| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Mt. Monroe, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Old Jackson Road, Madison Gulf Trail, Great Gulf Trail, Osgood Cutoff, Osgood Trail, Star Lake Trail, Lowes Path, Israel Ridge Trail, Gulfside Trail, Mt Jefferson Loop, Trinity Heights Connector, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Tuckerman Crossover, Tuckerman Ravine Trail, Lion Head Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, May 12, 2016 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of parking at Pinkham. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All the stream crossings on Madison Gulf Trail were easy rock hops. The West Branch of the Peabody River crossing has a nice suspension bridge. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All trails were in pretty good shape. OJR and MGT could use some waterbar maintenance. Lots of branch debris on OJR, MGT, and OT. A very few minor blowdowns. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Northern Presi rocks are very rough on dogs. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Saw ONE black fly near Osgood campsite. Squashed it. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Wanted a different loop for the Northern Presi's and picked a winner in that this route was almost entirely ice free! In fact, in 21 miles I wore spikes ONLY once--to cross the bigger Jefferson snowfield today, 90 seconds tops. :)
I forgot how much Old Jackson Road and Madison Gulf climb and descend--about 1000 feet of climb--before hitting Osgood Trail. Its being south facing, was hoping Osgood would be ice free, and it was! So, if anyone is looking to do Madison without traction, Osgood is the way to go right now. (Starting at Great Gulf Trailhead is shorter.)
It was WARM today. Mt. Washington hit 55 degrees, and winds were light. Unfortunately there was haze obscuring any far-reaching views today. (Eye on the Sky guys at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury VT said this was due to the huge fires in Alberta!)
Madison Hut is not yet open but was being stocked by helicopter--many, many back n forths (at least a dozen) while I climbed Osgood. :( Had to plug ears once. Ascended Adams via Star Lake Trail which held some old snow but was easily barebootable. Met only four hikers before Jewell Trail, two of whom were early AT thru-hikers. (They had spikes!)
Nice to see Mike P. on Washington; reportedly missed HikingGuy by minutes. Crawford Path to Lakes had lots of running water but was mostly avoidable on rocks.
After Monroe, took Tuckerman Crossover across Bigelow Lawn to Tuckerman Jct, perhaps my favorite part of the day's hike. Intended to take Tuckerman Ravine Trail DOWN to Alpine Garden Trail to Lion Head. However, I saw lots of snow ahead and couldn't quite see all of it nor how steep it was (and couldn't remember), so decided to play it safe and take Tuckerman's UP (!) to Lion Head (what's another 300 feet anyway?). Lion Head before Alpine Garden jct had a few little snowfields to slip n slide down, but they were easy today. Rest of LHT was rough and steep, but thankfully all of the ice has melted out on the tricky sections. There is some ice once hitting lower Tuckerman Ravine Trail for maybe 1/2 mile, but it was so dirty and soft that I barebooted it.
I have some sunburned parts. |
|
 | Name: |
Snowflea |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2016-05-12 |
|
 | 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. |
|
