| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Crawford Path, Webster Cliff Trail, Eisenhower Loop, Monroe Loop, Gulfside, Jewell Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 26, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine parking still closed, there were only a couple of cars at Marshfield Station and Crawford Path at 6:30/7:00, both were pretty full when I left at 3:30/4:00. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Jewell Trail has some significant blowdowns that need to be squirmed between |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a couple of happy dogs on Monroe |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Beautiful day for a Southern Presi traverse + Washington. Blue skies, visibility to Atlantic and Long Range in VT. I only wore my lightest layers all day, no gloves/hat either and got a sunburn.
I parked at Marshfield and rode my bike to Crawford Path, Clinton Road is open, only a little ice close to Crawford parking lot. All trails were very icy, but the ice was soft due to temperature and sun. I saw about half the hikers using crampons and the other half using microspikes and hillsounds. I wore microspikes up to treeline and down Jewell Trail, but crampons the rest of the time. I would not have been comfortable with less than crampons above treeline and there were times I wish I had an ice ax (ice slide on Gulfside Trail into Great Gulf was sketchy, I would suggest snowwhacking around if there is enough snow coverage left after today). I saw probably 50 hikers today, most of which I talked to and it sounded like Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail is super icy and all suggested not going down it.
I have a ton of photos and videos to post on my blog, but it will take some time to process them all. |
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 | Name: |
maine-wanderlust.com |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-03-26 |
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 | Link: |
 http://maine-wanderlust.com |
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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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