| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Washington, Mt. Monroe, Mt. Franklin, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Pierce, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Jewell Trail, Gulfside, Cog Tracks, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Eisenhower Loop, Webster Cliff Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 20, 2014 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Spotted a car in Crawford Notch and parked at the cog lot. Plenty of room at both in the morning, looks like the cog lot may have gotten fairly full later? |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No crossings big enough to mention, most snowbridges on Crawford Path still intact and fairly solid looking. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few minor blowdowns in the upper reaches of the Jewell Trail below treeline. Everything fine above treeline.
Something should be done at the Edmands Path/Gulfside junction to make it clear that the Eisenhower Loop is off the Edmands Path, we knew this and still muffed it, had to backtrack a short way. Such signage might mean folks stop making the extra herd path cut overs in this area to get back to the loop.... |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any but no real issues to mention. |
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 | Bugs: |
Nope |
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 | Lost and Found: |
One of us lost a black glove liner on the lower part of the Jewell Trail. |
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|
 | Comments: |
A SPECTACULAR day above treeline, just what we needed after this winter.
The trails were in great shape and the snowshoes got a long free ride today. There is little snow/ice left on the Jewell Trail below treeline, rarely more than 6" or so. Same above treeline except for some wind packed snowfields between Washington and the hut, and a ton of breakable ice by the hut.
Lots of spikes on, spikes off between Monroe and Pierce, it was largely bootable but the traction was useful at times. Burned up the spikes some, oh well. Fair bit of snow still between Eisenhower and Pierce, and some monorail showing, but it was firm enough today to bare boot or spike. Might be obnoxious in a few days, might not. Monorail most of the way down from Pierce, but very solid and still plenty wide, no problem at all. We had brought snowshoes mainly for the Mizpah-Jackson stretch but ran out of time today, so the snowshoes rode the packs...
On the way to Washington we walked the cog tracks for a few tenths of a mile to avoid the icy lip along the Great Gulf Headwall. We also discovered that there is a nice established loop over Franklin, we didn't know about that and so we made use of it. Good to see that versus trampled herd paths everywhere.
We had a fabulous day with near ideal weather and great trail conditions. Sunny, hardly a breath of wind, temps just over freezing, and 100+ mile views. Nice to hike in short sleeves most of the day. Easily saw Jay Peak, Mansfield, Camels Hump, Sugarbush, and Killington in VT, and the Rangeley Peaks in Maine. Quiet on the trails, we saw maybe a dozen people at most all day. No line on Washington for summit pictures, woohoo! Thanks Theresa for joining me on this great trek! |
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 | Name: |
madmattd |
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 | E-Mail: |
madmattd at hotmail etc etc |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-04-20 |
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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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