| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Osgood Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
See report from Aug 20 |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No problems going up, trail was flooded descending |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Major recent work here! A ladder and wooden steps, so new I could almost smell the wood! Evidence of a lot of chopping. Upper trail was a waterfall on the way down, as the skies had opened up big time. Don't know if this is a common thing. Thanks to the folks who are working on this! You deserve a medal.
One curious question. The usual alpine zone sign was there, but no yellow sign reminding you that you can die here. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine up until treeline. Northern Presidentials have those awful rocks, so watch those paws! |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Thought I'd celebrate 62cd birthday by going to Madison, descending, and having soup at the hut if I got there in time. Ha ha ha, that's NOT how it went. Took me a little bit longer than expected to make treeline.
Unlike the gorgeous blue skies and sun of the day before, there was a slate grey sky that guaranteed rain. Not to worry, Gortex is your friend; and it did not look like a thunderstorm sky. Once above treeline, my little bit longer became FOREVER. Slow-going due to the scratchy, frequently unstable rocks. I had hoped to summit, descend, visit Star Lake and the huge white rock, have soup, but it was just too long and tedious. There were blueberries, nice NOBOs to say hello to. We made it to the Osgood Junction where one of them told me thunder was expected that afternoon. We thought we heard a rumble, so that's that. I was thinking of how long it took me to get there and if I would make it to treeline before my life turned into an exact sixty two years.
No thunder, and being up there (without the heavy rain that came later) with the dramatic views with fog wisps floating through was an amazing experience. If not for the possibility of imminent electrocution I could have stayed longer. It was that beautiful. But I made it to treeline. There is a little sidespot there which would be a great camping spot, if not totally illegal (too close to treeline). But it is a nice place to take a breather if the weather is turning bad. We met a NOBO and when he asked what those birds were, I told him to open his hand. We put a couple nuts and you should have seen his face when the grey jay landed.
The way down was a miserable slog. Skies opened up, walked down in at least an inch of water. Wasn't too bad, until I slipped and it all got under my rain pants through the back! Thank God for my dry tent and sleeping bag. We didn't even bother with dinner. Not the way I planned this day, but it had some great moments. |
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 | Name: |
Beckie and Prema |
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 | E-Mail: |
beckiejani@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-08-23 |
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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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