| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cutts Peak, Mt. Ellen, Nancy Hanks Peak, Lincoln Peak, Mt. Abraham, VT |
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 | Trails: |
Gate House Trail, ski trails, Long Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 25, 2010 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Sugarbush South ski area parking lot |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Stepover and duck under blowdowns on each segment of the Long Trail - duck unders will become quite vexing with a little more snow. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't ask, but I suspect dogs probably aren't welcome on the ski trails during ski season. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Checked with Guest Services and they were okay with staying on the outside of the perimeter ski trails on snowshoes. Very friendly to snowshoers - quite a contrast to state owned Cannon in NH. Started on Gate House Trail - dedicated snowshoe trail from base lodge up to Castle Rock Connector ski trail - only one ski trail crossing, otherwise about 2 miles of mild snowshoeing (only 2-3" of snow, but smooth footing, so snowshoes were fine). Followed Castle Rock Connector (closed) downhill to first Castle Rock ski trail encountered (complex is closed), then ascended to Castle Rock peak. Only a few inches of snow down low, closer to a foot up high on this ski trail. Broke out Long Trail north to Mt. Ellen - 4-12" of powder on top of frozen granular base with 2-3 foot drifts in places. Overall depths along ridge probably 2-3 feet. Backtracked to Castle Rock, then followed Long Trail south (well packed by skiers until the last fraction of a mile, which I broke out to Lincoln Peak). Broke out Long Trail from Lincoln Peak to Mt. Abraham - probably 4-12" of powder on top of frozen granular base (drifting as well). Tracks visible from south to Mt. Abraham. Followed Jester and other outer trails down from Lincoln Peak. Trip report to be posted in a few days. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21 at franklinwebpublishing dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2010-12-25 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/Vermont/mountellen-2010-1225.php |
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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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