Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Washington (attempt), NH |
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| Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 18, 2015 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty at the lower hikers' lot at the Cog Base Rd. When I drove the Base Rd. around 6:45 AM, it was slick and snowy, and since I was driving a little FWD Kia, I drove slowly from the Mt. Washington Hotel to the TH. Was in better shape on the way out. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Drifts, Slush |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Ice Axe |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
All rock-hopped, but with care, since many of the exposed rocks were covered in snow, ice, or both. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No maintenance issues to speak of. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
I don't recommend taking dogs up here, or anywhere in the Presis, due to the slick trail conditions and the frigid temps/wind chills. |
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| Bugs: |
See ya next spring! |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
The plan was to head up to Washington from the west and see how far I could get. I ended up getting to the LOC hut, at 5,050'. Everywhere- from the trailhead parking lot to the hut- was coated in anywhere from an inch to a foot of powdery snow. Above 4000-4100', there was a lot of ice, so on went the spikes. I also brought and used an ice ax, which may have been a bit overkill, but it made the hike easier and more enjoyable. Windy and FRIGID at the hut! Wind chills had to be -15 to -20 F. Spent ten minutes at the hut, and after that I had enough. Too cold to hike 1.5 miles to George.
Moral of the story: Old Man Winter is here, and he's telling me to do a big-time gear upgrade.
I have posted a video on YouTube for those interested in "A Taste of Winter". T'is in the link below... |
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| Name: |
Spencer |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-10-18 |
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| Link: |
https://youtu.be/x4RMUqk4adE |
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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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