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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Adams 4, Mt. Sam Adams (Attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Lowes Path, Spur Trail, Randolph Path, King Ravine Trail, Knights Castle Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, November 29, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at Lowes Store. Charges $1/day and you can park off to right of the store/garage. Don't park along front - for garage. Trailhead about 100 yds down the road. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: King Ravine Trail, Randolph Path (very short section I was on) and Spur Trail all had an actual river crossing. The largest was on Randolph path between Spur junction and King Ravine junction. All had low enough water, enough hard ice and exposed rocks to cross without too much trouble but there was a lot of brittle ice and pools if you weren't careful. The lower sections of all of these trails had numerous tiny brooks and wet areas that were fairly easy. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: All seemed well blazed in the trees with many new blazes. The dark blue blazes on Lowes Path are very hard to see on the tree bark in spots. There were several blowdowns on King Ravine Trail. One still had its branches (pine tree) and was awkward to step through. The other was impassable and had a small bushwhack forming around it. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: OK for dogs. Saw some paw prints but none were out today. 
Bugs
Bugs: Zero. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: none 
 
Comments
Comments: Trails all pretty decent today. Most were 1-3" of powder on mild ice/frozen ground/crusty snow. The section of Lowes Path between Link junction and Randolph Path junction had a few steep ledges with good ice flow that required care. Above treeline the Lowes Path was pretty firm snow. Actually slipped and fell a few times with spikes on steeper areas so I switched to crampons (my spikes are on the old side).
Adams 4 summit was mostly patches of powder and rock so the crampons were a pain here but I was too lazy to switch. I was close to my turnaround time so I skipped Sam Adams. Much more vertical from this side than I realized (much easier from East/South). Spur Trail coming down had more powder on it than Lowes Path. Few spots where I dropped down in between rocks so some care was needed. The lower sections of all these trails had a lot of small brooks and wet areas that were not fully frozen. Lot of places to step into mud, hollow spots. Overall not nearly as much significant ice as I was expecting after the storm. And you don't need snowshoes anywhere. Lugged mine around all day for nothing after getting caught without them two weeks ago.  
Name
Name: DayTrip 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bblanchette0709@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-11-29 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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