| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, August 17, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There is a large parking area off 16. There is a lot of broken glass at the entrance to the parking area and near the Hall's Ledge Trail sign. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The water crossings can be rock hopped, but they are not really easy. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There were a few trees down on Isolation Trail, some of them had been cleared. The bog bridges on Davis Path are rotten and not very helpful, and there are no bog bridges on Isolation Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
There were lots of mosquitoes at dawn, but they disappeared after sunrise. Deer flies were not a problem, but there were some. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
4 shoes were left at the trail head, 2 were a pair of black sneakers and the other 2 were a pair of pink sandals, I left them at the trail head. |
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 | Comments: |
It was a great day for Isolation. We started at 5:29 in the morning, and it took a really long time (10 hours)! RBT was mostly dry until the you get in the col. From the col down to the river is very wet. There is a lot of running water in that area, up to ~5in deep. There are some wet and muddy areas before the col, but they are shorter and not as difficult to navigate.
The first river crossing was the most difficult, it can be rock hopped but it's not easy. From there, Isolation trail is fairly flat, crossing several small brooks. It has a couple areas of mud and running water but it's also mostly dry. The second crossing is easier than the first, and the final 3 are easy.
After the second crossing, Isolation trail is about 50/50, mud/running water and dry trail. Once the trail turns away from Rocky Branch, it becomes very wet and has poor drainage. In several places streams flow down the trail, and in several places water pools forming large puddles in the trail. Just before the campsite below Davis Path, there is a large blowdown zone and the trail become quite narrow. Most of the trees have been cleared so they no longer cross the trail, but a couple you have to duck under. From there it is dry and easy going to Davis Path.
Davis Path is the easiest trail of all of them. In the middle of the section to Isolation spur, it becomes very wet and muddy. Bog bridges have been placed over the mud, but all of them are rotten and provide almost no help. Isolation spur was steep and dry. There are great views at the summit of Isolation. |
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 | Name: |
Mountain goat |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-08-18 |
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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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