Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Lafayette, NH |
|
| Trails: |
Skookumchuck Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail |
|
| Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 29, 2020 |
|
| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room at the trailhead parking. This lot is also used by the bicyclists. |
|
| Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
| Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
| Water Crossing Notes: |
Only minor water crossings on this route. Easily crossed on rocks that were not icy today |
|
| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails in good condition. One tree fall on the Skookumchuck Trail at about 3 feet above the surface. Today this obstruction was best straddled over. It will be easier to get by when there is a snow pack. One bog bridge on the Skookumchuck Trail is aging and is slippery. |
|
| Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs. Two dogs (husky/malamute) only had difficulties at the "tricky ledge" just below the Skookumchuck - Garfield Ridge junction. |
|
| Bugs: |
None |
|
| Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
| Comments: |
First 1.5 to 1.8 miles of the Skookumchuck Trail were wet with short stretches of mud. No snow or ice. The surface was spangled with snow starting at about 1.8 miles at the rock steps. The snow cover became more consistent as one ascended but it was never deep. It was a powder snow that masked any underlying ice. I did not use any traction on the Skookumchuck Trail.
The Garfield Ridge Trail had varying snow depth due to drifting. Even the highest drifted snow was not deep so boots with traction worked best. Snowshoes not required yet. Gaiters are helpful. There is ice beneath the snow in many spots on the ridge so traction is recommended. Crampons not required.
A beautiful day above tree line. Great visibility. I was surprised that there weren't many hikers at the summit of Mt Lafayette.
Great talking with two hikers from Lowell/Chelmsford MA, a hiker from Farmington ME, two hikers from RI, and three hikers from Amherst MA. |
|
| Name: |
WAUMBEK |
|
| E-Mail: |
waumbek@roadrunner.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2020-11-29 |
|
| Link: |
https:// |
|
|
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. |
|