NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Straightback Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Mt. Major Trail, Brook Trail, Quarry Spur Trail, White Trail, North Straightback Link
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, January 28, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Lot is plowed and bare tar. 5 cars at 11am, 2 cars at 4pm 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No real problems, might have to step in a couple inches at worst. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No issues 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Brook Trail, as much as I did, should be fine. The Straightback stuff might give them some trouble. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I started out in spikes. Brook Trail has some areas that are postholed, but overall, the monorail is firm and fast. Lots of traffic has boot packed it almost flat, and where water has invaded the trail and froze, there are good boot packed side paths.
Where BRT branches off the Brook Trail, the path gets narrower and is less consolidated. I switched to snowshoes. This was improving the trail, as well as giving me better purchase.
On the Quarry Spur Trail, I was following a single postholer track, and breaking maybe 4"-6" of snow, but it was easy breaking, and not slowing me down. The blazes were very faint and hard for me to find.
Had a nice lunch just off that little section of the White Trail near the summit. Found a spot in the sun and out of the wind, able to sit for awhile without getting cold.
I descended on North Straightback Link, again in snowshoes. The top steeps required some extra care. The green blazes were a lot better than on the Quarry Spur Trail. After I got back on the Brook Trail, I switched to crampons just to make it a little easier.
I really liked being able to see through the trees, for me this hike was MUCH better in winter. You can see over to Mt. Major and watch for the little stick people on the summit, as you descend.  
Name
Name: Steve Marion 
E-Mail
E-Mail: swamp_fox@comcast.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-01-28 
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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