| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail, bushwhack, Davis Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 21, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Snow bridges still mostly intact. Had a good crossing at the start of our second bushwack over Rocky Branch. It was nice to only have to worry about 1 major crossing by cutting between Isolation Trail and Davis Path. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
What an epic day with unexpectedly beautiful weather! We had planned to do both bushwacks and made it as far as 0.1 mile from the Isolation spur, but large drifts and trees bent over from the wet snow blocked our progression (and we had reached our turn around time). We only saw two other couples (one started hiking as we were gearing up, and another passed us shortly before the start of the Engine Hill Bushwack. Didn't see anyone else for the next 8 hours).
It was clear that no one had been up to Isolation recently as we almost walked over Davis path when we broke out of the second bushwack. It was that snowed in with no sign of a monorail.
Snow was very soft. Strongly recommend snow shoes (especially on the bushwacks)!
Note: Our Engine Hill bushwack brings you straight to the 3200' contour and leads right into our second bushwack. It also passes through the birch glades beautifully! If you follow our track for the second bushwack, bear left where our trails split. On our way up we went slightly too far to the north and had to fight our way through krummholz for 45 minutes. We nailed the drainage and had a quick descent back to Isolation Trail on the way down (it starts in the col just north of Isolation). |
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 | Name: |
Erin Reynolds |
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 | E-Mail: |
erincreynolds@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-04-22 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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