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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Sayre Peak, Mt. Jim, Mt. Moosilauke, NH
Trails
Trails: Asquam Ridge Trail, Al Merrill Loop, unnamed trail, herd path, Beaver Brook Trail, Benton Trail, Gorge Brook Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, May 6, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Ravine Lodge Road is open. I parked just before the Y intersection as directed by signs. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Lots of brand new palette bridges on the AML. The first bridge over Gorge Brook (if descending) has a busted handrail. All other drainages no problem. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trails for the most part in decent shape. The side trail to Sayre has several blowdowns and is grown in a bit and is very wet and muddy in its lower section, but then again it's a trail that doesn't really exist. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Sure, saw two at the summit, lots of water out there right now. 
Bugs
Bugs: Not really. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: A seventh visit to The Moose, this time doing another long loop out along the ART, which I really like. A long, gentle and attractive way to approach the summit. I also needed the AML for redlining. Along the way, I took the unnamed trail ("Dead End") out to Sayre Peak where there is a thing. Do with it what you will. Also on the AML, I spotted a female moose standing in the trail. We looked at each other for a second, then she ran off up the trail. Very cool. The trail was wet and muddy but snow and ice free.

Ice began at about 3700' along the ART. I barebooted it for a while, then it became tedious. I put on spikes and left them on until reaching treeline. From Mt. Jim (who goes to Mt. Jim three times? ;) all the way around to the BT, the trail was mostly packed snow and ice monorail, with bare stretches which were wet and muddy.

Above treeline, no ice but some mud. Almost no wind either. Only saw a few other people up there. Fantastic views as always with better weather than forecasted.

GBT was a mix of bare ground and ice monorail, but not as much as the other trails. I put spikes on again and left them on until around 3500'. Lots of mud on this trail too, which isn't unusual. Back at the brook, it's was an easy and somewhat muddy cruise back to the lodge.

A couple of notes:

1. If anyone is planning to go to Mt. Blue, the small cairn which marked the herd path is now gone (the path is fairly obvious though). Might have been the same party who removed the jar from the summit.

2. Ravine Lodge is slated to be torn down and replaced with a brand new building, starting this fall.  
Name
Name: KenM 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kmacgray@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-05-07 
Link
Link: https:// 
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