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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Isolation, NH
Trails
Trails: Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhacks, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 4, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: 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: Rock hoppable on Rocky Branch. Still a snowbridge on crossing 5 on Isolation Trail, as well as the smaller crossing on the way to the Davis Path. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Rocky Branch Trail was initially frozen granular with a monorail, garnished with postholes. More vexing above the ski trail crossing. Postholes were obscured from a dusting to an inch of powder, making the descent dangerous (after multiple ankle and knee twists/jams from hidden postholes, we ended up doing a fall line bushwhack through the woods...not worth a torn ACL or Achilles). Trail could be spiked up to the start of the bushwhack, but we found snowshoe bushwhacks through the open woods to be ideal (crust smooth/strong enough for good snowshoeing in the woods). Snowpack is initially around a foot, but quickly increases to about 3 feet by the height of land. A few open seeps on the ski trail portion, as well as around the height of land.

For our ascent bushwhack, we headed up from the T tree near the height of land, initially following an uneven footbed. With the rough footbed and high winds, we opted for our own track (which is largely obliterated by the drifting snow), dropping in just before crossing 3 on the Isolation Trail.

Isolation Trail and the bushwhack between crossings 3 and 4 had some open seeps that were tricky to get around, as the snowpack is 3 to 4 feet and thus it's like big sinkholes in the middle of the trail.

More drifting above crossing 5. Footbed generally stays true to the trail until just before the Davis Path, where it cuts off the last little uphill (north of the traditional winter cutoff).

Davis Path had areas of drifting (6 inches to a foot of powder) and areas scoured down to the hardpack. Isolation Spur was hardpack with an uneven footbed and a little powder.

On the return bushwhack, rather than drop down to the T tree, we continued at elevation for awhile, threading a needle through decent woods and dropping in on the Rocky Branch Trail further down the traverse.

Bitter cold for the first two thirds of the hike with blowing snow and minimal views. Winds generally remained biting, but some blue sky worked its way out on the return bushwhack. Good to be done with the SSW48.  
Name
Name: rocket21, Nordic Gal 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-03-04 
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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