| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Adams, Mt. Madison, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Gulfside, Airline, Lowes Path, Osgood Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 23, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No issues |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Generally good shapes; kudos to the people who cleared some blowdowns yesterday. As a past Trail Adopter of a different trail, it was very interesting to see how the ice followed the trail down to waterbars and then off the trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A most unusual December day. Warm, fairly light wind. That being said, not the best winter hike I’ve ever done. While trail was fairly dry up to the turn away from the brook, there were still several stretches of ice in the middle of the first quarter mile of the trail. Easily avoided and okay with bare boots. From about 2500 feet up to the Valley Way tent site, extensive, but intermittent ice. It was a challenge, particularly coming down. Above the tent site to the hut was better with fairly consistent firm snow. Above the hut rough rocks mixed with some snow and ice made for an additional challenge. I thought the longer descent from Adams on Lowe’s Path to Gulfside was much better walking than going back down Airline to Gulfside. I wore rock spikes from around 2500 feet ascending and a little lower on the way down. If you only have good spikes, I would suggest waiting for better conditions. If I had had good spikes, I would have probably had them on and off many times. Another issue is that the extent of the ice is driving people off the edges of the trail at the mid elevations I mentioned above. |
|
 | Name: |
Jay Baxter |
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 | E-Mail: |
Jbaxtermdfacs@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-23 |
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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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