| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Tom, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Jackson, Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bushwhack, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail, Avalon Trail, Webster-Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail, Crawford Path, Eisenhower Loop, Monroe Loop, Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Lawn Cutoff, Davis Path, Isolation Spur, Isolation Trail, Dry River Cutoff, Mt. Clinton Trail, Mitzpah Cutoff |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 15, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings navigable without issue |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Dry River Cutoff, Isolation trail, and Mt Clinton trail are badly in knee of a saw, and trail adoption.
Isolation's erosion is pretty bad, trail could use a significant re-route to higher on the ridge to avoid the stream continuing to do damage. Its a ton of work for a trail that is not often used.
Dry River Cutoff had two dozen blowdowns of at least 8" diameter. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Started out on forest road 192 from the Bethlehem town water supply near to Zealand trailhead. What I thought could be a heinous bushwhack with loads of blow downs ended up being the best trail conditions of the day, if a bit muddy. Joined with A-Z trail at about 3500' and topped out Mt Tom before turning around and snagging Field and Willey as the sun crawled above the horizon.
Blitzed down Avalon, where I ran into my first human sighting of the day. Headed up Webster Jackson on the other side of the notch, starting to feel the burn whilst jogging to Mitzbah for my first water refill of the day. Super friendly hut master, always a pleasure to run into someone engaging the community. Heading northwards to tag the southern presidentials felt great until Monroe, when I started to feel my legs waning. Lake of the Clouds to Washington felt like a sufferfest, but strava tells me it was my second-best effort...so what do I know? Trademark doritos and whoopie pie purchases on Washington got some side-eye glances while jogging and eating down Tuckerman ravine trail.
A nice reminder of the absurdity of this hiking the 4000'ers thing going down several thousand feet to "summit" Isolation. Mud pits are in full strength on Isolation trail, as were the black flies when I stopped to polish off the doritos. Maybe they just like doritos. Isolation trail is an eroded mess most of the way down from 3500' or so to the dry-river. Dry-river cutoff and Mt Clinton trail felt more like a carwash and obstacle course than a hiking trail. It'd be a bummer, but eventually an axe wielding samaritan will have a long weekend dealing with all the blowdowns, and trail trimming that this trail needs. Cruiser down the Mitzbah cutoff and Crawford back to 302. Great day out, forerunning for a big effort later this summer, sunburned neck today reminds me listen to others and wear my dang sunhoodie.
Lastly: Phyllis is my hero, thank you for the ride back to my vehicle at Zealand trailhead. After this big day I was not looking forward to adding the ten-mile road jog. |
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 | Name: |
Ladd |
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 | E-Mail: |
ladd40climb@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-06-16 |
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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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