| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Amphibrach, King Ravine, Chemin De Dames, Airline, Gulfside, Castle Trail, The Link |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Appalachia was about a third full when I arrived around 5:30a. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Several small crossings. Wet toes. No drama. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Amphibrach is a gorgeous trail in every way. Kudos to the RMC.
The ~0.4 mile section of The Link headed east from the junction with Castle Trail is a nasty snarl of blowdowns falling across very steep sidehill, which is what the western sections of The Link are about--gentle-to-moderate descent across sidehill.
The initial blowdowns were dangerous tangles to get through. Easier with a smaller pack, but not easy no matter what. Jungle gym of root systems pulled away from slippery ledge, various sized trunks, and branches with no obvious herd path and gravity trying to suck you down into the jumbled mess. Perhaps go either really high above it all, or really low below. No good answers. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I suspect Castle Trail, King Ravine, and Chemin De Dames would be hard on dogs. Lots of scrambling in steep and sometimes loose terrain with ledge and boulders. |
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 | Bugs: |
Black flies & gnats above treeline, but not bad. Some mosquitoes in the woods, but not bad.
The last 2 miles of The Link was a battle with caterpillars. Silk lines across the trail and in my face, on my arms and legs, etc. Never experienced anything like it. Saw lots of small leafy plants chewed to ribbons. Many caterpillars got a free ride on my shirt. And head. And pack. Must have been just the right day for them to have emerged. They were HUNGRY. :-) |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
After the initial 0.4 of blowdowns eastbound from the Castle Trail junction, The Link gets progressively better. Still some challenges, but if you make the first 0.4, you'll make the rest with relatively little trouble. There is fresh yellow blazing along much of The Link, including the blowdown factory near the Castle Trail junction, which you'll be glad of in places.
Keep to your map and look up now and then along The Link. I missed a junction because it was at a slippery ledge crossing, and I was heads down. Blue blazes tipped me off I was headed wrong, since The Link is yellow blazed. I turned back around to realize I'd walked right under a classic white RMC junction sign with Israel Ridge Path and never saw it! |
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 | Name: |
ecbanks |
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 | E-Mail: |
020655@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-06-04 |
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 | Link: |
 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2750101484 |
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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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