| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, February 4, 2021 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
5 cars at 9am, several for XC skiing. Lot was plowed, plenty of parking. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Our route included only the last crossing, which was ice bridged. There is a ton of fresh snow covering parts of the crossing and we had to probe carefully to find the packed part, but we got over. Take care, step off the "bridge" into the snow and you might plunge through 3+ feet to the water/rocks below. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Blowdown museum near the Isolation tentsite lovely as always. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
tl;dr We wore snowshoes the entire way. Lots of new snow, unconsolidated and loose. Bring your snowshoes and get ready to party.
We knew it was going to be an adventure when the first people we passed, about 1 mile in, had turned around before the "T" because there was too much snow. Another hiker ahead had continued past the whack but apparently also turned around probably at one of the earlier water crossings that the whack avoids. So the two of us broke trail starting at the Engine Hill "T". There was no real discernable track so we broke a brand new one that's relatively straight. We went a tad high and missed the larger glade by 100 yards but our track visits some of the smaller open glades and gets you where you need to go. We broke 12-24" for the whack finding all manner of water, spruce and felled log traps, often going waist deep into snow. Good times. Once back on the trail proper we broke 12" and some 2-3' drifts, including the bypass that leaves only the last water crossing. At the upper Iso tentsite we broke the shortcut to go directly to Davis Path. On Davis some huge drifts, but once on the spur trail it was relatively firm. The return trip was easier, to say the least.
|
|
 | Name: |
Eric H |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2021-02-04 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/4736048905 |
|
|
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. |
|
