| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield (The Chin), VT |
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 | Trails: |
Chin Clip ski trail, Long Trail, bushwhack, Cliff Trail, ski trails |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
End of Route 108 parking or ski parking |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
none |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
none |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
ok |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
To avoid the maze of hundreds of crossing ski tracks up on the Long Trail, I chose the quicker ascent up the Chin Clip Ski trail and connected to the LT at a spur @ about 3100'. Continued up Long Trail, past Taft Lodge,(The Profanity Trail was buried in feet of snow and was unaware of its actually start but it was definitely not broken)and continued to the col @ 4000'. I studied awhile the very steep pitch near the top to ascend Mansfield. After careful deliberation, I said to myself "no f__king way! A 'no fall zone' made even worse by skiers skiing and shedding any snow that had accumulated from the last snow storm. The pitch was a combination of rock and ice and was too steep even to use crampons. Maybe an ice axe might help, but still not for me, and others as well as I soon found out. After
retreating down the col a bit, I heard voices. A couple just above me were also retreating from that pitch. I shouted to them 'that looks really bad' and they obviously agreed. They were on there way down and soon disappeared. I did not see where they were going so I climbed up higher and southerly and chased after them to see where they might be headed. I came to a rise and saw a broken bushwhack trail following along the rock-face above, in a parallel and slightly descending level. This trail had some promise, heading to the southern side of the peak where you may intersect with another col. I followed it and came upon the couple, who had lost their dog and they hoped it had gone back to their car. I hope they reunited with their dog at their car. I continued on following this bushwhack trail but the couple turned around at this point. The trail intersected a col. I was now at the col for the Cliff Trail, in which skiers were bare booting, carrying their skis up from the Gondolier Ski Lift to the peak of Mansfield. Finally, after an abort last year in a whiteout snow squall, Mansfield was in sight. As I climbed up a met a group of four hikers coming down who had created the bushwhack trail. I thanked them for the trail they created. We had a discussion and I reiterated to them when I saw that very steep pitch, in the conditions it was in, I said, "No f__ing way". A member of their group replied back to me immediately and stated, "That's exactly what I said".
A beautiful sunny day with excellent visibility, with the Whites of New Hampshire in clear view. |
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 | Name: |
Gordon |
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 | E-Mail: |
grreilling at juno dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-03-23 |
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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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