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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Crawford, NH
Trails
Trails: Davis Path, Crawford Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Clear 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Right after the initial footbridge, there's a low area overfilling with water. The ice bridge on the first part of this area broke apart as I crossed, it's possible you could try to bushwhack around this area, but I can't tell if there's more water under the snow. The next part of this same area has 2 logs (flattened tops)that sink a couple inches into the overflowing water as you cross, and the ends of the logs were starting to get covered with water. Note the far end has some kind of electric cable coming out of the water and draped over the log ends. I don't know how you would get around that area if it gets worse. These two areas are within a tenth of a mile of the footbridge, so if you had your heart set on doing this hike, you might be able to check those two spots fairly quickly to make an assessment. It was deeper on the return. After that, you soon have 2 brook crossings that require stepping on submerged rocks. The crossings are about maybe 10-12' wide, and maybe 2' of that is several inches of fast current. So it's a little tricky, and there is a little risk of falling in; but I'm an old fart and I got across it in snowshoes, so it can't be too bad. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Not nearly as much eye poke danger on this well cleared trail. There is some. But I traded goggles in for a headband today, as sweat in the eyes was more of an issue. It was such a beautiful afternoon, I got into taking out blowdowns on the return. I got a couple pretty good size ones out, too. But I didn't tackle a couple big duckunders up higher. One thing I've learned is not to start sawing a big blowdown unless you're sure you can really cut it thru, without the saw binding. Because if you have to give up on it, you could end up leaving a death trap for the next guy. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: The trail starts out dry, until you cross the initial Bemis footbridge, where the monorail begins. I put on snowshoes there and kept them on. The monorail is pretty tall and I had to extend my poles quite a bit to reach down into the pole trenches on either side. Because it's tall, the sides are getting chipped off and it's narrowing. I had to watch foot position carefully for the first 1/4 mile or so.
There were 2 short bare areas up further on, after you get in the woods. Prior to the first outlook, in a crest, the monorail briefly converts to being a trench, then soon reverts back to monorail. The snow went to mashed potatoes in the sunny areas near the outlook. Soon after that, there are two exposed ledgy knobs, and I believe the monorail is slightly to the right of the second knob, thru a couple trees. I lost the trail there and ended up going over several more exposed knobs and then bushwhacking to the right to find the trail again. This was a pretty area, with views, so this brief detour was kind of interesting in itself.
Next came the steep ledge part which was fully covered with mash potatoes. No ice, but I had to stop my snowshoes from skiing on the way back down. The peak had snow in the middle, bare rock on edges.
I missed the snow this last month and when I saw that Mt.Washington report I knew I had to get back up here. What a gorgeous day for my first summit of this wonderful little peak!  
Name
Name: Steve Marion 
E-Mail
E-Mail: swamp_fox@comcast.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-04-17 
Link
Link: https:// 
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