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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Pierce, Mt. Jackson, NH
Trails
Trails: Crawford Path, Eisenhower Loop, Webster Cliff Trail, Webster Jackson Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, January 2, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: 302 was lined with vehicles by noontime. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: On Webster Jackson, mostly bridged but could fall victim to barebooters in warmer afternoon temperatures. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few blowdowns on each below treeline trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Crawford Path up to the Mizpah junction was well packed and a fairly smooth snowshoe. Some drifting above there early this morning. Snowpack of probably 1.5 to 3 feet. Nice sunrise from the shoulder of Pierce.

Significant drifting in places between Webster Cliff junction and Eisenhower Loop junction; it would have been very difficult to even attempt to boot it. Some drifts that appeared to have formed in the higher winds last night were over my head. Other areas were scoured down to ledge. Some trailfinding was necessary, so I was glad to exercise my trail memory in my dotage.

Eisenhower Loop had drifting down low and up high, but was also scoured to rock and ice on the southern facing portion. I almost swapped out my snowshoes on the step portion on my ascent, but kept them on when I saw the drifts ahead.

Webster Cliff Trail from Crawford Path to Pierce has a herd path on the east side of the ridge, presumably from booters trying to get around the drifts. I ascended through the drifts without issue with my snowshoes.

Webster Cliff Trail from Pierce to the Mizpah Hut had a good snowshoe track, though the steeps before the hut were getting beaten up from buttsliding.

Webster Cliff Trail from the hut to Jackson had a snowshoe track that wasn't too well packed. Also some drifting in places. And, courtesy a booter coming through later this morning, plenty of postholes.

Either side of the Jackson summit cone has some significant blue ice to contend with. My Flex Alps snowshoes allowed me to ascend and descend with care, but I don't know if I would have trusted my Microspikes.

Below the cone, there was a well packed out footbed, despite hoards of barebooters. A few experienced winter hikers were smoothing things out with their snowshoes. Around the split, things were more bony in part due to the eroded nature of the trail. Snowpack in the lower elevations on this side was closer to 1.5 feet. One could probably bareboot up to Bugle Cliff without much issue.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-01-02 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
Bookmark and Share 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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