| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Rowe, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mt. Rowe Trail, Yellow Trail, Belknap Range Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at Gilford Elementary School. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The stream crossing just before the intersection with the Yellow Trail is wider and running harder than I've ever seen it. There was a lot of ice bridging on the rocks, most of which was pretty solid but given the warmer temps and the amount of runoff caution should be taken when choosing where to step. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One large tree down, a step-over up on the ridge just before the cell tower. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
no problems I could see |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
There were icy patches leading from the parking lot down to the boardwalk. Narrow monorail on the boardwalk but not continuous from end to end, so we bare-booted on the way back to avoid walking on the boardwalk surface in our spikes. Probably even less of a monorail by now as it was sunny and warm in the afternoon. Trail itself was nicely packed up to the Yellow trail, and the Yellow trail was also pretty well smoothed out, not too many choppy spots. The ridge was a mix, some nice packed sections, some chopped up sections, and one post-holed section where people have been swinging to the east though the trail is probably under the post-holed section. We came down the Mt. Rowe Trail all the way back to the car, and from the ridge down to the Yellow Trail intersection it was quite a mix. Shallow postholes, choppy frozen snow, boilerplate ice, nearly bare leaf-covered ground in numerous spots where it was clear that heavy run-off had occurred. Since it had frozen overnight, close attention was needed to avoid ankle rolling. In a few spots where the snow was deeper it was crusty enough to support our weight but then it would collapse under us. We saw a few groups with microspikes, and one fellow with no traction at all who was planning to stay down on the lower trails. Some of the worst boilerplate was actually lower down, so we advise traction start to finish. |
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 | Name: |
Sugaree |
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 | E-Mail: |
barkers@alumni.unh.edu |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-12-28 |
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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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