| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Chocorua, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bolles Trail, Bee Line, Brook Trail, Liberty Trail, Piper Trail, Champney Falls Trail, Champney Falls Cutoff, Pitcher Falls Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 26, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot wasn't very busy today which initially surprised me (we didn't get an early start) but after seeing the ice I can see why, assuming people read the trail reports. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Blue |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock hops. Bolles has plenty of crossings but water levels are modest. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No significant maintenance items. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper had fun. Good thing he's adept on ice because there was plenty of it. He even took his second sip n dip of the season on Bolles and enjoyed drinking from water puddles on the summit. He waded the first stream crossing going it but rock hopped going out. We saw several other dogs on the summit. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
A hike with variety. Bolles had many crossings but none were difficult. There was ice that was easier in microspikes going up to the height of land, but from there to Bee Line and much of Bee Line it was mostly clear and pretty dry trail. Brook had some icy ledges and I put on my older Hillsounds which with care were enough. On the summit cone it was ice then ledge then ice, etc. so I put the Hillsounds on and off several items. The summit was clear. The ledges on Piper were mostly clear with pockets of snow/ice that could mostly be avoided. The woods were snow/ice, microspikes were beneficial. Champney Falls was a long long ice flow. I put on the new Hillsounds and benefitted from the warmer temps softening it a bit, more so as we got lower in elevation. We went up and down the Cutoff which was better than Champney Falls but it had a few tricky ice spots; the potentially dangerous area with the view was quite easy as the sun softened the ice almost to slush. Then it was back to ice on Champney Falls. I took the new Hillsounds off at the first signs of open trail, but put them back on for the descent at Champney Falls & Pitcher Falls. I removed them again with open trail and although most of the trail from then on was ice, it was flat enough with enough small debris that it was easy going.
Pepper had no problems on all those icy slopes; I needed the new Hillsounds and even then on the descent I was pretty cautious. But I saw 6 people coming up in microspikes; it was doable as the ice was softening, but I still couldn't imagine coming down in them, particularly up high with the north aspect, canopy shade, colder temps and greater slope. I guess I'm getting soft. There were a fair number of people on the summit but it wasn't as crowded as I expected. Most came up Piper, one group came up Carter Ledge and they said traction was needed for the ice on it. They said the summer parking as open for Piper.
It was a beautiful day for this hike. Thanks Pepper.
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-03-26 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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