| 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: |
Monday, December 30, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot off route 16 was plowed out nicely. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The couple upper crossings on the Isolation Trail were bridged solidly enough for us, the first was a little questionable though. Lots of small seeps and open holes all over, mostly avoidable though. Some wet spots on the bushwhack which we did our best to avoid. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Several waist-high blowdowns, mostly above the wilderness boundary. Isolation Trail near Davis Path was in good shape, thanks to all that cleaned this up over the last year! Temporary sign at the Isolation Spur. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Lots of powder today, would have been tough. Probably fine now though lots of spots to get wet paws. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
You heard it here, Isolation is broken out through a solid foot of snow to the summit! Snowshoes are still REQUIRED as the snow did not pack nearly hard enough for barebooting/spiking, we even postholed in snowshoes a few times, and broke through to wet spots many times. That said, 5 of us did and out and back and left a nice snowshoe trough except down low where snowboarders in the afternoon wiped it out.
Our Engine Hill route has a few small PUDs in the middle and we also dropped to the trail a bit early, sorry about that, but it gets the job done. Always love those birch glades! Despite today's high winds, only minor filling of the trough occurred during the day, so hopefully everything stays clear until the next storm. We did not break out the common winter bypass of the campsites at the Davis/Isolation junction.
A super difficult day breaking trail in over a foot of new snow (with many 2-foot drifts), but the skies cleared nicely and we got good views from the top (aside from the high Presis which had thin clouds obscuring them). Huge thanks to Whitney, Denise, Kyle, and Chris for coming along on this tough day. Winter checkmarks for many! It was close, but I snuck this in to finish a 2013 round of the 48 and complete round 3 too. |
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 | Name: |
madmattd |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-12-30 |
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 | Link: |
 https://mattshikes.blogspot.com |
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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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