| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Major, Straightback Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Express Route, Mt. Major Trail, Belknap Range Trail, Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 6, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked in the large, signed, plowed Mt. Major Parking lot on Route 11 in Alton. Donation tube (optional). Two well maintained porta-potties. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There are about 5-6 shallow ones on Brook Trail. Most can be stepped across, but one was wide enough to require walking through. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Traildoggies should be under owners' control. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I had seen reports of a "winter green trail" up Mt. Major, but couldn't find any detailed information about it online. At the trailhead, I met a local hiker who filled me in. She showed me where the "express route" begins. Start on the Boulder Loop Trail, cross the two bridges near the parking lot, and soon thereafter look for it on the right. Someone without permission put green blazes on some of the trees, but I couldn't have followed them far. A pretty decent bareboot track made it possible to navigate the 0.8 mile (steep) to the summit of Mt. Major, joining the Mt. Major Trail near the top. I alternated between snowshoes and spikes, with neither working all that well in the multiple inches of fresh, loose snow. The snowshoe crampons worked well on the icy parts of Brook Trail; spikes probably would too. The hike was tiring but it was great to be out hiking and enjoying the views. |
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 | Name: |
peaksseeker |
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 | E-Mail: |
peaksseeker@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-02-08 |
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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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