| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Chocorua, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Piper Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 21, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Road and lot are plowed but covered in snow so take it slow. Plenty of parking, only 6 or so cars when I left at noon |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All the crossing on piper have bridges |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One minor blowdown a little before the spur trail to the shelter. Easy walk around. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one pup on the way up.
I’d be wary bringing one up onto the summit ledges as they were extremely icy. |
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 | Bugs: |
Negative. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost the anti balling pad from one of my K10s and then found it on the way down. The circle is now complete. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Cold start! 1° at the trailhead just before sunrise. I donned my K10s and wore them the entire trek. I did a straight up out and back on Piper (I usually do the Carter / middle sister/ liberty / weatamoo loop)
The parking lot to the shelter spur had a couple inches of snow with one set of tracks in front of me. Not enough for snow shoes, there were still plenty of uncovered rocks, roots etc.
After the shelter spur when you first come to an outlook the snow got deeper- probably 4-6†of loose powder in spots and there was plenty of ice underneath. I was glad I chose K10s over micros, I don’t think they would have got much grip with all that snow. This section was tougher to descend- I actually did a few controlled slides on the steeper portions on the trek down. Good fun.
The final .4 miles to the summit over the ledges was sketchy- large sections of ice in between patches of bare rock. The only snow cover was in shady crevices. Took it very slow and made it no problem. Ice axe wasn’t necessary but I was happy to have the security of it in my hand.
Views were gorgeous, and very little wind on top. I hung out for 20min or so before descending. Didn’t see another soul until I was 1/3 of the way down when I met a couple headed up. Passed a few more folks on my way out but not many. The first couple I met came into the parking lot when I was de-gearing and said they had turned around not long after passing me.
Beautiful day, perfect weather for a December climb! Chocorua might not be one of the 4000s, but it’s one of my favorite peaks to hike, this was my 3rd trek this year (and the first ever in winter).
Link to video below |
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 | Name: |
Woodman Worldwide |
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 | E-Mail: |
Woodmanworldwide5@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-12-22 |
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 | Link: |
 https://youtu.be/Yg8zsHJMJ-0 |
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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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