| 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: |
Saturday, November 8, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking off Route 16. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Used the Engine Hill bushwhack and the herd path after that to skip all but the last crossing. Some people crossed right at the trail but needed light traction to do so safely, I went a little upstream and crossed with bare boots just fine. Others we met did all 5 crossings but didn't exactly enjoy them. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The same old giant head-knocker a short ways in, and some of the usual wilderness-style step-overs and duck-unders. The area near the Isolation Trail/Davis Path junction has been cleaned up pretty well though a few blowdowns remain that will become an issue when we get a good snowpack.
The sign for the Isolation Spur is there, the same temporary sign that has been there for a while now. There was a new wooden sign at the Davis Path/Isolation Trail junction. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a couple enjoying themselves. Nothing too tricky for them on this one, other than guaranteed wet paws (and likely snowballing). |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Pulled some flagging out of the Engine Hill bushwhack. Why people... |
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 | Comments: |
A great day to visit Isolation. This was the plan B route as I wasn't feeling into Glen Boulder given the forecasts (probably would have been fine after all). I left just behind and ended up hiking much of the day with a grid finisher and a soon-to-be grid finisher that I had hiked with last winter, they were great company, thanks guys! Also ran into Jason on our way down and it was great to chat for the descent from Engine Hill. Good to see a fair number of people out, a rough split of Glen Boulder and Rocky Branch approaches. Several folks spending the night out there too. A light breeze up top, but somewhat clearing skies (even Washington was in the clear) and great views as always.
Snow-wise, it was a trace near the start, gradually increasing to around 5" near the top. Not enough to need snowshoes yet, but traction could be helpful here and there (I managed fine with bare boots all day though). From the first height of land to the start of the bushwhack was a rather obnoxious mix of snow and standing water, and thin ice over calf-deep water. It was better in the afternoon though, mostly just standing water with enough rocks to hop on. The start of the bushwhack was similarly wet, but the latter part was mostly fine. More of the mixed bag of snow, ice, and standing water up to a little before the Davis Path, after which it dried up considerably and then was just the snow to contend with which was not an issue. |
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 | Name: |
madmattd |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-11-08 |
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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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