| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Burke Mountain, VT |
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 | Trails: |
Red Trail, ski trails, Blue Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 7, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Oddly the lower ski area parking lot was blocked off (ski area not yet open). Parked on the paved road above the lots, where other cars had parked as well (despite no parking signs on one side...there weren't any on the side I parked on). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
On Red Trail below Fire Road, two stepovers, one of which is at least 8" in diameter. At the shelter immediately above the fire road, there is a tree that recently lost a large trunk. When the rest of the tree goes, it will likely smash through the shelter. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Shoulder season conditions with a biting wind.
The first portion of the Red Trail (ie the multi use section) was rather icy - Microspikes recommended. Upon leaving this roadbed and entering the open hardwoods, the trail was mostly dry with a few small patches of ice. Easily barebooted.
The Red Trail above the shelter was increasingly icy as one approaches the ski area. I was able to bareboot while ascending, but would have needed my Microspikes if descending.
The ski area is not yet open, so I hopped out onto the ski trails and beelined toward the summit. Very icy starting at around 3,000 feet...Microspikes were necessary. The fire tower steps above the first flight were also very icy. With the winds and the ice the way they were, I opted not to go all the way to the top of the tower.
Hoping to catch post sunset colors, I made a side trip to the West Peak. There was about 3-4" of crunchy snow in the small col, followed by blue and black ice on the footbed. A western snow flurry blocked any color, but it looks like the viewpoint below the shelter would be good for sunsets, especially when the angle from the fire tower is blocked by the communications tower.
Since they haven't yet pumped on the upper mountain, I descended the ski trails, which were generally good going, as the grass has repelled the ice for the most part. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-12-07 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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