| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Jefferson , NH |
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 | Trails: |
Cog Railway, Gulfside Trail, Jefferson Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, February 6, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Cog parking lot only had 10 cars. $10/PP |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
1 pup looking sharp as Kyle noted and doing well. |
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 | Bugs: |
Happily sleeping |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing |
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 | Comments: |
Snowcat had laid a nice path to Waumbek Station then a combo of snowshoes, bareboot and ski tracks after that with fluffy snow over a firm trail. SS and televators all the way door to door. The Cog Railway ROW above Jacob's Ladder is a little sketchy with loose snow over a hard pack of snow and slanting to the left ascending trying to pull you into Burt's Ravine so a degree of caution and deliberate steps are required. Some may feel better with spikes or crampons and an ice ax but I did fine just with snowshoes (new sharp MSR Lightning Ascents). If you don't have sharp crampon SS I would recommend a different route or switch to crampons. Snowfields to the Gulfside Trail were firm wind packed slabs. The Gulfside itself is a mix of ice, a little rock (but less than a few days ago) and a fair amount of drifty snow. I broke it out to Jefferson Loop but fortunately it wasn't hard packed or heavy. Very light and easily packed out. Multiple parties behind me flattered it out further although still fluffy in places. Styrofoam snow slabs on the Jefferson summit cone with some fluffy snow on top. SS worked well except for the rock garden in Sphinx Col but trail is sufficiently broken out that spikes will suffice until tonight when the next snowstorm arrives, albeit not a big one. |
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 | Name: |
TransZenHiker |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-02-06 |
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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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