NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Starr King, Mt. Waumbek, NH
Trails
Trails: Starr King Road, herd path, Starr King Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, February 3, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Starr King Road lot not plowed and posted no parking on Starr King Road. Since it was 5:45AM, I parked in the snowmobile lot (conflicting no hiker parking signs) across US 2. Not sure where the "hiker parking" is, but presumably it's a few spaces near the monument adjacent to the gas station. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: About half a dozen step over blowdowns on the way to Starr King. Perhaps 2 between the peaks, frozen into the snowpack. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: A trace to an inch of new snow overnight.
Seems like recent traffic favored the herd path that starts at the entrance of the parking lot, rather than the trailhead proper at the top of the parking lot.
Perhaps 8-12" of snowpack in the hardwood section, hard pack with 2-3" of powder on top.
Snowpack dramatically increases in the softwoods and is a good 4 feet deep between the peaks with some overnight drifting.
No sign of a footbed heading to South Weeks.
I wore snowshoes roundtrip; the recent powder made for good snowshoeing conditions. One could attempt to boot this, but since it's winter, a 4K, and good conditions, why not snowshoe? Oh, and if one has to step off the footbed, it's a super deep posthole at this point.
Was hoping for a sunrise, but the clouds engulfed the summits around that time. Periodic clearing before and after.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-02-03 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved