| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jackson, Mt. Webster, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Webster-Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 13, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Arrived just before 8. Elephant Head lot was already filling up. President's Day Weekend and a clear day made for cars parked all the way down 302 when we returned. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One messy blowdown on Webster Branch, a few small trees and branches. Webster Cliff was full of low overhanging branches and trees beginning to reach across the trail. Like playing limbo for a mile. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Two cute ones seen at the top of Jackson! |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
One terra-cotta-colored fingerless knit glove a small ways past Elephant Head Spur going up Jackson-Webster. Someone had carefully placed it on a branch for the owner to find. |
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 | Comments: |
Webster-Jackson from 302 and Jackson Branch were beautiful, packed-out white sidewalks all the way to the summit. No need for snowshoes, though I kept mine on partially from laziness and partially because I appreciate televators. Bitter cold day, windy summit but glorious views. Anyone who hiked today will have seen the astonishing sun halo, which was clearest for us on the summit of Jackson but still visible from Webster.
Webster Cliff Trail was a mess. Insane postholes nearly knee-deep in some areas, and the trail had been chopped up by a combination of bare-booting and snowshoes leaving some areas of easy-to-walk-on packed snow and many other areas of ankle hazards. With the low-hanging branches and even what looked like a very small spruce trap near the summit of Jackson, this trail was very beautiful and, at times, very frustrating.
Summit conditions on Webster were perfect. Clear and mostly sheltered. We waited around for a huge group to leave and then took our time enjoying the afternoon views.
Conditions were improved on the Webster Branch Trail, though snowshoes were still helpful. All in all a cold, beautiful day.
P.S. If you are in a large group, please continue to adhere to COVID trail etiquette when interacting with other hikers on the trail. Our day was made a little more stressful than it should have been by large groups of people not masking up or turning away while passing us at very close quarters (or while we were passing them), as well as not being careful with masking and distance on the summit. Hiking is one of the only activities a lot of us can safely do right now, so please be considerate. Sorry for the PSA. |
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 | Name: |
fluffycat |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-02-13 |
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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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