| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Crawford Path, Gulfside, Cog Rail Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 24, 2021 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
paid $10 and parked at cog hikers parking, 2nd on arrival, about 10 on return |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction, Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
almost bridged at gem pool |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
there is one tree on ammo below gem pool, been there a while, well established walk around |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
saw none |
|
 | Bugs: |
none |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
none |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Munroe and Washington
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Munroe Loop, Crawford Path, Gulfside Trail, Cog Railway
hillsounds trail crampons on at cog base building. Followed one set of tracks in 3-4" fresh snow from cutoff trail to junction with ammo. Looked like two sets of tracks going up and one coming down all the way to LOC hut. Hard ice is lurking below the few inches of packed snow cover. Comparatively small amount of exposed ice bulges, and ice to LOC.
Just below LOC ran into one hiker that indicated he didnt summit because his gloves were not keeping his hands warm. While adding soft shell at LOC, two more hikers arrived after coming up ammo. They were only doing Munroe as they had done Washington in August. Put down fresh tracks up to Munroe in generally 3-6" fresh snow with occasional knee deep drifts. There was no wind until LOC. Wind picked up to perhaps 20-30 at Munroe summit. View to washington was in the clear at LOC. By the time at Munroe summit, Washington was in the clouds for perhaps the upper 500 feet. There were a few spots were the trail crampons were not getting enough grip. Switched to Hillsounds trail crampon pros and put on hard shell at Munroe summit. The cloud cover on Washington continued to increase. Winds were back to minimal back at LOC. Put on goggles at LOC. Followed one faint set of tracks up crawford. Trail mostly 3-6" fresh snow with occasional drifts to below the knee and ice. A fair anount of blown off snow and exposed rocks up to Washington. Got into the clouds and wind above Westside junction. One other hiker showed up just at the summit and had come up Crawford. His plan was to go down Jewel. Snow, drifts, exposed ice, and rocks on Gulfside to the Cog. There were at least 3 sets of tracks next to cog from another group I met in the parking lot. They were doing Washington and Jefferson. Next to cog was mixed or hard snow, loose snow, drifts, ice, rocks, and debris. Just above Waumbeck station, noticed the smell of smoke. There were fires in the fire pits and one cog worker there. They were running trains. Learned it is now a year round operation. There were cookies, marshmellows, and hot cocoa. Delayered at Waumbeck station. Ran into the last two trains, the 115s, of the day below Waumbeck Station. Always nice to get waves from those in the train. All in all a good day to be above treeline for an extended period of time. Had been waiting to get these peaks in December since early December. Winds had been consistently forecast in the 70 to over 100 mph range. Yesterday, the forecast was for mid 30s to mid 40s with gust to 50+ and wind chills to -20. It was 4 degrees at start. Guessing the winds on Washington were in the 30s and they didn't really start to pick up again until above junction with Westside. |
|
 | Name: |
Mark |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2021-12-25 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
