Mt. Jefferson - Castle Trail, Jefferson Loop, Gulfside, Randolph Path, Lowe's Path - 5-21-2017

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	Mt. Jefferson, NH

	Trails:	Castle Trail, Jefferson Loop, Gulfside, Randolph Path, Lowe's Path

	Date of Hike:	Sunday, May 21, 2017

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Large enough lot to hold whoever wants to come

	Surface Conditions:	Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches

	Recommended Equipment:

	Water Crossing Notes:	You will get wet at the Israel River crossing unless you can balance on a 4" diameter downed tree. I chose to remove socks and boots - a chilling experience at 6:00a.m. on a 32Â° morning

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	Lots of debris on the Castle Trail, a couple blowdowns

	Dog-Related Notes:

	Bugs:	None in the morning as it was a cold day, but in the afternoon back in the trees they played tag with my head

	Lost and Found:	A fellow who I crossed paths with on Lowe's Path had a Canon lens cap that he found. Not mine.


	Comments:	An uncharacteristically calm day above treeline. No snow or ice on Castle Trail except for a few minor and avoidable patches amongst the Castles. Two snowfields on Gulfside on the flank of Jefferson. One is not a big deal if you slip, the other one is much steeper and would take you for a ride. I barebooted but it wasn't entirely safe. On Randolph Path there were some deep but short snow patches in the upper reaches. As noted above, a very exhilarating walk across the Israel River. I had planned to descend via Castle Ravine Trail but could hear the river roaring when I was up at the Castles and didn't want to deal with the multiple crossings that the CRT had to offer and instead went down Lowe's Path.

	Name:	Eric Storm

	E-Mail:

	Date Submitted:	2017-05-22

	Link:	https://
		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.