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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, NH
Trails
Trails: Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Gulfside, Airline, snowfields
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, February 14, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Only a few cars in the Appalachia lot which was plowed. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Mark and I removed one blowdown. There's a few others that are of no consequence. The sign below the hut for the Airline cutoff is down. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Pretty good day for Pepper. He had a little bit of paw and leg icing but nothing major. Valley Way was packed well lower half and at least packed down in the upper, and above treeline it was easy going for him on the mix of rock, crust and snow. A good part of the hike was in the fog and it formed a fine rime on individual hairs of his face; I've never seen that before. He did a great job of retracing our steps down Adams, and then on Madison the second time; keeping a watchful eye on Mark and me as well. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: MSR snowshoes were perfect for Valley Way to the hut; in the lower half they provided great traction on a semi packed trailbed, in the upper both traction and flotation in the fluffy lightly packed snow. Fluffy snow just seemed to suddenly appear on the trail around 3000' and while better packed now it made for harder going. Above treeline it was a mix of some rock, some accumulated snow, and some crusty snow. I used snowshoes up Madison the first time, and spikes down. Mark and I used snowshoes up and down Adams, but Erica & Pam used spikes. On our second trip up Madison I used spikes and Mark used trail crampons which were probably the best choice for the conditions.

The weather for much of the hike was not the Presi day we expected, with stronger wind and fog. The hike up Valley Way was easy low but more work high in the new unconsolidated snow. We started up Madison to turn around and see we just missed meeting the daring Presi traverse duo of Erica and Pam on their way to Adams. A Presi traverse on a day like this - they are incredible. Coming down Madison the hike over to Adams covered in fog looked like a challenge, but we fortunately ran into Silverfox. He joined us for the hike over to Adams, where we were treated to a few minutes of fantastic views towards Washington when the clouds briefly cleared. We hiked down following Pepper and then went back up Madison. This time the winds were light, and the fog lessened, and it was a nice hike up. On the way down the clouds lifted some for another set of great scenic. The snowshoe down was great. We were so lucky to run into Silverfox on a hike that mixed challenge with some very special scenics and light on the landscape, and then a pleasant snowshoe out in the sun. What a great day.

Admin note: I ran into John and Pepper as I ascended Madison but only a few hundred yards from the hut. Given the crazy visibility issues we decided to team up for Adams which went fine. On the way back the visibility and wind were much better and John and Pepper reclimbed Madision which was excellent and offered some of the best scenery of the day..thanks for the company. Silverfox  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-02-14 
Link
Link: https:// 
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