| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Gore Mountain, Mt. Blue, West Blue, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Roadwalk, bushwhack |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 21, 2016 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked in a pull off on brown rd., 2.3 mi from rt. 3. the road was too icy beyond that point. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
|
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
From my start point I walked along Brown rd. for about a mile. At this point, Brown Road goes right and down hill and I stayed straight on an unmarked road. This road acceded steadily to a gate at around ¾ mi (per previous clocking of the distance when the road was drivable), where there is a gate at the entrance to the Vicky Bunnell preserve. The gate is open to snowmobiles; it seemed to be packed by a single sled. I put snowshoes on at this point and left them on the rest of the day. Eventually, the sled traffic took a hairpin turn, as the straight route lead to an impassable (for sleds) ditch. I stayed straight, beginning to break trail in some significant soft snow. This area got a very good dumping yesterday. Eventually the road narrowed to herd path, but was still directionally good. I followed it until it started to cut too far north.
At this point I launched a bushwhack for Gore. Conditions have really changed since 2 days ago when I did Castles/sugarloaf. There is lots of new snow and a soft base that had me sinking to my knees and further at times. The trees are also heavily snow-loaded. Near the highpoint of Gore, I had to push through some thick, wet, snow-loaded stuff. I closely encountered a moose right at the highpoint on Gore. Headed to Blue I had exclusively good woods, but still tough trail breaking. With some extra time, I headed to west Blue, following the ridge over a sub-peak. The woods were fairly open with a couple exceptions. From west Blue I dropped back to the road through open woods and glades.
This was a really fun and challenging hike. The new snow, soft base, and snowloaded trees lent to full winter bushwhacking conditions.
|
|
 | Name: |
zporterColdRiverCampCook |
|
 | E-Mail: |
zap88@tds.net |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2016-02-21 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
