| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt Adams and Mt Madison, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Airline, Gulfside, Lowe's Path, Osgood Trail, Airline Cut-Off |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I snagged the LAST parking spot at Appalachia shortly before 7am this morning. When I finished the lot was still pretty full and there were cars parked on the road. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All easy rock hops |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I don't recall anything notable. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I had the pleasure of meeting Bracer from Connecticut as he and his person were ascending Adams and I was descending. The real icing on the cake was bumping into Luci and Toby on the summit of Adams. I got my Luci snuggles and all was right in my world. This route can be a tough one for dogs. The rocks are so abrasive so paw protection may be needed. There is also no water along the way so bring extra. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Not an issue thanks to the winds today. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing lost and nothing found. |
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|
 | Comments: |
I had checked the MWOBS forecast and NOAA before heading out and all was within my comfort range, however the winds were definitely stronger than forecasted. I headed up Airline and could hear the wind as I got closer to popping out above treeline. The trail was mostly dry all the way up with a few wet spots and some muddy sections. The steep rocky section was pretty dry which helped me move a little faster. Once I was above treeline the winds were strong but the footing was good so I kept going. I did have to take a few breaks to wait out the stronger gusts before moving again. Due to the stronger winds, I opted to take Gulfside to Lowe's Path as opposed to going straight up Airline to the summit. This was a good call. The footing was better and the winds were not as bad. Lowe's Path also had good footing. I was delighted to bump into David and the dogs up there and after "family photos" we parted ways as he headed to Jefferson and I headed down Airline towards the hut. Descending was slower going than usual due to the winds but the rocks were dry and grippy so I stayed upright. I made it to the hut in pretty good time and headed up Madison. Again, the rocks were dry but the winds were pushing me around from time to time. Back down at the hut I made the call to return via Airline to avoid the Valley Way slog. The Airline cutoff was muddy and had some standing water but was well worth it to avoid VW. I met many friendly hikers who were out for the day and quite a few headed to the hut for multiple day traverses. This was an incredible day in really fun conditions. It was a solid roll of the dice. I got back to my car to find TRAIL MAGIC again! 2 days in a row. I haven't solved the mystery yet as to who left me chocolate today. But thank you to whoever you are! It was gone before I left the parking lot. |
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 | Name: |
Uki |
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 | E-Mail: |
ukisukinaminanu@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-08-12 |
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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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