North Twin Mountain, South Twin Mountain - North Twin Trail, North Twin Spur - 11-24-2017

Hiking Trail Conditions Report
	Peaks	North Twin Mountain, South Twin Mountain, NH

	Trails:	North Twin Trail, North Twin Spur

	Date of Hike:	Friday, November 24, 2017

	Parking/Access Road Notes:	I was the first car (7:30) at the trailhead 2.4 miles down Haystack Road. All of Haystack Road was hard packed snow. I drove slowly and didn't have a problem with my light truck. At more than 20 mph I think you would be inviting trouble.

	Surface Conditions:	Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

	Recommended Equipment:	Light Traction

	Water Crossing Notes:	the one crossing of Little River was rock hopable with care. Many rocks in river covered with ice but the ice came right off after a few taps with trekking pole

	Trail Maintenance Notes:	No problems with North Twin Trail up to the river crossing. Once you are on the west side of the river there are four or five step overs and duck unders all within a mile of the river. The branches are all removed from these and they aren't bad to get under or over. There is a multi tree blow down within a quarter to a half mile of the river that totally covers the trail for a number of yards. It requires chain saw or very patient ax and saw work. A herd path has started around this mess. The rest of the trail up to the summit of North Twin was fine. North Twin Spur connecting the two summits had about five blow down/step overs. All but two are now removed and the branches are off the remaining ones. There is no problem passing through on this trail. Trace snow from parking lot to River crossing. Then you have an inch or two, as you approach summit of North Twin you are in six inches and between North and South Twin there was 8 to 12 inches of packed snow. Snowshoes would not have worked well. I put on microspikes 3/4ths of a mile below North Twin on the way up and kept them on until I was about 1 1/2 miles down North Twin when returning. Had them on the entire length of North Twin Spur

	Dog-Related Notes:	great German Shepherd (Bell) kept me company for a while along with his owner. Nice having them both as company at that early hour.

	Bugs:	a saw one tiny spider walking across 8 inches of snow along North Twin Spur.

	Lost and Found:


	Comments:	There was cloud cover until about 12:20 so I didn't get a view from South Twin but the views from around North Twin at 1:30 to 2:00 were great as the sun was breaking through. I enjoyed meeting up again and talking with Billy on North Twin Spur between the summits. I passed 8 people on the trails. I would have enjoyed knowing what animal made all the tracks down the unbroken snow on North Twin Spur. My best guess is a rabbit.

	Name:	Bruce

	E-Mail:

	Date Submitted:	2017-11-24

	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.