Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Stairs Mountain - East Peak, NH |
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| Trails: |
Jericho Road, Rocky Branch Trail, Stairs Col Trail, bushwhack |
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| Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 5, 2022 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There is room for 10 cars so so at the end where they stop plowing Jericho Road. There was one car there at 9am and it was still there when I returned. A couple other cars were there and they were dog walkers. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Rocky Branch bridge is necessary to cross the river but is difficult to climb up onto, climbing skills and upper body strength are necessary to haul yourself up 6 feet to the deck. All small streams and ditches are snow bridged
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
trail is wide and not well blazed but it is clear |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Dear me, everyone in Bartlett walks their dog here. Watch out for the poo |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
I kick and glided up a wonderful snowshoe track 1.8 miles up Jericho Road to the washed out Rocky Branch bridge, I took off my skis and I threw my skis and pack up on the bridge. I used the shoelaces hanging from the hanging guardrail to put my left foot and pushed against the post while I grabbed the guardrail with my hands and pulled myself up. I knew that climbing down later would be more difficult. The ski to the Rocky Branch Shelter was nice and I side stepped and herringboned out of the three biggest drainages. Just past the shelter I ditched my skis and put on my snowshoes. I continued up the nice snowshoe track, yah thanks Snowflea&FancyPants and a lone snowshoer that beat me out this morning. About elevation 2000 I left the trail and headed straight up East Peak. Snow was unconsolidated and I used my Northernlites snowshoes, good choice because they float well and crampons were little use in the loose snow, I sunk between 6 to 9 inches. I didn't like this steep bushwhack in August 6 years ago but today was much better being on snow above the bad footing. Nice open woods and then into thicker and thicker forest. I just chugged along happy through thick woods gave me something to hang onto. I went around a couple of cliff bands and magically ended up going straight at the recognized summit (last time it took me forever to find it). On the way back down I fell on my butt and slide a half dozen times, good fun. Skiing back was good and easy. |
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| Name: |
Nordic_gal |
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| E-Mail: |
amybike@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-03-05 |
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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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