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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Crawford, Mt. Isolation, NH
Trails
Trails: Davis Path, Crawford Spur, Isolation Spur, Isolation Trail, Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, January 8, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Ice bridge over the one crossing on Rocky Branch. Bypassed others by using Engine Hill 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Many huge blow downs on Davis Path between the Stairs Mountain spur and the junction with the Isolation spur. Some require walk arounds, others climb-overs, and a few require you to crawl on your stomach underneath. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Cole came with us, but I left Piper at home. It's broken now, but it will be tough for many dogs due to deep snow. 
Bugs
Bugs: Maybe in May. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: The Davis path is officially broken from 302 to Mount Isolation. It's a very well packed trail to Crawford, a slightly more narrow and unstable snowshoe track to the Stairs Col trail junction, a mix of some asshole's post holes to the Stairs Mountain spur, and then two sets of footprints from there to Iso. Alton and I broke it out as well as two people can, but if you choose to follow in our footsteps, be forewarned: the going will be tough.

There are many areas where the snow is unconsolidated and 3-5' deep. In a few spots, both of us were up to our necks in snow, trying desperately to climb out and back onto solid ground. There is a moderately solid crust on top of the snow, but it won't keep you above unless you're very light; with a pack, I'm ~200 lbs, and I went through sporadically in some spots and consistently in others. Some of the more open areas had some drifting, but overall it was minimal. We lost the trail a couple of times, but if you pay close attention to our track, you'll be able to figure it out.

So, if any of you redliners or Wilderness aficionados want to go out and snipe the tough part of Davis in the middle of winter, now is your chance...I don't think it happens very much.  
Name
Name: Nate Weeks 
E-Mail
E-Mail: npweeks@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-01-10 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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