Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Adams, Mt. Madison, NH |
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| Trails: |
Valley Way, Gulfside, Airline, snowfields, Osgood Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
plenty of plowed parking at Appalachia...getting up and down the snowbank in the parking lot quite a challenge |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
minor crossings on Valley Way were open but easy |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A couple of blowdowns on Valley Way but nothing of consequence |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
some long frozen granular stretches above treeline would have been difficult for dogs |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
wow...what a day. Valley Way pretty good going and we spiked or barebooted to the hut. No postholing..good footing..a little fresh snow in places. Decided on Adams first and used snowshoes from the hut and back again. Cut off a few corners on ascent on varying styrofoam snow and drifted stretches. Clear and calm on the summit..amazing ..Dropped down towards Thunderstorm junction then cut across snowfields well above Gulfside which was a fine route back to the hut. Switched to crampons for ascent to Madison which was the perfect choice for the frozen granular conditions. After we celebrated a couple of single season finishes we dropped back to the hut and donned snowshoes for the descent which worked out well with some narrow spots with side hill along the way ..nice broken out track at present on Valley Way with some softer snow down below..when people speak about an above treeline day in winter..this is what they are talking about...exceptional |
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| Name: |
silverfox |
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| E-Mail: |
marktaub@metrocastdotnet |
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| Date Submitted: |
2011-03-15 |
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| Link: |
https://www.flickr.com/photos/silverfox777/sets/72157626151282451/ |
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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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