| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, Mt. Madison, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Jewell Trail, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Air Line, Osgood Trail, Valley Way, snowfields |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lower hiker lot at Cog base station plowed. Appalachia plowed. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction, Ice Axe |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One hop over on Valley Way, otherwise no issues on this route. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Very icy above treeline...probably very dangerous for most dogs due to firm ice slopes with multiple hundred vertical foot steep drops...could be very easy for dogs to go for a deadly slide on the Jefferson portion of the hike. |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Jewell Trail to treeline was a decent snowshoe with maybe an inch or two of powder on hardpack. Lots of iced over trees and branches leaning into the trail up to around the first viewpoint. Continued up toward Gulfside for awhile, then found a place to cut over to Sphinx without damaging vegetation. Crusty frozen granular on the west facing side, however on the northwestern area, ice. Crampons needed off and on to Jefferson due to ice and unbreakable crust, but other places needed snowshoes due to punching through crust. Ice axe a good idea, as there are a few no fall zones due to heavily drifted in areas. Beyond Jefferson, bypassed the dangerous portion of the trail by weaving around some rocks and dropping into Edmands col. Snowshoed from Edmands up to Adams via snow fields. North side of Adams pretty tricky, as there is a smooth ice crust on top of sugar snow - sometimes breakable, sometimes not. Ice axe again a good idea, as it'd be a quick slide into King Ravine. If only doing Adams and Madison right now, crampons probably the best bet above treeline. Hardpack with crust up to Madison as well. Valley Way on the otherhand was a very smooth snowshoe with packed powder. Congratulations to Val on her Winter 48 finish on Jefferson! |
|
 | Name: |
rocket21 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
rocket21 at franklinwebpublishing dot com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2011-03-09 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/mtjefferson-2011-0309.php |
|
|
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. |
|
