| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, bushwhacks |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, November 28, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Rocky Branch trailhead lot. This large lot is paved, plowed after winter storms. Sign off NH 16 indicates the lot. Kiosk just in the woods. No privy. I was the only vehicle on arrival, one other on the return. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Avoided the sometimes problematic water crossings on Isolation Trail by using bushwhacks. The crossing on the Iso Express was achieved by using plenty of dry rocks. Water levels elevated today. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great trails for dogs. No treacherous obstacles for them to negotiate. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Rocky Branch > Engine Hill bushwhack > Isolation Trail > “Iso Express” bushwhack > Davis Path > back the way I came.
In reviewing my older posts, I noted some incongruity with Trail surface reports. This is mostly due to the changing surface over the course of the day. So, I’m trying something new and splitting the report into morning and afternoon.
Morning (start time of 0800):
Rocky Branch: blazed in bright yellow blazes to the Wilderness border. No blazes after this. Footbed was wet, saturated with leaves, and snow free to start. I soon encountered a complete brook running on trail. The running water continued off and on until the snow pack. Snow was intermittent until 2700 feet where it became much more consistent. However, the shoulder crossing (you climb about 1.7 miles when you encounter a nearly flat segment), was a lake. I mean a LAKE. Several of them, in fact. I was able to use rocks or vegetation to cross the pools in the morning as there was more frozen snow and ground available in between. No spikes needed. Winds and light snow peppered me for the duration.
Engine Hill bushwhack: ok, disclaimer time. I’ve been on this bushwhack 3 times, once in summer. I’m comfortable with the terrain and have navigational skills; though my son would argue that my “skills” tend to land us on the steepest, tightest terrain… I like to think I find the “fun” way. Thanks to the “Trail Blazers” who laid a super awesome line last week. I still took a compass bearing but was able to follow their shoe prints with confidence (man! I love this time of year). There were those pesky bog areas where I nearly sunk to my knee. Not quite frozen yet. Snow covered this bushwhack, approximately 1-2 inches in depth for the most part. I did not wear spikes this morning. I DID wear my knee length gaiters and waterproof boots, though, and was glad I did. Lots of vegetation to grab at clothing. Not deep enough for snowshoes just yet. But man, when it is… oooohhhh! It’s gonna be a sweet line!
Isolation trail: that sweet line mentioned above literally dumps you at the start of the Iso Express. I was on this trail for a grand total of 5 steps. They were quite icy, though.
Iso Express: again, a bushwhack is a bushwhack. This is NOT a herd path like Black Pond, you have to pay attention to your surroundings and the “path.” The Trail Blazers from last week set up an awesome ascent. I took another compass bearing and made sure my Gaia was working properly (oh let me tell you about the time that son of a gun was on the fritz…). I was still able to follow the footsteps in the snow made by last week’s trekkers. There was a solid 2-4 inches of snow for the duration of this ‘whack. The snow was wet, heavy, and would have balled up on my spikes. The small streams were open and flowing. I used bare boots for the ascent as there was no ice. There was one part on the open ledge that I got a bit turned around. Using my trusty compass, I was able to re-orient myself and find the path.
Afternoon (reached Davis Path at 11:30):
Davis Path: not blazed. Simple to follow. I donned spikes as the snow clad footbed was slick from the weekend trekkers. Snow was firm in parts, soft in others. The traditional mud pools are not quite frozen over but are at least more solid than in warmer times. I zipped across only sinking 2 inches in the softest parts. The rocky footbed is mostly covered with compacted snow. The wind and snow were pelting me from all angles. The summit spur was covered in soft ice. I had no issues in spikes (but I carried crampons just in case). Summit carin visible. The summit is slathered in soft ice and exposed rock ledge. Today’s wind and lack of views did not encourage me to linger.
Iso Express: spikes very helpful on the descent. I made great time, even with softening snow.
Engine Hill: by afternoon the snow became quite slushy even though the skies were constantly laying down a trace amount of fresh powdery snow. I was able to retrace my footsteps without issue. I kept my spikes on as I could move faster with the added traction. The bog areas became more problematic with warmer temps. I created a kind of bypass around the biggest and deepest bog, but it’s through some tight trees…
Rocky Branch: the snow had retreated to nearly 2900 feet. The trail turned into a leaf clogged, water saturated mess. My feet were wet anyway from falling in one of the pools (I swear that clump of mud looked like a rock) so I just plowed through all the running water without regard. The lakes from the morning magically expanded into oceans along the flat shoulder portion. The running water on trail went from a brook to a solid, flowing creek. Wool socks positively squished in my boots. The only person I saw all day was met along this final descent back to the parking area. No snow on trail below 2000 feet (ended at 14:45/2:45pm).
Favorite part of today: no sound. The only noise were my footsteps in the slushy snow and the gurgling of brooks. Though there was the sounds of the snow pelting my ski shell jacket, it was quite a relaxing sound.
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-11-28 |
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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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