| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Pico Peak and Killington Peak , VT |
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 | Trails: |
Sherburne Pass Trail, Pico Link, Long Trail, Killington Spur Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, March 19, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Large lot across from The Inn at Long Trail. Lot very icy at start. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Collapsing bridges with some but still easy to get over. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns on AT but looked to have been there for some time. In these areas, could use a few extra white blazes. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None today. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
There is a smaller liner glove hanging in a tree on the flats on The AT between Pico and Killington. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Variable trail conditions. Generally, no snow signs anywhere (exposed areas) driving over and then as soon as you step into the parking lot there is ice and 3-4 inches of snow on trail. Lots of prior postholing, especially on The Link to Pico. Since then, cold with negative feels over the past couple nights. Freshly sharpened trail spikes were the way to go. On the trek, everything was extremely solid on the surface, even off-trail. Packed out snowshoes but they would have taken a significant beating. Overall, prior to the Cooper Camp below Killington Peak, you have mostly ice, a hardened and stable mono-rail of snow and ice and bare trail coupled with a surface of intermittent ice and rocks/roots. The hike is mostly under a canopy so the lack of sun exposure has prolonged the ice and snow cover around most of the hike. You could really get through the hike without having to step on any rocks, except at the summit. With the hardened ice surface with no more than 15 inches of solid snow at higher elevations, I took a creative approach to Killington Peak through the last steeper push to the summit cone. Picked my way up through the woods a little where I could get better plunge with an ice axe. Full crampons a must to top and I switched back to trail spikes past Snowdon Peak on the descent. |
|
 | Name: |
Bryant |
|
 | E-Mail: |
BPJ386@GMAIL.COM |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-03-20 |
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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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