| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Welch Mountain, Dickey Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Welch-Dickey Loop Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 2, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No problem |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Thin crust of ice atop first brook when looping counter-clockwise. Many other small springs and brooks with enough solid ice to make safe passage. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few small blowdowns in the hardwoods, max dia. 8". We trust the waterbars will be cleaned/redug in Spring. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Most of the trail is covered in ice flows, including most of the open ledges. The ice is steep and often has groundwater flowing over it. The trail is thus extremely slippery. In our party those who wore Hillsound or better trail crampons were able to stomp into the hard ice just barely enough to find footing. Those who had only microspikes found them entirely inadequate due to the hardness and steepness of the ice. I recommend no one try this trail wearing microspikes, much less bare-booting.
In particular, the ledges that lead to long falls over high cliffs are covered in ice flows. Parties attempting this trail would be well advised to bring ropes to fix across the ice flows so that if someone falls they may not end up at the bottom of a cliff. |
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 | Name: |
Creag nan drochaid |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-02-02 |
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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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