| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Madison, Adams, Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Gulfside, Israel Ridge Trail, Mt Jefferson Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 16, 2026 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Appalachia 1/2 full @10am, very empty @6pm |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
N/A |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
N/A |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a few enjoying alpine winter wonderland |
|
 | Bugs: |
N/A |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
N/A |
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|
 | Comments: |
Gridded out all 3 peaks and February today!! Valley way is a sidewalk and a luge in the top stretch from tentsite to hut. Up Osgood to Madison is probably the best I've ever seen, nice and well tracked granular with all the big rocks filled and a singular path featuring minimal ice. Saw a few people in full crampons here which is total overkill right now. Adams is decent, tho the trail is very braided and keeps trying to wander overly west in many places, more crusty. Tracks wander north of the cairn line on Lowes up near the summit then the shortcut of Israel ridge is very roughly tracked, a high and low line that start & end together but meander around the big snowfield in the middle. Snowshoes are pretty useless above treeline, however if you brought them that big snowfield between Sam Adams & Adams 5 on Gulfside could use some smoothing out as it meanders and is rough in the high shrub patch.
Cresting Adams 5 and dropping down in Edmands Col is very bony and has a mix of semi-bare ground, crusty snowfields, and icy angled rocks. Jefferson snowfields: the one on Gulfside is pretty soft and choppy climbing the steep pitch and then a mix of soft packed powder, crusty granular, and already partially drifted over on the return. Descent was manageable with a lotta heel steps in the footholds made on the ascent. Jeff loop north snowfield: this one is much crustier and requires paying attention to the cairns on the ascent to avoid getting sucked out into the middle. Descent requires good footwork and retracing footsteps to actually feel comfortable. I took the section of Gulfside from thunderstorm junction to airline on return trip which is rough as it only has a couple drifted set of tracks from yesterday. Pretty easy to stay atop snowpack and good traction by following the cairns carefully. Basically ran down Valley way from the hut
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|
 | Name: |
Heat Lightning |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ecs@mountainlogworks.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-02-16 |
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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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