Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
North Pack Monadnock, Pack Monadnock, NH |
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| Trails: |
Wapack Trail, Marion Davis Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 18, 2014 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of plowed parking at the new Wapack Trail lot off Old Mountain Road in Greenville, and at Miller State Park. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
There are a few minor water crossings along this route, all easily stepped over. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
None. All trails in good shape. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs should be fine, we saw a few along the way. |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
The day was supposed to be a traverse of Mts. Field, Willey and Avalon up in the Whites, but the uncertain weather forecast and predicted snowfall put the brakes on a 3.5 hour drive each way in possibly crappy conditions. So Plan B was a hastily-organized traverse of North Pack Monadnock and Pack Monadnock in southern NH, where the weather was much more hospitable.
Starting at the northern terminus of the Wapack Trail, we made our way up to North Pack. Like everywhere else, there was little snow, but a fair amount of ice along the trail. Light traction was the order of the day, snowshoes were not needed at the time. It started snowing lightly on our ascent, and this would continue most of the day. We decided to skip the Cliff Trail loop due to icing and lack of views, and continued down the Wapack. It's been a while since I'd been along this stretch, and I had forgotten how nice this section of the trail is.
Climbing up to Pack Monadnock, the snowfall increased in intensity, and we ducked into the shelter for some food and drink. Quite a few people were milling around the summit, more than I would have expected with the weather. After hanging there for a bit, we descended via the Marion Davis Trail, where we had left a couple of cars. I would depart from my friends there, two of which ended up assisting a motorist who had rolled their vehicle over on Rt. 101, using an emergency blanket and sleeping bag. I'm happy to report there were no injuries! |
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| Name: |
KenM |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2014-01-19 |
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| Link: |
https://flickr.com/gp/kmacgray/33anT9 |
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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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