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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Slide Peak, Mt. Isolation, North Isolation, NH
Trails
Trails: Glen Boulder Trail, Davis Path, bushwhack, Isolation Spur, Isolation Trail, bushwhack, Rocky Branch Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, April 24, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Spotted a car at Rocky Branch trailhead, plowed lot, the only car there all day. Parked at Glen Ellis Falls parking access road for Glen Boulder Trail (lot not plowed but can park along the access road) 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Water running high at Rocky Branch crossing #5, the only one we crossed (due to taking the Engine Hill bushwhack route plus the short bushwhack to avoid crossings #3 and 4). We searched for a better crossing but ended up rock hopping and getting our feet somewhat wet. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Lots of blowdowns all along the route- Glen Boulder Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Trail, and Rocky Branch Trail 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Eva did well, only postholing a few times, she stayed on top of the snowpack. Stream crossing no problem for her. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We knew we might be in for a challenge and this route did not disappoint. Hip-deep postholes littered the first part of the Glen Boulder Trail. We were surprised how challenging the Glen Boulder Tr was, especially the section in the trees between Glen Boulder and Slide Peak. The snowpack is still 4-5 ft deep there and it's very tough to stay on the trail. We wore snowshoes all through that part. With the deep snowpack you walk high in the canopy and have to push through thick, sharp spruce and fir branches, continually wondering if you're on the trail. Took us a long time to make it through!

Glad to find bare ground/rock for a bit until the Davis Path junction and then a bit on Davis Path as we headed south. Then a consistent 4 ft snowpack for many miles, including Isolation Tr and high part of Rocky Branch. Snowshoes necessary!! North Isolation summit was easy to find this time with the deep snowpack, instead of pushing through thick blowdowns. Rocky Branch Trail more consolidated and easy to follow, as it has had much! more traffic than Davis Path. Monorail generally holding up still. Took the Engine Hill bushwhack cutoff, always a pleasure to walk through the birches! Conditions great there, with snowshoes. Rocky Branch Tr from there to the end was a mixed bag- 2 ft of snow and monorail alternating with bare ground and running water, very tough to decide about snowshoes, as we postholed badly without them. Even all bare ground for last mile+ to trailhead.  
Name
Name: Donna D 
E-Mail
E-Mail: winnie@vermontel.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-04-26 
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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