Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Isolation (attempt), NH |
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| Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 24, 2021 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Large plowed parking lot. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
The many small crossings were tricky with soft snow-drift banks collapsing underfoot. Coated snowshoes in heavy slush several times. The two bigger crossings were frozen solid. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few smaller blow downs that were easy to step over. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Wow! The wild howling winds Saturday and Sunday reeeally shifted last week's storm; it was as though a foot of freshy had fallen overnight! Once I reached the pines, the wind-protected trail was well packed but the bushwhack was broken out by only the four snowshoers ahead of me (with a few exploratory 20ft dead-end side trails branching off of it as they were unable to follow previous tracks). I caught up to two of them on Isolation Trail as they were deciding to turn back from exertion missing the other two hikers who turned back earlier. None of us returned via the bushwhack. I broke out Isolation almost another half mile beyond the last two fellow's attempt postholing in snowshoes in soft snow over my knees. Small run-off crossings put me in snow over my waist with running water beneath slushing up my snowshoes-- fun but exhausting! When I reached a large area with multiple small crossings on the east bank of the Rocky Branch, I pulled the plug. (Looking at the map on TrailsNH.com, I was nearly at the first campsite depicted on Isolation Trail.) To the next hikers out, be prepared for the last two-ish miles to the summit to be deep trail breaking (could be scoured of snow on the ridge from the wind, though, fingers crossed). Good luck! |
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| Name: |
Brie |
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| E-Mail: |
email(dot)brie(dot)here(at)gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-25 |
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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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