Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Jay Peak, Big Jay, VT |
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| Trails: |
Long Trail, herd path |
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| Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 25, 2020 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
First car in the lot at 8am Saturday morning, nearly full lot when I returned around noon - skiers on the Catamount Trail from what I could tell. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Not a one. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All was well - even on the "bushwhack" over to Big Jay. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
A few poops in the trail when I returned/descended. Saw 1 pup who appeared to control her owners - barked her little head off at me until I was passed and long gone. |
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| Bugs: |
Nope. |
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| Lost and Found: |
Only a bunch of surveyors tape every few feet along the "bushwhack"! |
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| Comments: |
Great day for a trek up to Jay/Big Jay! Very windy but the trail was packed like a highway. 1 spot with some standing mud/wet snow on the ascent, easily hopped! Snowshoes were choice for the day - all day, snow may have been too soft to support spikes- as witnessed by the dog walkers later in the day.
The ski trails did not appear to be open Saturday on Jay Peak (little jay was booming!), trails on Jay's summit had bare rock and grass blowing in the breeze. "Bushwhack" over to Big Jay is well marked, dozens of shades of surveyors tape tied every few feet. The trail over was well packed from skiers, met some others skinning over as I returned to Jay.
Summit rocks of Jay were bare with snow around (I left my snowshoes on as to not deal with them blowing in the hefty winds), spikes would have been better on the summit "cone" just to not catch an edge on the bare rocks.. but I made do.
I would recommend snowshoes just to not posthole with all of these warmer afternoons lately. Great day, felt very alone up there.
Found the *newer* summit canister on Big Jay, that was a huge surprise, didn't know it was replaced! - last to sign was on Jan 4th, I signed Jan 25th.
Happy climbing! Enjoy the mountains!
Erik |
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| Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
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| E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-01-29 |
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| Link: |
https://www.veggiesvistasandvert.com |
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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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