| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur, herd paths |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was all alone and isolated at the start and return. That is a true rarity |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossing 1 & 2 took a little more planning on the way in, no issues. 3 & 4 are avoidable via the herd path, 5 was no issue |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Someone has stolen the Isolation spur sign at the junction. No issues otherwise. The leaves are still mostly on the trees, but the ones that have fallen are clogging up. I probably cleaned over 25 waterbars or jams through the day. There are some blowdowns past the Wilderness boundary but they meet criteria for remaining. The bog bridges are old and tired and could use some love. The spikes used to hold them are becoming more trip hazards then anything. It's a shame to see the Davis' Path, named after a great trail building family, in such rough shape. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A FINE day in the forest. The colors are starting to pop and it was a lovely treat. Someone left the trail in "expert mode" yesterday before they left. Lots of leaves covering up the water and mud, especially on the sidehill section when you make the hard ascend left from el 2850-2800. There is no way you are not getting wet. I could have worn fly fishing waders and that would have been far more enjoyable. I wanted to bring my airboat, but its in the shop. The water begins to run steadily before the height of land at the turn off for Engine Hill whack and continues to flow at a strong trickle to about 1/10 before the Isolation East Junction. Speaking of Engine Hill, I am quite sure I interupted some moose hanky panky this morning. Right at the junction there was a gigantic bull sitting there staring at me, he darted towards Engine Hill, the peak. About a hundred yards away there was a cow calling him on the Engine Hill whack side. So I moved with some vigor for a bit, I was not really wanting to meet the bull again. Not a bad trip till about crossing 5, after that it becomes a river for about a half a mile. After that its just mud. You might want to prep some cirque-de-soliel moves to get around some of them, its virtually inevitable you will have wet feet. Made it to Davis in quick order and that was half a muddy nightmare, half ok, but still delightful. There are two spots where you need to take a gazelle like leap of faith and pray you stick the landing, preferably getting 10's from your hiking partners. Ike north was in the clouds, but did steal some views of the foliage and Carrigain. On the way down was even more exciting as the will of self preservation waned. There was one mud hole I went in that I thought it was the end of me, it was almost to my knee. Thankfully almost immediately I fell in the river of a trail like four times to wash off the mud. Did run into one lone fella on the way out, who had some pretty nice pictures of the bull. He had run into him around Rocky Shelter 1. Uneventful on the way out, but I was happy I had my saw, found a piece of chagga that was bigger than my entire pack. I swaddled it like a baby on the way down. My poor spaghetti arms, I cant even lift them. Womp womp. |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-10-05 |
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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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