| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Lake Solitude, White Ledges, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Andrew Brook Trail, Solitude Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 29, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking area along Mountain Road in Newbury was plowed. Only car when I arrived and overflowed when I returned. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No big issues. At the main crossing of Andrew Brook, I went upstream a bit due to thin ice where the trail crosses. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Both trails in good shape. One minor blowdown on ABT has been trimmed to make it an easy step over. Recent brushing also noted along that trail. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure. I saw several. |
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 | Bugs: |
Nope. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Crusty snow and ice didn't really begin until about a mile up ABT. Below that was mostly bare. I put spikes on at that point and left them on until a bit past that point on the descent. The final half mile or so to the lake is solid, thick ice and inexplicably, I saw several people with no traction at all struggling up. The climb up to the ledges is a mix of packed snow and ice.
I continued on toward Sunapee proper, but only went as far as the first ski trail encountered to get some photos of the big lake. Along the ridge, there was more snow and footing was pretty lousy in places due to frozen postholes. I followed the same route out.
Great views from the ledges, I hadn't been here in a while. Lake Solitude was making all sorts of cool cracks and groans due to the ice shifting. Lots of folks headed up in the early afternoon as I was descending. |
|
 | Name: |
KenM |
|
 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-12-29 |
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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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