None - Oliverian Brook Trail, Passaconaway Cutoff - 2-17-2019

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	None, NH

	Trails:	Oliverian Brook Trail, Passaconaway Cutoff

	Date of Hike:	Sunday, February 17, 2019

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	Small plowed lot just off the Kancamagus Highway can accommodate at least a half a dozen vehicles. The road to the larger lot at the trailhead is not plowed.

	Surface Conditions:	Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular

	Recommended Equipment:	Snowshoes

	Water Crossing Notes:	West Branch of Oliverian Brook crossed on weak snow/ice bridges. On the descent parts of the snow/ice collapsed in to the brook.

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	Some trees/branches leaning in to the trail or across trail but I could pass by all obstacles without much difficulty

	Dog-Related Notes:	None today.

	Bugs:

	Lost and Found:


	Comments:	I hadn't seen a report for the north approach to Mt Passaconaway so I decided to check out the condition. It appeared the Oliverian Trail had not been used since the government shutdown. I ended up breaking trail for probably just under 3 miles. There was a thin frozen layer topping a deeper powder snow layer. Even with snowshoes each step crunched through the frozen surface layer plunging in to the powder. The snowshoe sunk between a half a foot to a foot in to the snow. The Passaconaway Cut-Off sign was almost entirely buried in snow. The bridge uphill from the Oliverian Brook - Passaconaway Cut-Off junction was covered in about four feet of snow tapering to a thin ridge. I stomped down this snow so there is a double width snowshoe path on about three feet of snow on this bridge which is now easy to cross. I stopped in a relatively flat hardwood forest uphill of the brook crossing where I could see Mt Passaconaway and Hedgehog Mountain. I smoothed out the snowshoe trail on my way back to the trailhead. Only snowshoes should be used on these trails as the surfaces are not well consolidated at this time. Unfortunately there was some bare boot holes mainly in the first quarter mile (may have been from some winter campers by Oliverian Brook). I saw nobody on the trail today so it was a true wilderness walk. Some interesting ice formations on Oliverian Brook and peaceful snowy forests made for an enjoyable hike. Saw many animal tracks.

	Name:	WAUMBEK

	E-Mail:	WAUMBEK at Roadrunner dot com

	Date Submitted:	2019-02-17

	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.