| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Caps Ridge Trail, The Cornice, Gulfside, Sphinx Trail, Great Gulf Trail, Six Husbands Trail, Jefferson Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, August 14, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The Caps Ridge Trailhead parking lot off Jefferson Notch Rd. was about 2/3 full at 9am. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There were many stream crossings on the Sphinx Trail, Great Gulf Trail, and a significant one at the start of the Six Husbands Trail, but all of them were easily rock-hoppable, the last one with a little care. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The Six Husbands Trail is overgrown in many places, but generally easy to follow. At the bottom of the trail, just after the stream crossing, the trail goes right but there seemed to be also a herd path going left - it might be good to mark more clearly that left is the wrong way. In the upper part of the trail, above treeline, it might be good to mark the intended trail more clearly with cairns or otherwise - any route will get up the mountain, but there would be less trampling of the alpine plants if one route were singled out clearly. When going up Caps Ridge Trail, there was a sign for The Cornice, where we were making a right turn, but it was not very clear where exactly we were supposed to turn right. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I'd think that dogs would have trouble with the scrambles over the caps on the Caps Ridge Trail, and there is no water on the Caps Ridge Trail. I'd definitely not take dogs up or down the Six Husbands Trail - too many difficult scrambles, not to mention the five ladders. |
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 | Bugs: |
None bothered me. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Our route included three of the "Terrifying 25" trail in their entirety, namely the Caps Ridge Trail, Sphinx Trail, and the Six Husbands Trail. In terms of difficulty, I'd say Six Husbands > Caps Ridge > Sphinx, but all three trails took more time than we expected. Going down Caps Ridge Trail took us more time than going up it! The five ladders on Six Husbands Trail felt very secure and not at all difficult to ascend. From the trail descriptions in the White Mountain Guide and The 4000-footers of the White Mountains, I was expecting the sloped ledge between the fourth and fifth ladders to be tricky, which it was, but I was surprised by the difficulty of the many scrambles ascending Jefferson's Knee above the fifth ladder. I would attempt the Six Husbands Trail only if you have plenty of experience with other scrambles or with rock climbing. |
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 | Name: |
mathbp |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-08-15 |
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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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