| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Slide Peak, Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Glen Boulder Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur, Isolation Trail, herd path, Rocky Branch Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 19, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Still some spaces at Rocky Branch and Glen Ellis/Glen Boulder at 7. A few spots have been lost at the latter due to the construction (Glen Ellis Falls/the very bottom of Wildcat Ridge are closed; I believe you can access the latter via Lost Pond Trail). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry 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: |
Minor crossings on upper Isolation were fine. The top main crossing (#5 when ascending) was also not too bad. Skipped crossings 3+4 via the short herd path. Crossing 2 was rock hoppable slightly up stream. Crossing 1 (near the old shelter site) required stepping on a partially submerged rock (though it looked like there may have been some dry ones further upstream). |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
What a mess. Glen Boulder was pretty brushy above the boulder. Davis Path southbound had some blowdowns. From the Isolation Trail to the Isolation Spur had multiple large mudpits where the trail is now a good 10-20 feet wide; just a few bog bridges or stepping stones would mitigate this quickly. Isolation Trail is a mess with blowdowns, mud, brushy areas, and active-stream-bed sections of trail. Rocky Branch is also a mess, particularly from the water crossing to the height of land (also a brook bed, with old waterbars so abandoned that small trees are growing in the outflows). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
A few scrambles on Glen Boulder, but otherwise not too many issues (other than distance). |
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 | Bugs: |
Occasional deer fly, but otherwise not too bad. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Scorcher of a day. Warm, humid start on Glen Boulder in the trees with some mud and a few slippery rocks. Above treeline was windy, which gave an appreciated cool down.
Davis Path descending into the trees had running water and mud, and plenty of mud once in the trees. Perhaps the worst mud was between Isolation Trail and Isolation Spur.
Isolation Trail had plenty of mud and areas of standing and running water; felt like an extended water crossing for many stretches. Perhaps the best footing was on the opposite side of the brook/river, which is typically bypassed via the bushwhack in the shoulder seasons.
Rocky Branch Trail was a brook bed for extended stretches up to the height of land. A little greasy in places thereafter, but not too bad. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-07-19 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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