| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, Mt. Clay, Mt. Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Monroe Loop, Crawford Path, Trinity Heights Connector, Gulfside, Clay Loop, Jefferson Loop, Jewell Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 12, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Hiker lot was full with lots of skiers when I got there. The lot across from it filled while I was waiting, with all skiers. There was no work going on in this second lot although parts of it are filled with wood and rails. There is a frost heave on the access road a little ways after the service entrance to the hotel that can get you air, and (I'm told) a nice metal & pavement sound on returning to earth. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Skis |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Well bridged. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
We trimmed one new blowdown on Jewell to make it easier to step over. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pretty good day for Pepper. It was a bit windy in places but he's used to it. No snowballing, pawholing and lots of good views. We saw one dog on the trails, Marlie who was having fun with IQuest. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
We used Hillsounds up Ammo and kept them on until entering the woods on Jewell where we put on snowshoes. We saw some skiers skin up to Gem, and then switch to crampons or spikes. Jewell had seen some postholing, some deep just to the side of the packed center. The trail had mixes of softening spring snow and icy stretches, sometimes close together, and in the former bootprints would form and in the latter it was hard to see anyone had been there. Aspect was critical. Pepper redlined the section of Crawford Path that goes around Monroe, and there is one snowfield on that section that was hard and has a long steep drop, so we took it carefully kicking in steps. It was not a problem for Pepper. The sometimes tricky snowfield between Monroe and Washington was no problem in the Hillsounds, but without traction it would have been better to avoid by going up on the ridge. Same for a very short section of the Clay loop.
We saw a lot of skiers on the trails and up on the ridges particularly around Oakes Gulf. The Great Gully had only two people tentatively poking around with an ice axe before deciding not to ski it. It was a splendid day on the Presi peaks, with generally easy trails and nice weather (there was some wind especially in the gullys but it was tolerable), great vistas and absolutely wonderful companions. Compared to what I had planned, Pepper and I made out like bandits today. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-04-12 |
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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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