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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Philadelphia Peak, Monastery Mountain - East Peak, Monastery Mountain, VT
Trails
Trails: Pine Brook Trail, Philadelphia Peak Trail, bushwhack
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 8, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Bingo road was snow-covered with mud underneath. I took a bit of a chance taking my 2wd down and did get stuck for a bit near the parking. It looks like it will get very muddy as spring progresses. Plowing stops just past the pine brook trail.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Part of the reason for my choosing my route was that you would not want to cross the Bingo brook without a bridge. All crossings on trail were bridged. Crossing the Pine brook off trail, higher up was not bad. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There is no sign for philadelphia peak trail, however there is a sign at the turn indicating the two directions of pine brook trail. The start of philadelphia peak trail is right after a bridge at the pine brook trail sign. Philadelphia peak trail is not blazed. I lost the trail near where it turns east to climb to the summit. There is one significant blowdown towards the bottom and many minor ones along the way.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Snow was soft on the lower slopes and in cols. The summits and higher points on the ridge had a crust that was sometimes supportive and other times breakable. There was no sign of recent travel on the trail. Snowshoes were a must.

I headed up the trails, which seem to be mostly old roads. There is an important turn on Philadelphia, where it initially turns north east (right) away from the brook. The road continues and the trail is marked with orange tape. I followed the trail to just west of the summit where it is supposed to turn hard east. At this point I lost it and bushwhacked up in open woods. The summit is recognized and there is a building nearby. I then made my way towards Pine Gap and East Monastery. I walked the ridge over both Monasterys; both highpoints are recognized. The woods along the ridge are mainly open and were quite snow-loaded. To return I followed my track back over the east peak and dropped down off the west shoulder of the east peak, towards the drainage. I found tighter snowloaded woods and some soft snow. I worked my way to the drainage and then climbed out and soon intercepted my accent tracks and returned in them.  
Name
Name: zporterColdRiverCampCook 
E-Mail
E-Mail: zap88@tds.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-04-08 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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