Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Flume, NH |
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| Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Osseo Trail, Franconia Ridge Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, December 25, 2018 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at Lincoln Woods -- just note that the facilities (including restrooms) are closed because of the government shutdown. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
Not an issue. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are in fine shape -- a few duck-under, walk-around, and step-over blowdowns; nothing of concern. (See conditions post from December 23.) |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
There are no finer winter conditions than what we experienced today heading up Mt. Flume on Christmas Day.
(VERY different from the conditions a few miles away, on the western edge of Kinsman Ridge a couple of days ago, which had no snow nor packed rail until about 2800 feet. But in the Pemi area, a different story.)
What a fine hike is the Osseo Trail. We had not been this way for a number of years, and we forgot just how nicely graded the trail is -- and quiet, too.
Packed powder most of the way with some dusting of new snow atop plate ice down low and styrofoam snow higher up; light traction worked fine.
The ladders area of the Osseo Trail is smoothed powder atop hardpack -- not blue ice, which we might see later, in the spring. There is room on the side for kicksteps into the crust. Light traction worked fine heading up; traction was helpful heading down.
Several folks ahead of us turned back at the ladders because of concerns about ascending them. So, beyond these, we had the trail -- and summit -- to ourselves.
And, beyond the ladders, there was a half foot of new powder, all the way to the Mt. Flume summit -- we considered using snowshoes for this, but stayed in light traction/traction, being able to find the hardpack monorail under the new snow. NOTE: snowshoes are a wise idea, given the 1-2 feet of unconsolidated snow on either side of the narrow monorail. We're glad we brought them; only saw only two other folks near the ridge were carrying them.
Beautiful day out today. |
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| Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-12-25 |
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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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