| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Twin Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
North Twin Trail, herd paths |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, December 29, 2011 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Haystack Road closed. Parked at end of Little River Road - no new signs, no issues. Approach to snowmobile bridge over Little River is washed out, but dry. Snowmobile bridge gated. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Ice - Blue, Snow - Drifts, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Skipped North Twin Trail crossings 1+2 (didn't look too enticing, but wasn't planning on doing them anyway). Crossing 3 was a bit tricky, as ice bridges are in early stages of formation (slush/ice accumulating on stepping stones). Found an ice bulge about 75 feet upstream for crossing onto rock island, then crossed the rivlet on an ice bridge. That ice bridge was gone in the afternoon, as the water level had risen, taking out some ice bridges and turning others into slush.
The minor crossings, on trail and on herd paths, were a bit tricky due to the above mentioned issue - ice bridges attempting to form, but water rushing over the tops, making them soft. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few minor to moderate thickness blowdowns on North Twin Trail, but none are vexing to get over/under. Herd path blowdowns are vexing though. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
If I were to do it over, I'd probably put this one off until we get 3-4" more snow.
There is next to no snow on the herd path to the summer trailhead and for the up to the first crossing on the North Twin Trail. Some patches of blue ice, but since they were flat, I was able to boot over them.
A little bit more snowpack from there, past crossing three, and partway up North Twin proper, but still, only 1-3" - frozen granular with a dusting of powder on top.
Starting at about 4,000 feet, snowshoes would be a good idea. Trail is beat up right now (thanks in part to me being stubborn by booting where others had before the storm), but would probably be a decent snowshoe with about 3" of new powder to fill in holes and cover up remaining rocks and roots.
Up high, drifts were upwards of knee deep. No sign of tracks since the storm going to South Twin on North Twin Spur - snowshoes would be a must. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21 at franklinwebpublishing dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2011-12-29 |
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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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