| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Gulfside, Air Line, Lowe 's Path, Israel Ridge Path, Fallsway |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 18, 2012 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Large lot in good shape. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Slush, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No significant water crossings. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One large tree across the Fallsway. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw two dogs |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Lots of water and frozen slush on the trails. Boots will get wet. Lots of postholes with the worst on the Gulside Trail especially in the section where it coincides with the Israel Ridge Path.
Valley Way can be ascended using microspikes. Used snowshoe crampons for descent as they are more aggressive than the microspikes. The most difficult spot on the trail is the iced ledge just uphill from the junction with the Watson Path. One can get by by skirting the ice on the east side of the trail. Water is running over and under the frozen slush on many sections of Valley Way making for a wet hike.
Osgood Trail : Airline : Lowe's Path : Israel Ridge are mainly dry rock hops but there are some spots of frozen slush. Microspikes are sufficient traction to ascend or descend the rocky cones of Mt Madison and Mt Adams.
Gulfside Trail is a mess in many spots. From the Madison Hut to the Airline, for the section coinciding with the Israel Ridge Path, and uphill from Edmands col there are many postholes, rough surfaces, wet snow, and spruce traps. There are other stretches of the Gulfside Trail that are bare rock. I fell in up to my hips on a couple of occasions on the way towards Mt Jefferson. Due to the slowdown through these areas I had to turn back before ascending on the Jeffereson Loop Trail. On the way back I used the snowshoes to avoid postholing but because of the varied surface conditions I had to switch footware often.
I heard from other hikers that the snow was softening on the Jefferson Loop Trail and that the Randolph Path had lots of postholes.
Other than the surface conditions in places, the hike was great with clear views, warm temperatures, and Snyder Brook was running strong with the melt water so Tama Fall, Salroc Fall, and Gordon Fall were all gushing. |
|
 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
|
 | E-Mail: |
WAUMBEK at Roadrunner dot com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2012-03-18 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
