| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Trinity Heights Connector, Gulfside, Jewell Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 3, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
1 other car at the Ammo Lot @6am, 4 others @4:30pm |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The first crossing on Ammo Ravine Tr is a half frozen hop and the only open crossing below the Gem Pool is similar. All the other significant crossings including the ones on Jewel Tr are bridged |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A couple blowdowns up high on Jewel Tr and then a swath of them between the brook and the boundary trail jct |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Bugs: |
N/A |
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 | Lost and Found: |
N/A |
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|
 | Comments: |
Wore spikes on Ammo Ravine Tr which was well packed out below the Gem Pool with the Link Tr from the Cog Base Station not broken out.
Above the Gem Pool it was a combo of soft powder with a mostly solid base so I stayed in spikes to not have the long heels of the snowshoes being awkward for the spots where it was bony ledges. I was thinking of switching to snowshoes about 1/2-1/4mi below the hut but not until we got sucked into some tracks that went to the left of the trail including a spot where I postholed up to my crotch. After that I wore them to the hut where I switched to crampons that I wore until well down Jewel Tr. There were a couple drifts and sections of blue ice on the way to Monroe Loop and then it was a combo of some semi-consolidated powder and lots of exposed, boney rocks.
It was a combo of blue ice, snow drifts, crusty snowfields from Lakes of the Clouds up to the summit of Washington. Trinity Heights Connector is more of the same as is Gulfside Tr below the West Side Tr jct. Between these points Gulfside Tr is extremely icy with lots of exposed rocks and the section of the trail that goes above the rim of the Great Gulf is definitely a no fall zone currently. This spot has a lot of sidehill crusty snow and blue ice. I kept the crampons on well down Jewel Tr for the extra traction and front points but this is definitely overkill below treeline. Spikes from about 3500' to the car. |
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 | Name: |
Heat Lightning |
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 | E-Mail: |
ecs@mountainlogworks.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-03 |
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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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