| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Clay, Mt. Washington, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Old Jackson Road, Madison Gulf Trail, Osgood Trail, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Lion Head Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 31, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Got to Pinkham Notch early Saturday, so no issue. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction, Ice Axe |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
About a dozen small water crossings on Madison gulf Trail - all were pretty solid snowbridges. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One or two blowdowns on Madison Gulf and Osgood - easy to swing over or duck under. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Old Jackson Road was in great shape, partially broke in Madison Gulf, then got smoked going up Osgood, which was deep snow starting to turn mushy for about the second third. Up high Osgood was crusted and drifty, and the view from Madison was beautiful, but so windy from the West that I dropped back down and broke Parapet Trail to Star Lake. Bivi'd under a tarp just East of Star Lake on Madison - beautiful sunset and sunrise alpenglow. On Easter morninig I had a breakfast of dehydrated eggs w/ bacon mixed with oatmeal (not a recommended mixture - blech!), then broke camp and proceeded over Adams, Jefferson, Clay and Washington. Most of the day was clear and breezy, and the snow was great (snowshoes)...wind packed in some spots, deep and drifty in others.
Washington was cold and oppressively windy, with clouds rolling in, and despite having a mixed bag of fond feelings for the higher crags, I was happy to finally be descending - switched to microspikes at this point. Glissaded many parts of Lion Head, but you always need to be cautious once you hit treeline - this year it was a steep, smooth and dangerous snow chute. Ditch spikes and trekking poles and use crampons and an axe, and be extra careful if you have a heavy pack...the added weight will accelerate you quickly if you slip.
A very challenging and rewarding loop...just over 18 miles total, half of it above treeline, and about 14,000' of elevation change. Recommended trek. |
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 | Name: |
Steg |
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 | E-Mail: |
james.steger@metrocast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-04-03 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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