| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 11, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Base Station Rd. was plowed, but not too well- there is a layer of snow a 1/2 in. to an inch thick almost the whole way. If you have a small car without AWD, use caution...
That said, plenty of parking at the hikers' lot at the Base Station. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All bridged- both by wood and by ice. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A duck-under and a step-over near the Base Station. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one that looked cold, but happy. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Trail conditions were kind of mixed. Down low and for most of the steep last mile to the hut, it was decently well-packed, and I wore spikes for that section. Right in front of (behind?) LOC hut, there was thick, sheet ice all over the place that required careful stepping. From here to Monroe's summit, full traction would probably be best, but I got by in spikes.
The Crawford Path from the hut to the Mt. Monroe Loop wasn't even a trail- it was a sea of ice. I had to walk around it all to get to the junction. The first 1/2 of the northern half of the loop was a mix of solid snow and ice, which could be negotiated without problems. I soon came to a very steep (and unpacked) pitch. I put my snowshoes on, hoping they would help, but apparently no dice. I tried to go up it but couldn't. I then tried another way, but no luck. I started to turn around, but a kind fellow hiker gave me a tip as to how to approach it (kick in steps, slam feet into ground for extra grip), so back up I went, and after a few minutes, I was standing on top of my 5th winter 4K. It was frigid and windy (but the views were awesome), so back down I went after a few minutes.
On the descent, I wore snowshoes for the whole thing and was able to descend with almost no problems. Fortunately, the clouds and snow rolled in after I went below treeline, so I'm glad I got my views! |
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 | Name: |
Spencer |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-01-11 |
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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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