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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Kearsarge, NH
Trails
Trails: Lincoln Trail, Rollins Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 12, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Besides a broken down car mine was the only one in the Kearsarge Valley Road pull-off. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The crossings are small - not much of an issue. You might get a toe wet. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There are maybe 5-6 major blowdowns which can be stepped over, bent under or gone around - in addition to many smaller branches scattered about. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Saw one at the summit - I was told it had an easier time making it than it's owners coming up from the north. 
Bugs
Bugs: None. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: I found a deer's hoof on the trail - a first for me. 
 
Comments
Comments: This hike was a complete mixed bag. The first .5 mile was scattered with bare spots, Microspike friendly crunch and some soft snow. Then on the snowmobile portion there were spots of monorail ice/snow/slush and mud - some of which tried to gobble my boots. After that was another mile or so or bare spots, somewhat frozen snow and soft snow. After that the snow and slush became deeper - enough to warrant taking the snowshoes off the pack. Then it was back to Micorspikes going up the Rollins Trail. The final couple hundred yards to the summit dome were bare rock so off came the Microspikes again. All this was on ascent. Descending in the afternoon I left my snowshoes on for a bit longer with the snow softening - more pushing it aside than floating - and then switched to Microspikes the rest of the way out just not wanting to deal with the on/off routine.

Like other Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway trails you follow where the white trapezoids 'point' you. However I found myself stopping and even backtracking quite a bit because the trail was not obvious and no blazes were visible. Maybe it's just the time of the year but never having taken this trail before I do not have a comparison.

Another note: between the loose branches and brush on the trail, scrub on the side of the trail, mud and soft snow I found it difficult to use trekking poles - I was playing tug-of-war quite often.

On the plus side it was a beautiful day and I did not see anyone else on these trails. Summit views were fantastic in all directions. It was fun to play name that skat along the way, too. I would definitely do this hike again...just at another time.  
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-04-12 
Link
Link: https:// 
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