| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Fallsway |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 11, 2016 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Appalachia was pretty quiet for a change. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
N/a |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One chest-high blowdown across the trail a short distance above the upper Watson Path junction. Some branches have been broken off to allow passage underneath for now, must drive the folks resupplying the hut nuts :) There was a pretty deep pool of water filling the trail at the junction with the Airline Cutoff, it is clear that many folks detour through the grass nearby so this must be a consistent issue here. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
Any were blown far, far away! |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Our group was in charge of manning the summit of Madison for Flags on the 48 (see http://www.flagsonthe48.org/). With the powerful front line taking its sweet time to arrive, coupled with extremely high winds being forecast, we like many other teams changed plans. We waited out the massive thunder and lightning show in our cars in the parking lot (rather than get drenched and hike up into a lightning storm with 4' aluminum poles on our backs), and started up to the hut around 10:30 after the rain was over, after which the skies continued to clear all day. The goal was to just fly the flag at the hut this year since trying to get the pole aloft in 90+mph wind gusts was not going to work well. Other than the blowdown mentioned above (which was awkward with 4' poles sticking out of our packs!), Valley Way was its usual monotonous but sheltered climb to the hut. The winds were louder and louder as we climbed, and crossing the short open stretch to the hut was interesting with the heavy gusts. We flew the flag from about 2:30-3:30 near the pump house while 2 of our party literally crawled to the summit of Madison with a small flag for a brief photo op. The rest of us hung out in the warm hut. The descent was uneventful, and some of us took the Fallsway side loop on the way down, which is a far nicer alternative to Valley Way with several neat cascades and pools to look at.
Well done by all that participated in this memorial event, especially given the very challenging conditions this year! 9-11-01, never forget. |
|
 | Name: |
madmattd |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2016-09-12 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.flagsonthe48.org/ |
|
|
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. |
|
