| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Liberty, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bike path, Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, February 20, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot was recently plowed but had 4-6" of fresh powder, churned up powder and ruts. Saw one guy in up to his chassis on the snowmobile trail. I think he thought it was the exit. A little tricky for small cars like mine but not horrible. It was pretty well packed down when I left. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only one true river crossing and it was completely bridged (although snow is very soft and deep off track). Many minor brook crossings in the hardwood portion of hike were generally bridged or had some open holes that were easily negotiated. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Not a whole lot of blazes (or likely many obscured by snow on trees) and they're on the older side. Zero blowdowns but there are a few high leaners toward the top that could turn into issue (not well supported). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fresh light powder may be tricky for dogs sinking in, especially just below the summit. Otherwise great. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
n/a |
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|
 | Comments: |
Pretty awesome conditions today. Lower sections of trail in hardwoods had an old track covered in 2-8" of very light powder. Was like walking on pillows. Shortly after the "sharp left" the powder was firmer and more dense, probably 6-10" with some knee deep drifts here and there. The snow is getting fairly deep so branches are well down into head and chest range in places. Franconia Ridge Trail was almost all drifts, many very deep. There was a particularly bad one just before you emerge from trees that was well over my waist and so fluffy it was almost like you were swimming in place. Summit sections were generally exposed rocks with plenty of firm snow to maneuver through in between. On way out the snow was much heavier and wetter from the "sharp left turn" to bike path. Saw three other guys out there so a decent track is back in place. Winds were very intermittent on top, oscillating between 5-25mph. Decided to skip Flume because of the heavy drifting and how long it took me to summit and hang out on summit awhile instead. Bright sun quickly gave way to high clouds as I was hiking down. |
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 | Name: |
DayTrip |
|
 | E-Mail: |
bblanchette0709@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-02-20 |
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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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