Mt. Monroe - Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop - 1-31-2016

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Mt. Monroe, NH

	Trails:	Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop

	Date of Hike:	Sunday, January 31, 2016

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Plenty of parking all plowed out

	Surface Conditions:	Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky

	Recommended Equipment:	Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction

	Water Crossing Notes:	No problems though ice bridge across the river was disappearing rapidly and rocks were re-appearing

	Trail Maintenance Notes:

	Dog-Related Notes:	Don't see any problems for dogs. Open water ava along trail

	Bugs:

	Lost and Found:


	Comments:	We used microspikes up to the summit and back to the hut, but we thought maybe snowshoes would have been better option for going up - just enough loosely packed snow over the ice on the steep pitch above Gem pool that we had to work a little harder with the microspikes. Also a little bit of snow buildup on the bottom of the microspikes as temps climbed. Ledges had some ice but also packed snow so we could avoid the ice for the most part. It was softening up by the time we came down. Used full crampons for the descent which were great, very quick and easy descent. One in our party had the Hillsound trail crampons and he did fine as well. Don't think microspikes would have been as good. Only a little bit of drifting to stomp through once we came out of the trees, tried to stay to the side of trail to avoid postholing on trail. With the upcoming precipitation, warm temps and winds the trail conditions will be changing rapidly so this report will probably be useless by tomorrow!

	Name:	Sugaree

	E-Mail:	barkers@alumni.unh.edu

	Date Submitted:	2016-02-01

	Link:	https://
		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.