| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Maple Walk, Fallsway, The Brookside, Watson Path, Osgood Trail, Star Lake Trail, Parapet Trail, Airline Cutoff, Airline Trail, Upper Bruin, Lower Bruin, Scar Trail, Scar Loop, Randolph Path, Brookbank |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, June 15, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Not too many other cars at Appalachia at 12:15pm maybe just a half dozen. Room for two dozen cars before you start to see some creative parking spots ;) It can fit maybe another dozen like that before it starts to overflow which happens regularly on summer weekends on good weather days. Similar situation when I returned just pst 8:30pm. |
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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: |
Water was low on Monday when I did this hike and is even lower now so the crossings were pretty easy and likely will be until we get a big rain. Everything was rock hoppable. The crossing of Snyder Brook on Sylvan Way to get from Brookbank to Fallsway is over ledges and might make some people nervous. It doesn’t require wet feet but I did think I had to jump. I think the crossing by Tama Fall at the end of Brookbank was similar if a safer. The crossings on The Brookside were easy rock hops and the crossing omg Watson Path was also a rock hop but a little more challenging (could be difficult at high water). |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Maple Walk, Fallsway, Brookbank, The Brookside, Upper and Lower Bruin, and the Scar Loop and Trail were blazed in yellow. Some were blazed more often than others but none very frequently and none very rarely. All were easy enough to follow except for part of Scar Trail (the part between Watson Path and Scar Loop) which was obscure as it didn’t have a very well defined foot bed and is clearly less travelled. Very easily followable if you have some experience though. A section of The Brookside went over roots with nothing beneath them...seemed to be precarious footing although stable for the moment. Maybe a reroute will be necessary soon? A small blowdown section (hard to tell exactly where the trail is and if they are on it or not or if the trail has just rerouted itself) on Lower Bruin. The trail with the most blowdowns of the day was probably Scar Trail. One or two on the small section between Valley Way and Scar Loop (not too large, one leaner). Another that’s a bit larger at another point I don’t recall that you need to duck under. Probably a few others I’m forgetting as well. Valley Way, Watson Path, Parapet Trail, Airline, and Randolph Path were all blazed in blue as they connect to the AT. None were blazed all that well but Valley Way and Air Line were at least consistently blazed. Watson Path was blazed relatively well below tree line but there was no blaze above tree line that I noticed. You have to look around from time to time to get from cairn to cairn above tree line but otherwise the trails were easy to follow (not so much if you’re in cloud above treeline though!) I was only on very short section of both Parapet and Randolph Path and don’t recall much about them. A large line blowdown that’s likely relatively new on Valley Way. A well established path goes around it. Hopefully it will get taken care of soon by a crew. It’s probably 0.1mi below the jct with Beechwood Way. Another old, trimmed, but large blowdown just before the jct with The Brookside on Valley Way. At an awkward height for some people so hopefully that one will also get taken care of. Two old and large stepovers that could get removed about a tenth of a mile above the jct with Randolph Path on Airline. Osgood Trail is blazed in white as it’s part of the AT although there was very little on the above tree line section I was on. Airline Cutoff was not blazed at all. Great signage everywhere! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen and this route would not be appropriate for most hiking dogs given its lenegh and strenuousness. Those that can will need booties or some sort of paw protector for all the jagged rocks above treeline. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not bad at all! I could see some flying around but hardly any bit me. I was surprised given the lack of wind and the time. What a nice treat :) |
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 | Lost and Found: |
A blue handkerchief on Watson Path probably within a quarter mile of tree line is hung on a tree. |
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 | Comments: |
Monday’s crazy redliner route: Valley Way —> Maple Walk —> Fallsway —> Valley Way —> The Brookside —> Watson Path to summit of Madison —> Osgood Trail —> Star Lake Trail —> out-and-back on Parapet Trail to Madison Gulf Trail —> Star Lake Trail —> Airline Cutoff —> Airline Trail —> Upper Bruin —> Valley Way —> Lower Bruin —> Watson Path —> Scar Trail out to Valley Way —> Scar Trail back to Scar Loop —> Scar Loop —> out-and-back on Scar Trail between western end of Scar Loop and Watson Path —> Scar Trail —> Airline Trail —> Randolph Path —> Valley Way —> Fallsway —> Brookbank —> Sylvan Way —> Fallsway —> car :)
This was 11.5mi with about 5200ft of gain. It took me just over 8hrs and I’m considered a fast hiker. In other words, this is a very strenuous hike due to just how steep most things are and rocky footing that turns to boulder scrambles above treeline. It was a great day to be above treeline though with nice temps, little wind, and the summits in the clear but with partly cloudy skies above giving some preotection from the sun. I saw two folks on my way in that were on their way out from visiting Dome Rock, a group of four or five younger folks ascending Watson Path as I passed them, and a couple coming up Fallsway or a nearby trail to spend the night and summit Madison the next day.
Things are generally very dry right now but still some spots of major mud, some wet rocks to watch out for, etc. Thete was even some standing water around Madison Spring Hut. I think it was on Star Lake Trail. No snow/ice than some underneath some boulders on The Brookside (below 3000ft even!) and underneath Madison Spring Hut there the gate is we always make note of in case you ever need shelter in winter lol.
All the shorter, scenic trails close to Appalachia like Maple Walk, Fallsway, and Brookbank gain elevation but are moderate and have descent footing. Some are also very scenic. So many little waterfalls in this area! I found Brookside much more attractive than Fallsway for some reason which is odd as they’re just on opposite sides of the brook. Maybe Brookbank just gives better views of it? Or maybe I was just looking around more as I wasn’t ascending haha. The Brookside is also a slightly more gradual alternative to some other trails. The grades are mostly moderate and the footing is usually descent. The footing is tougher and there’s a tricky spot or two near the top but I didn’t find it got all that much steeper. Also some scenic parts as it follows Snyder Brook. The first part of Watson Path I was on is very steep and rough with lots of mini-scrambles below tree line (the very first section of trail that I’d do later in the day is not though). That said, it does moderate and have better footing for a ways before you reach tree line. Above treeline it is steep and boulder of course but I didn’t find it as rough as that first gnarly section. The out-and-back on Parapet trails was surprisingly not bad as it was on the easier sections of both of these trails. I was surprised to find that Airline Cutoff isn’t quite above tree line but is still quite exposed where I thought it was supposed to give a sheltered route to the hut...I guess it’s just a short cut in case of bad weather from Air Line. Great views from Durand Ridge on Air Line Trail into Kings Ravien which still has some snow field in its upper portions although not on Trail I hear. Upper and Lower Bruin weren’t too bad for a descent but Scar Trail was a bitch to do due to the elevation gain and outs-and-backs I had to do for redlining. Generally not that steep though and it actually often has quite good footing.
See notes above about blowdowns, an obscure trail or two, and easy water crossings! |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-06-19 |
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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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