| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 28, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
6 other cars at 1PM none at 3:30 in Appalachia lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The seeps are flowing but crossings are easy or partially bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
WOW! In 2 1/2 hours there were FIVE new blowdowns over 12" diameter that had fallen across the trail on my way back down. These were large trees that were just snapped in two in the high winds! Two in the first .8 mile including one at the jct of Valley Way & Fallsway; 3 between .9 mile and 1.6 miles. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Half of a nice 2-piece snowshoe near Valley Way tentsite. I stuck it in the snow just off trail because I had no way to carry it down. |
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 | Comments: |
I cleared dozens of branches off the trail on my way up but it was littered with dozens more on the way down. The trail was also a stream for about 100 yards just above Sylvan Way jct.
I hike Valley Way 80 times a year and this was the windiest it has been from bottom to top in the 8 years I have lived up here! I started in microspikes and kept them on for the duration. I knew the front was coming through and I was hoping to make my way to treeline in a nice snowstorm and just come back down. Well the first half mile was muddy with short segments of 2-3" deep ice. The trail actually softened as the snow got a little deeper but spikes still provided adequate grip and I stayed in the center of the trail, so I did not posthole at all. It's really a mine field from warming up last week. About 150 yards above Watson jct the trail really firms up and the monorail starts forming and it's a Velcro Highway until about 1/4 mile below the tentsite. After that the bomb craters reappear but the footbed remains solid even though it's only a few inches wide in many spots. If you slip off the monorail you will either go in deep or tumble 5-10 feet down the slope. This week it should remain nice and firm above Watson jct!
I made it about 200 yards past the junction with Upper Bruin but decided to turn around as visibility was soon less than 100 feet. The high winds and horizontal snow were never a threat but it was just too miserable to go the last half-mile to treeline. I'm glad I turned around because about 2" of new snow fell in 45 minutes and the wind was now coming right up the valley at near gale force. My entire torso was white from blowing snow until I got near Watson jct! Traction remained good and the falling temps even firmed up the lower half somewhat. I can't imagine how windy it would have been if I peeked above treeline but there was no need to find out. The FIVE large, new blowdowns I encountered on the way down were the most I have ever seen in such a short time frame.
I was so glad to see the empty lot when I reached my car. I was very worried that someone may have been caught out above treeline in worsening conditions. |
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 | Name: |
Bob H |
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 | E-Mail: |
hynoskyb@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-03-28 |
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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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