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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lafayette (attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Skookumchuck Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, October 26, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction, Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All easily rock-hopped 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: one large tree down to duck under 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: seems like a fine trail for dogs 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We started out on a leaf covered trail which gradually became covered with snow, inch by inch. It is a very rocky trail, and by the time the snow was 6" deep it was very slow going. We were continually sliding on the rocks as the snow was so dry it just slid off wherever we stepped. We hadn't been on the trail before so had no idea what was underfoot. Sometimes our poles disappeared nearly up to the grip where the side of the trail sort of dropped off. There was one small ledge section that was covered with ice so we bushwacked around to the right which was fine. Very little actual ice on the trail so we bare-booted it. Not enough snow for snowshoes either. Once up on the Garfield Ridge Trail it alternated from knee-deep drifts to wind-blown, so our apologies for the post-holes. Will remember to check the weather history as well as the forecast in the future. It was tough finding the trail at times because the cairns were totally snow covered. Turned around about 2/3 of the way to Lafayette due to time and knowing that it was going to be a slow, painstaking descent. Beautiful day though despite the cold and wind. One strange thing was the tips of our poles got coated with frozen mud, so that it was like having a rubber tip on them. Had to keep knocking it off because the poles were just sliding around. Never seen that before!  
Name
Name: Sugaree 
E-Mail
E-Mail: barkers@alumni.unh.edu 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-10-27 
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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