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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Jefferson, NH
Trails
Trails: The Link, Castle Trail, Jefferson Loop, Gulfside, Randolph Path, Gray Knob Trail, Perch Path, Spur, Amphibrach
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, May 20, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: There were only a few cars there in the morning, more on my return but still plenty of room. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Blue, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Rock steps 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Link had a few new big time blowdowns, one a ways W of Cliffway, another a ways W of Lowe's, a half dozen or so E of Lowe's tapering off until another cluster at Emerald Bluff. I picked, kicked and flicked a lot of small to 3 or 4" branches out of the trail but more remains. But Link was overall a joy to hike, even the climb up to Castle which looks tougher from below than it really is. All signs were up although Randolph's at Israel Ridge is getting pretty beat up. Amphibrach had a couple places where people are walking outside the trail bed due to wet/mud. More below on ice/snow. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Pepper had fun. Link from Emerald Bluff to Castle, and Castle above that can be a challenge for dogs; they are relatively steep, there is a lot of ledge and boulders with sharp crystals, there is a lot of exposure to the sun and wind, there is not a lot of water and no sip n dips, and the route is long. But Pepper has been on them enough to know just what to do; he seems to remember the trails much better than me.  
Bugs
Bugs: None all day until we were in the parking lot at the end, when the black flies attacked. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: There were small patches of ice on Link's climb to Castle and Castle in the Castle section, but they were easily avoided. We took the Jefferson Loop towards Washington to Gulfside, then Gulfside north to Randolph, and were surprised to run into quite a bit of snow. It wasn't continuous, more a series of "fields" and it was solid, no postholing. One of them was such a slip wouldn't be good, but they were soft enough I wasn't worried. The annual snowfield on Jefferson Loop heading N was also solid, and I used existing footprints to avoid a risk of sliding. There was a little bit of softening ice on Gray Knob and Perch Path, except for Gray Knob between the RMC's Gray Knob and Crag Camp where there was a pretty good coverage. I had my older Hillsounds, but in today's heat and the relatively flat slopes, I just barebooted these. But on a cold morning spikes might still be a good idea. Spur had just a few ice patches which could be avoided, although people are widening the trail by doing so.

We met only one person all the way until we got near to the Perch, and he was scouting out Link at the time and clearing some of the broken branches. We had a nice visit, talking about trails, Hillsounds, snowshoes and more. Suddenly at the Perch, and then Gray Knob and Crag Camp, there were quite a few people and some dogs. The Perch and its tentsites were all full; I've never seen that before.

We couldn't get access to the Success Pond Rd, so we ended up doing this hike, starting a little later than I would have liked, so we didn't do the Cliffway complex. I was worried about Pepper in the full sun above treeline; he still needs a summer furcut and time to acclimate to heat. But it turned out to be quite comfy in the cool temps, light wind and partly even at times mostly cloudy sky. It really was a great day to hike above treeline, while the trails down low were a delightful woods walk, with some squeaky toys for Pepper to chase and some sip n dips. Thanks Pepper for another great day playing hooky.  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-05-20 
Link
Link: https:// 
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