Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, NH |
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| Trails: |
Great Gulf Trail, Osgood Trail, Star Lake Trail, Gulfside, Parapet |
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| Date of Hike: |
Thursday, May 21, 2015 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room at Great Gulf. There were only a few other cars there. Unfortunately I did see a dead moose just off Rt 3 on my morning drive. There is construction work on 93 in the Notch, and much of it is single lane. Get behind a big truck on the uphills and your speed will slow considerably. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing significant that didn't have a bridge across it. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All signs in place, but on the return hike be sure to keep an eye out for the little arrow to go right on Great Gulf while a ski trail continues straight. I recall a couple blowdowns on Osgood but they aren't big problems. Parapet had a couple spots where vegetation blocks the trail some. It wasn't a serious impediment to us, but we are familiar with the trail. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Great Gulf has water for sip n dips. There are still some small drainages on Osgood; none on Parapet or Star Lake past the lake. As a general rule the northern Presi rocks have sharp crystals that can be tough on pads that haven't been trail hardened. Pepper had to so some scrambling on Parapet and Star Lake, but he's used to that. There was very little sun and a soft nice breeze up high, so he was pretty comfortable. |
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| Bugs: |
None! |
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| Lost and Found: |
Nothing |
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| Comments: |
There were short patches of mostly solid snow on Osgood and Parapet, but they weren't a problem even for one in sandals. For the most part the trails are relatively dry making them a good choice for hiking at this time. Today wasn't partly sunny as forecast; the higher summits kept the cloud cover. But the temps were refreshingly cool and the wind very light, allowing extended stops above treeline with some added clothing. We did meet one hiker who had gone up Castle and came down Great Gulf having missed the Sphinx, camped out and then was going out today to Pinkham Notch hoping for a ride. He said there was a lot of deep snow on Great Gulf and it slowed him considerably. Any day on the trails is a good day, a day off from work sweetens it, and having wonderful companions on the Presi peaks makes it a great day. We are so blessed. |
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| Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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| E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-05-21 |
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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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