Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Twin, South Twin, West Bond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
North Twin Trail, herd path, North Twin Spur, Twinway, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, November 30, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Haystack Road was open - yippee ki yi. Road and parking area are icy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
As Little River goes, it was an easy crossing today. Did the herd path to avoid first two crossings. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Blowdown - severe leaners - individual trees that need cutting:
North Twin Trail and Twinway had just a few - half dozen or so. However, about 1/2 mile above the Little River crossing is a tangle of blowdown that requires bushwhacking around. North Twin Spur had just one IIRC.
Bondcliff Trail from Mt. Guyot to West Bond Spur I counted 30. West Bond Spur had 60-65. Everything was easy enough to get over, under, or around but will likely become more problematic with more snow. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Long day for most dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The goal today was just West Bond, a straggler I needed to finish out November Grid #3. Decided to do the out and back via the Twins as opposed to the Z-B traverse and its many miles of flat walking. I barebooted the whole thing but carried spikes; there were some icy sections but I found them easy to negotiate sans traction.
Saw fresh bear tracks at about 3500 ft. on North Twin Trail! :) Delighted to catch up to a familiar face and join forces to South Twin, whereupon we went our separate ways. Thanks for the conversation, Jack.
Twinway had a solid and consistent foot plus of snow whenever I measured with my poles. Nearing Guyot were the usual deeper drifts, some above the knee. If I’d schlepped snowshoes up there, I’d have worn them!! Would have been easier walking for sure. (Why I checked the box for snowshoes.) Bondcliff Trail and West Bond Spur had the Halloween storm blowdowns as mentioned above. Winds were gusty but manageable over Guyot. LOTS of bunny tracks up high, some of them scary big. :D
Contemplated doing the loop over Zealand, Hale, and down Firewardens but couldn’t muster up enough excitement for Lend-A-Hand Trail so returned via the same route. Met another solo hiker, Tom, on South Twin. Skies grew more interesting as the day wore on w/ interesting clouds and a pink layer looking south... |
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 | Name: |
Snowflea |
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 | E-Mail: |
muddylegs2004 @ yahoo |
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 | Date Submitted: |
2017-12-01 |
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 | Link: |
https:// |
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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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