| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Madison, Adams, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Osgood, Airline |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 16, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Appalachia lot is well plowed. It was decently full when I arrived around 10am but there were plenty of spots. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All frozen or snow-bridged |
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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: |
There was a nalgene bottle with a black insulated bottle holder left at the trailhead. I also saw a pair of blue msr evo explore snowshoes at the hut. I'd imagine someone just stashed them there while they grabbed Madison but you never know. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Out and back on Valley Way, Osgood (AT) up and down Madison, Airline up and down Adams. It was a fantastic day to be above treeline in the Northern Presidentials. I put spikes on to start the climb and ended up keeping them on the entire day. Snowshoes would have been helpful on the steeper parts of the ascent up Valley Way but never felt super necessary so mine got a free ride strapped to my pack. Spikes were definitely all that was needed once above treeline. The climb from the hut to the top of Madison didn't have much snow and spikes were sufficient for the ice and patches of snow on the rocks. Adams had a bit more snow coverage heading up airline but it really just made for a more consistent tread underfoot as opposed to the boulder field it is in the summer. Minimal wind and temps in the 20s meant you could actually hang out on the summits for a while and the views were spectacular. |
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 | Name: |
Kpayson |
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 | E-Mail: |
kpayson3@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-02-17 |
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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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