| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Moat Mountain, Middle Moat Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Moat Mountain Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 27, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
A few spots remained at 8:30, but the lot overflowed by early afternoon (when the snowbanks grow again, I doubt this will be an option). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Minor crossing was rock hoppable. The larger one has a wood bridge. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are three sizable blowdowns just above the logging landing. We took out a few minor ones thereafter. Nothing that I can recall along the ridge. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
May be a little too icy in places for dogs right now; noticed some slips and falls. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The gradual portion was fairly easy going this morning and afternoon with a dusting of snow and a few minor mucky areas.
Trail was treacherous along the steeps to South Moat this morning, as the dusting of snow concealed the patches of black ice. Way too much bare rock to use good Microspikes, but some of the (hidden) ice patches were a little too much for rock spikes. Much easier this afternoon when the sun melted much of the dusting of snow, so that you could at least see the patches of ice, and the ice had softened a bit. I was able to bareboot the descent with care.
South Moat to Middle had some hidden ice and was certainly Microspike terrain, though there was also a lot of bare ledge.
We continued on from Middle to the Red Ridge junction. A few of the north facing ledges were completely iced over and too steep for Microspikes to hold (even my brand new pair). Had to pick my way through the woods in a few places. The col had snow in the woods that was perhaps half a foot deep, but the trail was generally snow free due to the erosion.
Snowshoes will be superfluous on the above sections of trail until we get more snow.
Brisk morning with snow flurries and some minor chilly wind, but the partly sunny afternoon made the descent more palatable. Fairly busy around mid-day. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-12-27 |
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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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