| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 17, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot was plowed well and had room for many cars. Only one large white van parked directly in the middle of the lot when I arrived (?). Two cars when I left. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The 5 crossings on Isolation Trail were all bridged, although there are open holes and ice is undermined. I did the 1,2 and 5th crossings. The 3 and 4th crossing were bridged but there was a track bypassing so I stayed on it. The real issue with crossings today were the many little brooks on Isolation and Rocky Branch. Most had deep holes open to the ground and open water (few inches) but the snow around them was very soft. Easy to post hole up to your waist even in snow shoes in many places. Many of these areas are chewed up. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Generally fine. I don't recall seeing any blazes on Rocky Branch Trail. The blow down area on Isolation just before reaching Davis Path had numerous minor step overs and duck unders. I had to kneel to get under two (I'm 6'3"). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any but I think they would have been fine on the trails. |
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 | Bugs: |
none |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Group of 4 (only people I saw all day) said they lost a phone somewhere and I actually found it in a post hole near one of the river crossings and was able to get it back to them later in day. |
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 | Comments: |
Trails are in decent shape. Rocky Branch had a fairly solid, granular and somewhat uneven track pretty much all the way to Isolation Trail. There were some softer sections in the upper sections of the climb I think because the current track was not always on the actual trail or previous track. Never saw any evidence of the Engine Hill bushwhack. There was a fresh set of bare boot prints in the track that stayed on trail so I kept on the trail until it was obvious I wasn't going to hit the whack and was committing to the standard Summer route. At the Isolation junction the bare boot tracks turned left down Rocky Branch. Isolation Trail had not been touched but had the lumpy tracks of one or two snow shoe travelers so I put mine on. The track was crusty but not terrible. Many sections had been obscured by 6 or so inches of fresh powder but could be followed until track reapperaed. Biggest problem in lower sections was the snow was so deep it was a wrestling match with all the branches, which were down to my chest in many spots. The higher I got the trail was more open. The track cuts off the last "up/down" section approaching Davis Path. Davis Path was much of the same, although firmer with some crusty ice and firm waves of drifts on the early knobs. Climb to spur was a little fluffier. Spur was well covered with snow and easy. Summit generally ice and rock with crusty snow. I wore snowshoes all the way back but the group of four I passed (and later followed) were only in spikes. All in all the track is probably somewhat better but could use more foot traffic.
Important note: On the way back I decided I would attempt to locate the Engine Hill Bushwhack. DO NOT FOLLOW. I still hadn't seen any track so around 3200' I worked my way into the trees and followed that contour line, drifting up or down a bit toward open areas to see if I could find track. Never saw it. And after the first 0.2 miles or so I started having major problems with post holing and spruce traps. Snow is very deep - sunk in up to my arm pits many times, especially in the open areas. Eventually I gave up on finding the birch glades and just tried to stay in the hardwoods to reduce the chances of post holing. Right before regaining the trail I also did a nice "loop" where I thought I saw the little swamp on Rocky Branch near height of land and pushed toward it only to discover it wasn't it and I was working away from trail. Long story short, don't follow my track and I would recommend not trying to rebreak the whack unless you're in a decent sized group. Snow is very deep. |
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 | Name: |
DayTrip |
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 | E-Mail: |
bblanchette0709@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-02-18 |
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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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