| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Boundary Line Trail, Jefferson Notch Road, Caps Ridge Trail, Gulfside, Jewell Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, December 5, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ammo parking area is dry, ice and snow free. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Watch what you're doing on the cutoff to the Cog Railway. The brook is pretty deep right now. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Caps Ridge is fine. Jewell has some sizable blow-downs that will become a hassle with some deep snow cover. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
This was #47 of my fifth round of the 48. Overall, I think I'm around 260 for the grid. Huzzah! Blue skies started out the day, and lasted into the afternoon. High level clouds moved in, yielding a blood-orange sunset that exploded across the western horizon. Wow!
The good: the gate is open on Jefferson Notch Road. The bad: after the first mile or so, it gets really icy. The ugly: nearer the Boundary Line trail, the grade is such that continuing on risks you and your vehicle sliding on said ice. Backward. There's enough crunchy snow and bare ground on the edges that you can bare boot it to the trailhead well enough, but forget driving until next springtime. It's not worth the risk of an airbag deployment.
Caps Ridge is covered with just enough snow and ice that it looks enticing, but beware: the way going is complicated. Several parts are coated in enough blue ice that downward travel could be treacherous. More than once, I seriously questioned my choice of trail; once you're in the thick of it, turning back isn't really a good option. Jewell is in fine shape, and makes an excellent route paired with Gulfside, and you get those magnificent views down into the Great Gulf, to boot. I'd leave Caps Ridge alone for the next few months at this point.
Up high, snow wasn't particularly deep, although there were a few drifts deep enough to post hole for a couple steps or so -- entirely forgettable. On the other hand, the rocks poke up through the white expanse and make the landscape look otherworldly. Magic!
If you do decide to try Caps Ridge, I highly recommend full-on crampons and an ice axe. The ice is rock-hard, and you're going to need all the traction you can get. For the rest, micro spikes should be OK, but snowshoes won't bring anything notable to the party.
Note that Zealand had saw horses blocking the entrance to the road, and a sign advising parking was in the lot across the street. Access to Galehead and Garfield by the loop road was open as of Monday evening, the 5th of December. Mt Clinton Road was also open.
Photos and a more detailed write-up are on my blog, as always. Share and enjoy! |
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 | Name: |
Protean Wanderer |
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 | E-Mail: |
hiker@proteanwanderer.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-12-06 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2022/12/06/trip-report-windy-and-wild-on-jefferson/ |
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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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