| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jackson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Webster-Jackson Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot was plowed, first one there |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Main water crossing before the Webster Trail split was snowbridged, however there was a natural hole (as opposed to a hole made by someone breaking through) and that hole was wider/longer than it looked when I started poking around with my pole. With so much light snow and drifting, I'd be very careful and use your poles to poke around to determine the solid spots underneath. The actual snowbridge felt okay/sturdy |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Snowshoes all the way yesterday. Trail was broken out probably the day before by a few barebooters and maybe one snowshoer. There was a LOT of unconsolidated snow. I followed two barebooters from the Highland Center that made the trail ridiculously choppy and made for a lot of tipping into their holes with my snowshoes. Tried to smooth it out by sliding my snowshoes to fill in the holes, moving kind of like I was XC skiing. I passed them at nearly halfway- a very nice couple but probably very out of their element, attempting their first winter high peak. They were self admittedly quite beat about halfway in. He asked how my snowshoes were working on the uphills.. then he motioned to his backpack and said they had snowshoes but considered them such a workout. I told them that when conditions are good for it (such as two days after a 20+" snowstorm) then the snowshoes are actually VERY helpful. I assume everyone reading this already knows that. They did not summit as I saw their tracks turn around at the Webster split sign. Doing this in just spikes is such a workout. It is far too loose and far too much.. I wonder if they had worn the snowshoes if they would have made it. Either way I was happy to have fresh snow and no new tracks to get to the summit after passing them. However, it was SO unconsolidated from the clan of barebooters the day before that there were spots 5-8" of unconsolidated snow on the "track" and very narrow sections that I attempted to widen. Summit has very little ice now and has that styrofoam type texture snow (great for grip) so that final push was really quite easy. On the way down I was surprised at how much my snowshoes sunk in on the way up and dutifully smoothed it out. Very unconsolidated - you may be fooled by the first .25 mile into this trail but you are going to want snowshoes to make it doable. Only saw those two people yesterday, appears I was the only one to summit. I think snowshoes would be appropriate for any high peak this week - this isn't about "ruining" the trail - they make it easier! I want to see people succeed out there. |
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 | Name: |
Samantha J |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-29 |
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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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