| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Washington, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Gulfside, Westside Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 22, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
$5 at the trailhead. Plenty of parking. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nearly water crossings are frozen over at this point. One of the more prominent water crossings higher up on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail had visible rushing water, but a stable ice bridge made any path hoppable if not walkable. Clear paths of packed power guide the way. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few down trees, non wider than a baseball bat or two. Our party was able to step over all of them.
A few "choose your own adventure" trails that depart from one another and return back to the same trail form and end just below Lakes. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Much of the success on the day was due to mellow summit conditions, and the hard work of snowshoers who hiked before us. In other words, choosing the right window made all the difference.
Winds on the summit averaged around 19 mph all day, temperatures on the summit ranged from -1°F to 6°F, but minimal cloud cover meant sunshine all day. Strongest winds were felt while standing on the lip of the Great Gulf along the Gulfside trail, while trails south of the summit remained nearly free from wind throughout the hike. ​
Last major snow in the area was Monday January 17th, where around 8" dropped in the valley. A lack of freeze and thaw cycles throughout the week meant that powder below treeline remained loose. Snow above treeline had formed a windswept crust. Snowshoers were out in force and by the end of the day, the path from the trailhead to the summit was broken and packed. On the steeper and less exposed parts of the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, snow remained loose. On the flatter portions of the trail as well as above treeline, the trail had been packed by the end of the day. Along the Gulfside Trail, the occasional wind slab would break on contact, but nothing propagated.
Traction notes: Each hiker in our party carried microspikes, snowshoes, and traction. Given the late start and the condition of the trail by the time we got going, each of us stuck with microspikes the whole day. While we felt safe with microspikes, we felt that there were portions of the trail where we could have used either snowshoes or traction and found more success. Most hikers out today wore snowshoes.
Gear notes: A change in gloves, plenty of extra layers, and some warm water made this hike happen. |
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 | Name: |
Jake |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-01-23 |
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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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