| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, April 2, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Only two cars in the lot on arrival at 8am. Four cars on return at 3:20pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
First few crossings before the Engine Hill Bushwhack are easily rock hopped, take care in morning or cold temps for black ice. At the first major crossing (after the Engine Hill Bushwhack connects with Isolation Trail at 4.5 total), stay to the right (rather than cross) and follow the hard packed bushwhack path up to the second crossing, which as of today, still has a snow bridge that still worked today with a short hop. Since the distance between the crossings is less than 100 yards, there is no need to cross the first one. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Large Birch blowdown a half mile in, easy to step over. Two large, mature Spruce trees are down in the middle of the trail around 2-2.5 miles up RBT. Another blowdown next to the tentsite. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs today |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
-Barebooted first .75 and last .75. Rest of trip was in spikes. Snowshoes went for a ride.
-After .75 to Engine Hill Bushwhack at 2.7 the trail is a mix of excellent hard pack trench, stable and unstable monorail and muddy wet sections.
-Engine Hill Bushwhack seems to meander a bit in an almost drunken fashion at times. On the way up around 10am, the trail was hard for the most part. On the way back around 1:30-2pm it was softening quite a bit and the wet areas were becoming difficult to get through without dropping into knee deep mud. The days of the bushwhack may be numbered for a while, as things warm up and if rain falls.
-Above the bushwhack, Isolation and Davis Trails were a super highway most of the time, but as conditions warmed in the sun, a few divots and one posthole occurred.
-Followed Moose tracks on way down after EHBW for nearly a mile on RBT. |
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 | Name: |
Mark |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-04-02 |
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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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