| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monadnock , NH |
|
 | Trails: |
White Dot Trail, Cascade Link, Red Spot Trail, Pumpelly Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 13, 2014 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot is plowed |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues with any of the water crossings easy rock hops |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of blow downs on Red Spot from start to finish. Trees caked with ice from just after the start of Red Spot. Many trees bent over with tons of ice and hiding the trail. Expect the same on all trails from 1/3 way up to tree line. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs allowed |
|
 | Bugs: |
Not on this day |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Just a tremendous amount of ice from 1/3 way up to tree line. Trees and trails are caked with several inches of ice. So much ice. Only thing keeping many of the spruce up was the fact that the ice extended from the top of the tree to the ground. Run into an ice coated spruce and it doesn't move. Incredible sight. Trails have a coating of snow over the ice, up to 3-4 inches up high. Ice on trails is mostly easily penetrated with light traction, but was some spots with very hard ice beneath which pushed to limits of the Hillsound Trail Crampon we all used. Saw many on the White Dot with microspikes but I wouldn't trust them on most of the trails. We had crampons but felt safe enough with the Hillsound. Expect all trails except White Dot and maybe the White Cross to be difficult to follow. As well as we know the trails up there it was a chore to navigate. Many detours, crawling on your belly etc. Took us almost 3 hrs for a usual 1 hr climb. Once the sun starts melting ice you may want head protection as the ice drops from the branches. It is thick. Absolutely beautiful though to see in person. We thought we were on another planet. |
|
 | Name: |
Kerry |
|
 | E-Mail: |
elsey1@comcast.net |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2014-12-13 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
