| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Stairs Mountain, Mt. Davis, Mt. Isolation, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, Stairs Col Trail, Davis Path, Stairs Spur, Davis Spur, Isolation Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 17, 2015 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The gate is closed just before the new bridge; there is room for a fair number of cars in the widened area. The road in is still a bit unsettled; the gravel needs a good packing and perhaps some more fines. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Rock step and jumps. Rocky Branch wasn't particularly high making all the crossings quite manageable without wet feet. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I took out one set of blowdowns on Davis Path north of Stairs, but for no good reason left a stepover near the second campsite on Isolation. All signs in place, but Rocky Branch's new bypasses of flood damage are not usually arrowed and so one just needs to pay attention since there's no worn footpath. Going north on Rocky Branch from the parking area there are a couple of places where roads or paths diverge without a sign, but stay with the road, and look for a single paint blaze. Davis Path south of Davis is very brushy, and north of it eroded and muddy in places, especially north of Isolation. As always the bog bridges have fallen apart. Isolation had running water, erosion and mud; it was quite a mess in places today. Rocky Branch near the shelter being removed is wet and soft; it would be a muddy mess with any significant traffic. As it goes south, however, it gets better and better; becoming a lovely trail. The new bypasses are quite well done. If there are overnight freezing temps, the rocks on the trail and on the crossings could be quite slippery, and one should expect to get wet from the trail and snow on the brushy sections. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Trails were easy for Pepper. He sip n dipped early on once and never did it again, no doubt due to the snow. He was wet for much of the hike. The stream crossings were no problem for him today; but as noted the water wasn't all that high. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
We had a nice Autumn hike to Stairs Mtn with sun and little wind. After leaving Stairs the snow and wind started, picked up and stayed with us with occasional interruptions until we were well down Rocky Branch late in the afternoon. Mixed in often with a wet/watery/muddy trail and chilly temps it became a late November type hike. The ledges on the Davis Path spur were quite slippery for me on the descent. We of course went to the campsites and saw no one at either, but it appeared some of the hikers we met as they were coming up Isolation were going to tent. The shelter had several groups at it. We saw no one on Davis Path south of Isolation but for about a quarter mile below it we saw footprints as if someone came down a ways and turned back. The new bypasses of flood damaged section of Rocky Branch are well done; the USFS did good. But I missed hiking the bypassed section of trails and the views from the river of the ridges, foliage, and the damage from Irene. Given the weather, however, there would have been no views. Thanks Pepper; what a buddy. |
|
 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
|
 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2015-10-17 |
|
 | 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. |
|
