| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Osgood Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, February 18, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Appalachia parking lot off US 2 is well plowed and can hold many cars. In non-snow season (whenever that is) it is a paved lot. Kiosk. No privy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Good blazing. Well maintained trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Uh. I wouldn’t encourage canines in the Presidentials in winter. It can be done, but only by trail proven dogs. No open water points now. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Out and back (O&B) using Valley Way and Osgood trails.
Valley Way: very well blazed in blue with all junction signs up, legible, and intact. Nice sheltered route to the hut (closed in winter). Above the Tentsite the trail gets sketchy. I mean wicked sketchy. I spent 20 minutes pounding out a walkable foot path with my snowshoes so my kids wouldn’t go sliding down into the trees. There isn’t a solid snowshoe trench up the steep sections above the tentsite. You’re options are to face the hillside and traverse the worst sections sideways or take your chances and walk with your feet and shoes at a lateral 45 degree angle. I chose the former while trying to carve out a foot way in the crusted snow. Dang was that frozen snow stubborn.
Osgood: carins are large and visible. Some white blazes visible in places (this is part of the AT). All signs up, legible, and in good shape.
Man. We almost turned around after starting up this trail. The snow fields were thickly crusted snow making them more like ice sheets than snow. And nearly the entire route from the hut to the summit is covered in one continuous snow field. My full body weight, plus pack, were not making a dent in these suckers, and I am no lightweight. So it felt like if you lost purchase, you would most certainly end in a broken, crumpled mass 200 or more feet down... My kids did just fine with micro spikes and careful route selection. I made it in my super sonic, glue soled, wicked tough snowshoes. By hiking down backwards. Can’t be afraid if you can’t see what’s ahead!! The snow/ice/terrifying surface condition DID allow purchase in spikes and shoes. My kids didn’t slip at all in their spikes. But you couldn’t take your attention off the footing for one second. So. Next time I’ll be taking my full crampons and ice axe.
Met a super nice fellow in blue snow gear whose advice I heeded. Instead of trying to traverse the snowfields up towards the summit, we took to the rocks and clamored our way parallel to the carins to the summit. So nice to have met him today! Thank you to the young redlining fella (who redlined the Parapet IN WINTER today) who lent me the use of his pole to get my water bottle that had perfectly lept out of my hands, down the crusted snow, and into the emergency shelter under the hut. Forehead slap moment. Yeah- maybe I will bring my poles next time.
For the Mainer Boys: “Dun, dun, dun. Another one bites the dust. Dun, dun, dun. Gonna get to you. Another one bites the dust!†(Thanks Queen!) |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-02-18 |
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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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