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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lincoln, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Liberty, Mt. Flume, NH
Trails
Trails: Old Bridle Path, Greenleaf Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail, Osseo Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 1, 2015
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The lots were slippery but plowed.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All of the water crossings were bridged.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There were a few blowdowns along the ridge below tree line but they look like they have been there for quite a while since there is a path around them. There is also one big one on Lincoln Woods Trail with a trail around it.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: We didn't lose or find anything but there were a couple of kids in the Lincoln Woods parking lot looking for a lost cell phone.  
 
Comments
Comments: Did this one with Monica and a small group from the Random Group of Hikers. We had planned to do it on Saturday but the forecasted wind chills forced a reschedule. As it turned out we missed the incredibly clear skies on Saturday but had mild temperatures and calm winds on Sunday.

Old Bridle Path was rock hard and even though could have likely done it in spikes I'm wearing the snowshoes if I have them with me - better traction and heel lifts. There were glimpses of the ridge as we crossed the bumps before the hit - it was gray but there didn't seem to be any wind.

We played leapfrog with a couple of guys up to the hut and then passed them for good on the way up to Lafayette. There were some strong winds for the final 1/3 of a mile before Lafayette and then for about 1/2 mile down towards Truman but after that little to no wind at all.

There were a few bare spots along the ridge where we could have taken the snowshoes off but didn't feel like switching back and forth so kept them on. Passed a couple of guys on their way up to Lafayette near Lincoln and then a couple of more guys resting at the junction for Falling Waters Trail.

The section of trail along the ridge between tree line and Liberty was a soft mushy mess - lots of sinking even with snowshoes on. The trail at the junction with Liberty Springs Trail turned back into a concrete walkway. Because we were able to get a ride from Lincoln Woods we changed plans and went down Osseo Trail instead of turning around and using Liberty Spings Trail.

The upper portion of the Osseo Trail was a rutted out mess created by one or more postponing savants. It looked like the went knee to hip deep with pretty much every step. Can't imagine it was much fun. The lowere portion was harder and the postholes were only ankle deep down there.  
Name
Name: Michael & Monica 
E-Mail
E-Mail: michaelfrancisblair@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2015-03-02 
Link
Link: https://www.meetup.com/random-hikers/events/219747473/? 
Bookmark and Share 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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