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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Washington, NH
Trails
Trails: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Trinity Heights Connector, Gulfside, Jewell Trail, Jewell Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 18, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Cog parking area was almost full when I arrived around 8am. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No issues. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A couple of blowdowns on Jewell. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Sure. Saw a few happy ones. 
Bugs
Bugs: Nope. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: What an incredible day on the rockpile. Light winds, clear skies, sunburn-worthy sun and mostly good conditions. I will say this right up front: the wooded sections of these trails are broken out but not fully consolidated. Snowshoes are needed.

Easy snowshoeing up to Gem Pool and the steeps. The waterfall crossing is bridged solid. Above treeline, ART meanders in places from the actual route, but gets you there.

CP is a mix of snow, ice and exposed boulders. There is one large icy snow field that must be traversed between the hut and the summit. I did it in snowshoes with aggressive traction, but I'd recommend crampons. I saw a couple in spikes on this stretch, but I'd want something more secure. A slip would result in a long slide down.

Snow, ice and boulders all the way to the JT junction, making for tricky walking in snowshoes. Gulfside had some postholes. Once you hit treeline on Jewell, there is a deep base of snow which makes for easy cruise down. The snow is very unconsolidated though. Jewell was soft and sticky in the afternoon with the sun and warming temps. Water crossing on the Jewell spur is solidly bridged. Jewell also wanders off course a bit above treeline.

I wore snowshoes round trip, even if it did result in a bunch of clacking. Lots of folks switched to crampons at the hut.  
Name
Name: KenM 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kmacgray@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-03-18 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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