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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Isolation, NH
Trails
Trails: Davis Path, Isolation Spur, Isolation Trail, Rocky Branch Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, September 3, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Rocky Branch crossings are borderline hoppable, but I ended up putting a foot in and wading most of 'em because I'm clumsy. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: The few miles of Davis Path below Isolation could use a little love and brushing; there are several sections where overgrowth overlaps across the trail. Other than that, my compliments to the maintainers! Gorgeous trail that feels very wild but also gives a lot of on-the-right-track confidence. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: There's plenty of water between Davis and Isolation, but this is otherwise a very dry ridge. Lilo and Titus appreciated me carting extra water for their use. 
Bugs
Bugs: Bunch of bitey flies descended on me near the start of Davis. None noted after the first mile or so. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Found a folding trowel and a non-folding knife near a site of some axe-work not far below Isolation, a blue bandana on the trail sign at the junction of Davis path and Isolation trail, and a white handkerchief during the middle stages of the descent. I'm guessing the latter two don't have much value, but if the trowel and knife are yours, shoot me an email with a description and we'll go from there. 
 
Comments
Comments: Did this one as a solo "the long way" backpack to dodge the Labor Day crowds and finish off my 4,000-footer list. I've had my eye on the route for a while now. Montalban Ridge was everything I'd hoped, from the carpets of moss to the two tiny owls(!) that joined me on the top.

A thousand thank yous to Paws on Peaks for giving the dogs and I a ride back to our Jeep after I decided that I wanted the Rocky Branch experience after all (and anyone who thinks the on-route section of RB is muddy should try blowing past the old shelter site and check out the next half-mile stretch!) and to the few but very kind fellow hikers that I ran into along the way (after escaping the definitely not-few hikers in the Crawford area). I'd cracked some jokes leading up to this hike re: my solo tendencies and this peak's blunt instrument of a name, but in a way the lesson of the weekend was that you're never quite as alone as you think that you are, which is so sappy that it hurts and yet: also true.  
Name
Name: Bullyandblaze 
E-Mail
E-Mail: hwbowen@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-09-03 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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