| 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: |
Friday, October 9, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Only car in lot on Oct 8 at 230pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Multiple small stream crossings not too bad, several crossings of Rocky Branch not too bad, water is low due to drought conditions. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Two new blowdowns, easy to get around. Trails well worn with any boards almost worn away |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dog friendly. One pooch on trail. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
N/A |
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|
 | Comments: |
Started out on Oct 8 planning to camp overnight. First half mile easy grade, then steeper until mile 3. Trails increasingly wet as you go. About 3.3 miles in, Isolation Trail becomes a small stream with much rock-hopping, a sign of things to come. Water at the first Rocky Branch crossing high enough that I went barefoot through with water mid-calf at the best crossing I could find. Camped overnight near the old Rocky Branch Shelter # 2 location (shelter removed recently). Oct 9 started out at 815am. Rocky Branch trail increasingly wet as I went, lots of rock-hopping and mud. There are 4 crossings of Rocky Branch from this point onward, the middle two are easily bypassed by a short, well used, bushwack on the right bank. Above 3300 feet or so and on Davis Path, ice was apparent but not bad with about an inch of snow, no spikes needed. Short scramble up a side path to Mt. Isolation. Cold (25 degrees) Very windy with gusts to 50 mph at the peak. Beautiful views, especially of snow covered Mt. Washington and Tuckerman's Ravine.
Glad I did this one during a drought, I'd have to guess that there is quite a bit more water during spring and even a summer with normal precipitation. |
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 | Name: |
Lion Tamer |
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 | E-Mail: |
richalangun@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-10-10 |
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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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