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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks General Stark Mountain, VT
Trails
Trails: Stark Mountain Trail, Canyon ski trail, Chute ski trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: No issues. Park at the Mad River Glen ski lot, off Vt Route 17. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Bridges over streams/rivers. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: None.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Lots of gushing water on the side of Stark Mountain Trail (a work/service road) due to snow melt. The service road makes a wonderful hike for dogs; just be careful of some of the larger streams that have strong currents. We met one charming, elderly dog at the base with his skier parent. 
Bugs
Bugs: None seen.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None.  
 
Comments
Comments: Started on the Stark Mountain Trail, a wide service road, and turned left onto a trail that took us above the big Waterfall. Then went up the entire Canyon ski trail (single black diamond = most difficult) until we reached the work road again. We followed the road a few minutes until Mid-Station and followed the single chair lift up the Chute trail (single black diamond), which was nice and steep all the way to Stark's Nest Summit Shelter. Came down the Stark Mountain Trail/work road about 2.5 miles to the base.

There was lots of snow melt. Trails were a mix of blue ice, slush, and hard-packed and granular snow. Couple of times Flo stepped on a 'snow bridge' or 'snow sink-hole' that broke and she sank ankle-seep into a hole which quickly filled up with water. There was exposed rocks and grass with road/trail erosion, but plenty of snow and ice cover to avoid damaging wet trail. Snowshoes recommended, but spikes would be okay. The sights and sounds of waterfalls and rushing rivers makes this a lovely, scenic hike. Visibility was fine in the lower elevation. From Mid-Station up it was extremely foggy - could barely see the next chairlift tower from each one we reached, but trail was wide and could see the ski chairs above, so trail was easy enough to follow. Three hours round trip.  
Name
Name: Flo and Joe 
E-Mail
E-Mail: aloe@myfairpoint.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-04-12 
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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