| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Middle Sister, Mt.Chocorua, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Piper Trail, Nickerson Ledge Trail, Carter Ledge Trail, Middle Sister Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 11, 2010 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All the small brook crossings were easy hopping on rocks. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A handfull of small blowdowns. One or two large ones on Piper but all were easy to go around. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Snow free to the last two ledges on Carter Ledge trail. The ledges were 90% dry with a few trickles of water. Snow was piled up along the bottom of the last two ledges on Carter Ledge Trail but none actually on them. After the upper junction with the Middle Sister trail it was soft spring snow (no monorail) with frequent knee-waist deep postholing mixed with an occasional snow free rock or ledge. All areas above treeline were virtually snow/ice free but the section in between the Sisters and Chocorua still has plenty of it. That section was hard packed monorail for the most part, unlike the section ascending the sisters. The snow on the way down Piper ended shortly (1/4) mile after the Piper/Champney junction.
I had only done the Piper trail in winter and it is uncommonly well made. Actually not my cup of tea but for families etc I can see why it's so busy. Water crossings are bridged, retaining walls keep the steep sections from eroding and other parts are paved with flat stones. Very un-White Mountain like but it was a nice easy way to finish the loop.
Saw fresh moose tracks on the Sisters and some gray/black bird with red on it's face on Carter Ledge as well as a bunch of woodpeckers around the lower part of the Piper trail. Pretty windy on top but not quite strong enough to knock you down. Only saw a dozen other people and nobody summited in the hour or so we were up there. A perfect day to hike this peak.
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 | Name: |
DerekF |
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 | E-Mail: |
drf77@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2010-04-12 |
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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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