilla and I decided to stay below tree-line today (except for the very summit of Mt. Isolation, of course). The few minutes at the top verified that decision! We measured -10F at the spur where we left our packs before heading up to the peak.
2-6" of fresh snow depending of location. Drifts up to 18" along Davis Path. We might have used snowshoes if we had brought them today - but it is still a marginal decision.
Ice did not trouble us although on some sections the ice only has minimal snow cover.
The Engine Hill bushwhack was broken out but we lost the trail after 15 minutes, found it again and lost it again. With more snow in the forecast this may not be relevant for long - but anyone trying to follow the trails should expect to have route choices and to find a few dead-ends.
There are surprisingly many semi-wet sections - especially on the bushwhack section. Wet boots hard to avoid. |
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 | Name: |
LongMark |
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 | E-Mail: |
perfrost@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-12-12 |
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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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