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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Slide Peak, Mt. Isolation, NH
Trails
Trails: Glen Boulder Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur, Isolation Trail, Rocky Branch Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 24, 2015
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: No issues 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Many blowdowns and duck-unders on Davis Path closer to Isolation trail 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: No problems 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Found a brown wool hat with a white stripe on Davis Path. We put it next to the welcome trail map next to Glen Ellis Falls parking lot. 
 
Comments
Comments: We did this trip as a two day backpack. Started in Glen Ellis parking lot, went up Glen Boulder trail to Slide Peak. It was extremely windy above treeline (perhaps 40-50 mph). Winds started around the Glen Boulder and didn't really die down until we went below treeline again on the other side of Davis Path. Glen Boulder trail is free of snow except a little 1/4 mile stretch in the trees above the Glen Boulder before the final push to Slide Peak. There is a mostly stable monorail here with postholes, but traction wasn't required - you just have to be a bit careful with footing.

After the descent into the trees on Davis Path, a stable monorail starts up for maybe a half mile. Since the trail is still descending at this point, I strongly recommend using microspikes for this part, unless you are really good at skiing downhill in boots. Once you get deeper into the wilderness there were some points where is was hard to make out the trail because of blowdowns (there is a lot of storm damage here), so just pay attention to where the postholes are and you should be fine. After the monorail ends, the trail is mostly dry.

We were going pretty slow and it was starting to get late so we decided to find a campsite near the first river crossing on Rocky Branch trail, instead of continuing on to Isolation. Rocky Branch trail is basically a small river at this point with all the melting snow. We found a nice place to set up camp near the first river crossing about 3/4 mile in, spent the night, and did Isolation in the morning. Great views from the summit of Isolation (shared with a bunch of Gray Jays!). Backtracked all the way back to Glen Boulder (no spikes needed on the ascent) and enjoyed the exquisite views hiking down to the parking lot. Really a pleasant weekend to be out in the backcountry.  
Name
Name: psuhiker 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2015-05-25 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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