Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Washington, Mt. Monroe, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Pierce, NH |
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| Trails: |
Jewell Trail, Gulfside, Trinity Heights Connector, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, herd path, Eisenhower Loop, Webster Cliff Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 18, 2021 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
My friends spotted one car at the start of the Crawford Connector, then drove to the USFS lot at Jewell ($5/day). Plenty of parking at both. The roads were snowy when we got back down around 4:30pm. I was glad I got a ride there and didn’t have to drive my FWD car through the storm. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction, Snowshoes |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Trivial |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I believe there was a blowdown or two next to each other partway up Jewell Trail. I think my friends ducked under while I went around. Hopefully that will get taken care of soon. I don’t recall the blazing of Jewell Trail (blue??) but it’s not frequent. Below tree line the trail is very easy to follow. Above tree line, the trail is marked with cairns. There’s some awkward turns in the trail, particularly if you’re doing down it, that can get you off trail. A few herd paths deviate from the marked trail too above treeline. All other trails above tree line are marked with cairns and the occasional old lead yellow blaze. I don’t think Crawford Path to Pierce is blazed. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen. Not an appropriate hike for all dogs given the length and conditions but I’m sure some could do it. |
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| Bugs: |
None |
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| Lost and Found: |
None |
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| Comments: |
Finally gridded out this stupid month. Last year I was unsuccessful due to the Presis and earlier in the week I only had enough of a window to do Madison-Jefferson. So relieved to finally have gotten the rest of these!! Only 4 peaks in February until I’m done. Thank you to my friends who drove me to/from this hike and for their company on an iffy weather day.
It was interesting to see the changes in Jewell Trail just 3 days after I was last on it. The trail started off mostly dry and easily bare bootable. After a mile or two, we threw on the spikes. I took them off at tree line thinking the snow and ice would mostly be gone but after the freezing rain after Wednesday when I was on Jewell Trail there was more ice. Should’ve left them on at least for awhile longer. We reached Gulfisde where one in our group turned around due to time constraints and the rest of us pushed on to Washington. After a ways, Gulfside became very icy. We mostly rock hopped buf spikes would’ve been easier. We stuck to the cog rather than take Gulfside by the Great Gulf which can be a no fall zone in winter and quite sketchy.
The winds were even milder than we predicted which we enjoyed though too bad the sun couldn’t come out to play. The summits were totally in the clear though on the summit of Washington we noticed clouds beginning to approach Madison. Just one other group on Washington that had come up Lions Head when we were there. We headed down Crawford Path toward Lakes of the Clouds. Spikes would be advisable most of the way. I found myself occasionally sliding in microspikes on this section so something beefier like Hillsounds, K-10s, or crampons may have been advisable too. We began to run into many more people on this side of the mountain that had come up Ammo including one husband/wife with only one small backpack between them. At this point, clouds were over the northern presis and approaching Washington as well. We made sure they were aware of the weather. A couple small snowfields forking beteeen Washington and Lakes of the Clouds.
We took a break at the hut and watched Washington go into the clouds as the occcasional flake begun to fall on us. Up Monroe we went. Some sketchy ice and steepness here. We were too lazy to put them on but crampons wouldn’t have hurt here with the thick ice and steep grade. Here we enjoyed our last real views of the day before we went into the clouds and headed toward Ike. Visibility was still, at minimum, a couple hundred yards the entirety of the hike despite being in the clouds. The snow fell lightly-moderately and the wind was very light which made for a relatively pleasant experience. A few areas with a bit of snowpack and the occasional posthole between Monroe and Ike. Certainly not worth bringing snowshoes at that time though.
A few more sketchy sections of ice and such as we ascended the dome of Eisenhower. The new snow was just beginning to accumulate and cover up the ice as we headed toward Pierce. Quick out and back to Pierce, then down. For much of the way down, it seemed as if the snow had stopped. There was really only a trace to an inch of new snow at this point but it was enough to obscure the ice and make things more treacherous. Crawford Path down Pierce was significantly more icy than Jewell. It felt pretty ridiculous. We dulled our spikes a lot but there was still the occasional patch of obscured ice all the way to the lot so the spikes stayed on. We reached my friends’ car at dusk. No one seen between Lakes of the Clouds and the parking lot.
Until you see a report for the Presidentials saying otherwise, I’d recommend bringing both snowshoes, spikes, and crampons with you if headed above tree line. While we didn’t seem to get as much snow in the mountains as predicted, winds were low enough that it could have settled and accumulated above treeline. But, if the snow doesn’t stick or there’s not that much, there’s still lots of knarly ice underneath likely warranting crampons or even possibly an ice axe. |
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| Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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| E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-12-19 |
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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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