NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lafayette (attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Skookumchuck Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, December 12, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Only car at 8, two more when I got done at 2.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All able to be rock hopped.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trail in fine condition.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: N/A 
Bugs
Bugs: Snowfleas 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None 
 
Comments
Comments: Was pleasantly surprised to see the Skook looking like it was broken out, despite not seeing any trail reports indicating so.

Barebooted the first .4 miles, then the snowshoes went on. Really too bony on that part of the trail to make snowshoes useful. Spent the next 1.1 miles trying to smooth out the rototilled track from someone who barebooted down recently (maybe this morning?)

At about 1.5 miles in, the snowshoe track smoothed out, as this must have been the spot that aforementioned person took off their snowshoes while descending. Followed the track to about 3.5 miles, where it abruptly ended. I guess that person had seen enough, and decided to turn around. I broke the next .6 until the trail pops out of the trees, about .1 from the GRT intersection. The wind picked up, the visibility shrank, and I was soaking wet from sweat and tree droppings, so I called it.

Passed a group of 3 on my down who mentioned they broke out to Big Bickford. Why, I’ll never know, but all of them had their snowshoes on their packs. So anything above ~3 miles in is probably rototilled pretty good. Even stranger, when I got to the junction where they split off to break out, I could clearly see they put their snowshoes on to break. Given the snow was peak mashed potato consistency, I have no idea why they barebooted all of Skook while carrying snowshoes.

I tried to smooth out the bottom as best I could, but it’s not great. The trail could use about 6 more inches of snow down low, and about 6-8 more people with snowshoes to pack it down before the incoming freeze. Hopefully that happens so the track can be set up nicely.  
Name
Name: Chef 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-12-12 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved