| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Israel Ridge Path, Gray Knob Trail, Hinks Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Appalachia had plenty of parking available |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
all bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
none, but saw my first squirrel of the season and plenty of birds |
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 | Lost and Found: |
someone else found a blue nalgene bottle and deposited it at the big trail sign at Appalachia |
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 | Comments: |
the forecast did not disappoint; while colder and windier at the start of the day (one gust almost knocked me over on Madison); thereafter hardly any wind and if any, just a light breeze; I was back below tree line by 1:30pm
first nice chat of the day at parking lot with fellow hiker Phillip who had same summit itinerary but different trail for ascend (Airline)
was thankful for snowshoes on Valley Way--new snow from yesterday along with drifts had me breaking out trail from approx. 0.7mi below the Hut; was first person on trail this morning
above treeline light traction would also work, but there are always drifts, so I prefer snowshoes with good traction and no need to swap back and forth
Chris D. caught up with me; we met first while I was descending Madison while he was ascending--he eventually overtook me at the Hut when we were both heading to Adams--thanks for breaking the trail!
Atop Adams, I bumped into Bruce-regular at Gray Knob shelter--another nice chat was had and we parted ways; Bruce heading down via Lowe's; me continuing to Jefferson; the snow was still firm and easy to walk on thanks to cool temps; that said, I was wearing a t-shirt and some light arm warmers (plus/minus rain shell)--that was all that was needed; not much trail breaking needed from Adams to Jefferson; drifts were minor; almost all sunny during that portion of the hike
celebrated my W48 finish on Jefferson (Madison and Adams were #46 and #47 respectively)
descended the way I came but then turned onto Israel at juncture; eventually onto Gray Knob; trails had been broken out recently but the snow drifts has obscured entire sections--again, very thankful for my snowshoes; at times I was up to me knees breaking trail
when I reached juncture of Gray Knob and Lowe's, I was confused as it was not broken out--where was Bruce? I continued to the Hut and who sat at the table right at the door: Bruce :) Another chat was had, and he explained that the caretaker had left a few hours ago breaking out the Hicks (?) trail
so I decided to go that way and hope for luck to get me close to Appalachia, while Bruce headed to Lowe's to glacade down the trail
descending Hicks, I butt sled several sections (trail in very good condition) and then bumped into the caretaker who is going to stay for the next 7 days--he told me that he just came directly from Appalachia--the trails I needed were fully broken out--jackpot :) The upper trails are hardly used though; all broken out with snowshoes; one person had tried to bare boot and post holed immediately and put snowshoes back on; snow not consolidated enough.
the lower I got, the stickier the snow became; plenty of melting happening all around
In the link section where the trees are being tapped for syrup, volunteers were busy making snowshoe paths to the trees for that procedure to start soon--corgi 'Moxi' greeted me very excitedly and friendly--and I interpreted her actions as my 'welcome and congrats to your W48'-party
awesome day in the Northern Presis
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 | Name: |
M |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2015-03-10 |
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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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