Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway, NH |
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| Trails: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail, Rollins Trail, Dicey's Mill Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 18, 2018 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No issues plenty of room today |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
We crossed on the tree at the one big crossing on Dicey's Mill, no issues on all other smaller ones |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
About 6-8 duck unders, a few were a pain today and a few others that are 12"+ diameter will be a big pain with another 2-3 feet of snow. Otherwise no major issues - nice new signs at the Dicey's Mill/East Loop junction |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
Hannah had a great day - she did well going up the ledges but she's an experienced winter hiking dog, I wouldn't take a more novice dog or one not comfortable with ice on Blueberry Ledge trail. Saw one other dog also having a good time |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Thanks LRiz for yesterday's info, things changed a bit today - clockwise trip, we started in spikes, too bony down low for snowshoes, switched to snowshoes about halfway between Blueberry Ledge Cutoff and Tom Wiggin junctions when the track was less consolidated and we started sinking a bit (and televators were immensely helpful on the steps). The ledges were navigable with care, first few were the trickiest with the most ice but they had increasing snow cover with elevation which helped - I wouldn't want to descend them though, that would be very sketchy with any kind of traction in a few places. Decent snowshoe track on Rollins, clearly some people not wearing snowshoes had come through which chopped it up but the snow was light enough where we could pack it down more. Few short stretches of open water on Dicey's Mill between Rollins and East Loop junctions but not worth taking snowshoes off. Good track up to Passaconaway summit, the snow has already filled in lots of the crappy parts, yay! Switched back to spikes at the main crossing on Dicey's Mill cause we didn't want to cross the log with snowshoes, otherwise may have been able to wear snowshoes a tiny bit longer but open areas and hard crusty ice appeared around that area anyways and spikes were easier by that point. As for other nearby trails, Blieberry Ledge Cutoff and McCrillis Path were both broken out but not consolidated, one set of snowshoes tracks on Tom Wiggin, East Loop and Walden trail (we broke out the very short section between Passaconaway summit and the northern view ledge), and no recent activity on McCrillis trail or Kate Sleeper trail. Overall great day with more winter than average in November - if you're hiking the loop soon please wear snowshoes up high - do your part to help continue packing the trail down don't just assume other people will do it for you! - saw about a dozen other people, fortunately most were also wearing snowshoes. Thanks Ali and Hannah for a great day |
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| Name: |
Hikes with Hannah |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-11-18 |
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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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