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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Liberty, Mt. Flume, NH
Trails
Trails: Whitehouse Trail, Liberty Spring Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 2, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Ample parking at Whitehouse Trailhead. Very few cars in the lot at 11:30 a.m. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The only significant water crossing is fine at present; water level is low enough that rock hopping isn't a problem.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Trail was wet and muddy with running water, but free of snow and ice, until about 2400 ft. elevation, and which point there was a very quick transition to icy monorail. Wore microspikes from that point to just below the Liberty Spring Tentsite, then changed to snowshoes. The monorail was stable and snowshoes were not necessary this morning for the ascent to Franconia Ridge or the traverse to Flume. I mostly chose to wear them rather than carry them, plus for the added traction and heel risers.

Liberty Spring is icy above 2400 ft. Microspikes are fine going up, but more aggressive traction is better coming down.

Definitely noticed the texture of the snow and ice changing rapidly between the trip out and the trip back as it got warmer.

Estimating from the height of the blazes and the depth of the postholes, there is probably still 3-5' snow between the summits.

I only saw 9 other people; everyone very pleasant and social distancing.

 
Name
Name: DEL 
E-Mail
E-Mail: dlefevre@tarbellpa.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-05-02 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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