| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Adams, Mt. Madison, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Gulfside, Lowes Path, Airline, Osgood Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 12, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Enough |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All fine |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are a few blowdowns easily avoided |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs today. Very very difficult conditions except for the most intrepid hounds like Pepper, Pemi or Gus |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Seemed like a good idea with the weather to do Adams and Madison. And the weather was good except for the wind. 120 mile visibility. However probably my toughest winter hike this season. Ice patches on the lower Valley Way. I put on spikes at the Randolph Path junction. Not knowing the conditions since all the rain mid week I carried snowshoes and crampons....both of which were unnecessary. What I should have had was rockspikes---old dull spikes. They would have been perfect up to the Watson Path junction as there is quite a bit of ice but plenty of rock too. At the junction very advisable to use sharp spikes. I had my hillshounds which did fine on the rivers of treacherous ice that lasted past the TentSite cutoff. Some people were in crampons but good sharp spikes are fine. If you like ice there is plenty. Above the hut on Gulfside, Lowes, and Airline rock spikes would have been helpful but not having them I was in and out of my Hillshounds all day. Thankfully I did not break them on all the exposed rock. Did not need spikes on Osgood up Madison. The MWO forecast called for ramped up winds in the afternoon and sure enough the winds got very strong. On Adams the winds were high enough I decided to descent Airline for shelter. No shelter on Madison and the winds buffeted me. I carried my pack for extra weight but it did not matter I got knocked around. Coming up Madison I actually debated turning around they were so strong. But I kept going. On the ridge the winds seemed to be gusting to 60 to 70mph. Standing and walking were extremely difficult. I never had to crawl but my hands were holding on crossing the ridge where the three big cairns are. I had always wondered about how extreme the winds could be in that last 50 yard stretch. Found out today. The saying better to be lucky than good comes to mind. Descending Valley Way was tricky to the junction of Watson and each step was important. The steep ice bulge just above the Watson junction can be bypassed. Stay right descending. All in all a gorgeous day except for no rockspikes. |
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 | Name: |
jeb bradley |
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 | E-Mail: |
jebebrad@metrocast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-03-12 |
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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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