| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Trinity Heights Connector, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Cog Rail Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, January 1, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
$10 per person at the Cog lot (iron ranger with envelopes for cash). WMNF lot plowed. Jefferson Notch Road gate was open, but road was covered with frozen precip. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The tributary crossing on Ammo was rock hoppable. The Gem Pool crossing has a breakable ice bridge (that some folks were finding out the hardway), but was doable with caution (poles are very helpful to test strength). The next crossing up was rock hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Sphinx Trail sign has fallen over. Looks like it can be stood back up when the base cairn rocks aren't frozen. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The flats of the Ammo Trail had a couple inches of powder on top of varying types of base (rock, frozen granular, ice). Rock spikes were adequate. One more snowfall should hopefully make this snowshoeable.
The steeps were generally frozen granular with some snow and some ice. There is a very large ice bulge near the top of the steeps that could be ascended with Microspikes with care, but would be dangerous to descend without crampons.
In the scrub, there were a few icy areas were Microspikes were barely adequate for ascending due to firm angled ice. I would have used crampons if I had to descend this way. Snow drift at the hut is building up nicely; one more storm may be enough to facilitate eating on the roof.
Some blue ice on the short stretch of Crawford Path to Monroe Loop. Monroe Loop up to the ridge was mostly drifted powder. Microspikes were fine from the hut to the summit and back.
Crawford Path from the hut to Washington had varied conditions, ranging from some blue ice (generally flat, so Microspikes sufficed this morning), nearly knee deep powder (unfortunately some folks were tramping through the alpine vegetation to avoid postholing in the deep snow), and firm frozen granular snow fields (particularly near the top of the Crawford Path). The sideslope section is not yet an issue. I wore new Microspikes with only one slip from losing traction (fortunately in a flat spot). Still a bit bony for snowshoes, but one more moderate snowfall (tonight into tomorrow?) could change this.
Descending from Washington into the Clay col was a mixed bag, ranging from unpacked drifts (sometimes they'd hold you, other times you'd posthole in between the hidden rocks), blue ice (care needed when descending with spikes), rock, and frozen granular. We followed the cog tracks for awhile, rather than being above Great Gulf, as there was generally good, grippy snow drifted in.
Gulfside into Sphinx Col had plenty of rock with drifted snow, as well as a few icy areas (Micropsikes sufficed with care). A little less icy ascending out of the col and up to Jefferson. Plenty of holes between the rocks still.
The winter cutover to Jewell has nowhere near enough snowpack yet. Rather than descend Jewell from the top junction, we continued back up to the Cog and descended the rail trail. There were a few iffy areas adjacent to the trestles above treeline, but Microspikes sufficed this afternoon (generally frozen granular, though there were areas of blue and black ice that had to be skirted due to being in a no fall zone). Smooth sailing once below treeline. By the time we reached the winter cog warming hut, there was only a couple of inches of powder with no base under it. Generally the rail trail has good snowpack and could be snowshoed (noted some ascending tracks), but still too much rock exposed for downhill skiing.
I wore spikes (rock and new) pretty much the whole day, but did have crampons, an axe (if the Crawford sideslope or trestle portion of the cog were iffy), and light snowshoes for safety reasons (if hitting prolonged drifts, if needing to deviate from the trail, if forced to exit from treeline into the woods due to weather). I would probably carry the same assortment for the hypothetical repeat visit.
Beautiful morning with blue skies and generally minimal wind. A little breezy atop Monroe, Washington, in the Washington-Clay col, and Jefferson, but primo for January. Temperatures stayed below freezing (no melting), but were still quite pleasant in the sun. Descent amount of folks out on Ammo and ascending Washington, but quieter toward Jefferson. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-01 |
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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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