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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Isolation, NH
Trails
Trails: Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of room at the Rocky Branch lot off of NH16. Only 2 other cars this day. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The 5th crossing of Rocky Branch was manageable using a couple slightly submerged rocks. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Due to the amount of snow and being in a wilderness area, the Isolation Tr and Davis Path are very tight with bend overs and leaners. There are virtually no blazes and and the current path wanders off and on the trail proper. I would suggest being comfortable with back county navigation before attempting this hike until the snow melts. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Decent terrain for a dog but as the sun warmed the snow even Marlie was postholing. Also, there is a chance of the trail collapsing over small streams and seeps as well as an occasional spruce trap. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I was surprised to see three other hikers and a dog today. One of them I met on Jefferson a few weeks ago. The monorail started almost immediately although I could walk on either side of it. After about a mile I put on snowshoes as they were the best choice for the soft snow. This required some walking on rocks and mud but they were much more useful than light traction. The Engine Hill bushwhack was easy enough to navigate with several tracks staying mostly high but dropping down to the Isolation Tr at different spots. Nearing Davis Path I strayed from the trail proper and sunk in up to my waist a couple times. Davis Path was firm but very tight in spots and I had to "swim" through the spruce. There is still close to 4 feet of snow at higher elevations but the summit ledges are bare. On our return I was postholing along the Engine Hill bushwhack and on the Rocky Branch Tr even with snowshoes, sometimes knee deep. The trail at lower elevation is probably quite choppy now but perhaps it will melt a little faster.

13 mi 3300' elev+ 7 hr 5 min  
Name
Name: IQuest 
E-Mail
E-Mail: iandanner@hotmail com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-04-19 
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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