| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mansfield (The Chin), Mt. Mansfield (The Nose), VT |
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 | Trails: |
Long Trail, work road, ski trails, bushwhacks |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plowed parking at the gate on Route 108, just after Stowe gondola entrance. Short closed roadwalk to Long Trail from there. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Ice Axe |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Probably too powdery/risky above Taft Lodge for dogs at the moment. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Long Trail had one set of snowshoe tracks on it...lost it fairly quickly due to faded white blazes and hoards of ski trails. Ended up following ski tracks up other side of ridge, rejoining Long Trail when it nears the ski area. Above Taft Lodge, no sign of any use in awhile on Long Trail or Profanity Trail as far as I could tell. A few ski tracks higher up. 1-3 feet of unbroken powder. Ended up angling toward the Chin just before reaching Eagle Pass. Slow going. Upon rejoining the Long Trail in the steeps, I wish I had had an ice axe with me for potential self arresting - the powder on top of the hardpack base was unstable. Windy on the ridge, trail hard to follow (white blazes on rocks, virtually no cairns), but generally snow covered to the Sunset Ridge junction. Continuing south from there, lots of exposed ledge, but kept snowshoes on. Generally drifted in once back in the scrub until reaching the work road. Followed work road to the end, then continued along some older tracks to the top of the Nose (no radiation or No Trespassing signs visible). Attempted to find the top of the old Nose Dive trail, but ended up in a neck deep spruce trap instead. Backtracked, then followed work/auto road down to ski area, then descended the Nose Dive (probably not an optimal route) to the bottom. |
|
 | Name: |
rocket21 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
rocket21 at franklinwebpublishing dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2011-02-16 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/Vermont/mansfield-2011-0216.php |
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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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