| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Gulfside, Air Line |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 20, 2022 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Appalachia at 8am. The honest to goodness parking spots had just been taken up so I parallel parked on the backside of the lot as many others did. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Trivial |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Valley Way is blazed (in blue?) occasionally. Make sure you follow the correct trail with all the junctions with various other trails down low and a few up higher as well. Just follow the packed trail! A few widow makers and duck under a as you gain elevation (roughly around the tent site spur??). All other trails were above tree line and didn’t show any visible blaze that I remember. Just follow the bootprints and cairns. Nothing was tricky navigstionally. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I don’t think we saw any. I would’ve been nervous taking one up there in the forecasted conditions but it was nicer than anticipated so I’m sure some dogs with the right gear could’ve handled it. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Last year I was unsuccessful in gridding out February because I didn’t get Washington-Madison. Well, today I (partially) redeemed by grabbing Adams and Madison. Another day to fall behind on the 500…
The valleys had received an inch or two of snow overnight but it was already packed down on Valley Way until you were perhaps above 4000ft (maybe earlier) where the snow depth increased and snowshoes might’ve been nice. We used microspikes the whole way though. As usual, there’s a few side hill/sloping sort of spots higher up on Valley Way where you should exercise caution as a fall would not be ideal there. Crampons or an ice axe to self-arrest in these spots may make some feel more comfortable but no one ever seems to use them. Above tree line, my friend threw on his crampons while I stayed in spikes. Most people were in crampons of some sort but my spikes are pretty knew so I got by.
Up to Madison had a lot of bare rock and some ice. Toward Adams had more ice but I still stayed in my spikes. Only fell once and slid a few feet ;) Another guy, I believe with crampons, we watched slide a good ways on Gulfside as well. He was okay. Just part of the game. I was surprised how many were out given the forecast but conditions were nicer than expected. Didn’t feel as cold as forecasted and it surely wasn’t as windy either. Winds were gusting to maybe 30mph on Madison. That said, it felt like the wind picked up as we descended Adams. We considered going to Jefferson but we’re glad we didn’t as when we got back to our cars we checked the current conditions on Washington and winds had ramped back up to 60mph with 80mph gusts.
Lovely to meet a few more “Facebook friends” out there on the peaks today :) Only Washington and Jefferson to go to finish this silly little grid thing ;P Thank you Kyle for joining me! |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2022-02-22 |
|
 | 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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