| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Slide Peak, Mt. Isolation, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Glen Boulder Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 6, 2015 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of parking in a series of small lots at the Glen Ellis Falls parking area. Lightly overflowing by mid-afternoon. This is a fee lot, so pay the iron ranger or get yourself a yearly pass. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only a couple small ones on the Glen Boulder Trail, trivial right now. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Glen Boulder Trail is fine maintenance-wise. Davis Path was mostly fine, though many of the old bog bridges between North Isolation and Isolation are rotting away, leaving some pretty good mud pits, even with the very dry weather. Some work to prevent erosion will be necessary. The blowdown patches along the Davis Path from Hurricane Sandy a couple years ago are mostly cleaned up and easily passed, though a widow-maker or two remains leaning across the trail. Thanks to those that cleaned this up. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one happy golden hauling a big stick up to Glen Boulder. Saw the same dog later as it left Isolation, sans stick. Doing trail maintenance perhaps? Little to no water on this route, and some rough rock above treeline. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Some black flies pestered me as I worked on getting down the scramble at treeline on the Glen Boulder Trail. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
There was a pair of prescription eyeglasses on the Davis Path/Glen Boulder junction sign. I brought them home, if they are yours, drop me a line and describe them and I'll send them to you. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
I finally got to the Glen Boulder route to Isolation. Definitely a harder route, with above-treeline rock-hopping and a lot more climbing, but awesome views on such a gorgeous day. The first 2.25 miles of the Glen Boulder Trail are extremely steep and was a tough climb and descent(pounding away on the feet), but the rest of the route was pretty easy going. Even the 1000-foot climb back up to the Glen Boulder Trail on the exit hike was not too bad. Haze limited views, but the best views from the summit are of the Presidentials anyway, which were great as always.
Many backpackers out and about, most seemed to have come from the Southern end of the Davis Path, and of course a number of day-hikers, but not that busy overall. Most dayhikers came up via Rocky Branch, and reported limited mud overall, which as many know is almost unheard of on that approach. But it's been really dry lately. Heading down Glen Boulder, there were a number of folks still heading up (most didn't appear to be heading to Isolation at least), and in the parking lot a guy asking where "the trail to the top of the mountain" was. At 3:30PM. Really??? |
|
 | Name: |
madmattd |
|
 | E-Mail: |
madmattd2001_AT_gmail_DOT_com(no dashes) |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2015-09-07 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://mattshikes.blogspot.com |
|
|
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. |
|
