| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Kearsarge, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Power Line Cut, Barlow Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 7, 2010 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Kearsarge Mountain Road is closed off and not maintained in the winter -- but is packed out. Plenty of parking along the road before this -- just need to walk the last mile or so to the trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Ice - Blue, Snow - Drifts, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None were an issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The power line cut has a huge blowdown leaning on power lines about one-quarter of the way up -- careful movement around that is advised. Just beyond that, there are a few large bits of tree dangling from the powerline -- again, careful observance of these is advised. Afterwards, the power line cut ascent is very easy until just below the summit, where there are quite a few snow-weighted trees/boughs clogging the route. Barlow Trail down is easy for the first 0.2 miles, and then -- for the next mile or so, there are a number of small blowdowns and VERY heavy, laden "ice boughs" that were melting and snapping trees/branches every few minutes (freaky!). Some of the ice falling off of these was perhaps 20 to 30 pounds, perhaps more? The last half mile of the trail has a few small blowdowns. As a whole, everything can be walked around/under -- just have to make sure that you don't get clubbed by blocks of ice. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We originally looked for the Winslow Trail as the route to ascend but took the Power Line Cut -- something not even mentioned in the recent AMC Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, but referenced as a viable winter route way back in 1966 in the AMC White Mountain Guide -- because we could not found the Winslow Trail (or first choice) broken out. So, up the Power Line Cut we went, and because it was broken out by multiple tracks, we had no problem going all the way up this route. The snow this way is packed out and where it is not, there might be all of two feet of spring snow. Up top, plenty of drifts and rime ice. Heading down the Barlow Trail was a joy -- many sections of wonderful two- or three-foot powder, interspersed with blocks of "tree ice" that had fallen off as melt, some a foot by a foot and weighing 20 pounds or so. Unfortunately, prior to us heading down it today, the Barlow Trail had not seen any traffic for some time and the only user...well, let's just say that many kittens died earlier today, and to a depth of three feet in several places. Finally...what a treat to watch 100-lb blocks of rime melt/blow off the radio tower up top. A fine, fine day... |
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 | Name: |
Ice-Concussed Banshee |
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 | E-Mail: |
info (at) barkingcat (dot) net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2010-03-07 |
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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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