NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Madison, NH
Trails
Trails: Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Lower Bruin
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Appalachian parking lot is plowed, thank you! 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Small tributary streams, able to step over or ice bridged. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Good work to the maintainers! One huge blowdown dealt with. Faded blue blazes on lower portion of Valley Way but still visible. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: No issues that would threaten dogs. 
Bugs
Bugs: Nope 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nope 
 
Comments
Comments: Ah, the Presidentials always teach me something whenever I go. Today it was 1) don’t hike a Presidential on a “whim,” 2) pack above tree line gear if going above tree line, and 3) breaking trail is sweat inducing, quad burning, all heck on a 5000 footer.

On a whim I braved the snow covered roads to see Mount Madison, again. Valley Way is blazed in blue and sheltered almost all the way to the hut. It was covered in loose powder that was no issue until the upper jct with Watson Path. From this jct to the hut I was breaking trail through at least 2 feet of fresh powder. Drifts came to my thighs. It was a total body workout and exhausting. Signs and blazes on trees are above snow line. All jcts are well signed. The corridor is easy to discern (but I have been here many times so take this “with a grain of salt”) as this is a popular trail.

Beyond the hut I realized my pack was ready for routine winter hiking, NOT for above tree line. Ooppps. I was missing some critical gear (wind pants, buff, goggles, etc) as winds were 30-40 mph with visibility being limited by blowing snow. My tracks from just 15 mins prior were already blown in or filled with new snow.

Even though I found myself underprepared for above tree line in adverse weather, I did go up Osgood about 0.2 miles to see the trail conditions. Advice: plan for extra time. I was spending an inordinate amount of time taking one step into a huge drift of snow then sliding 4 steps back. Then repeating this pattern over and over again. The snowshoes just couldn’t get a good bite. Carins are large and visible above the snow.

On the way back I decided to redline Lower Bruin. This is a yellow blazed link trail (excellent blazing) that connects Valley Way and Watson Path. It is 0.2 miles long and steep. But man is it pretty! Such fun gliding down on snowshoes though 2.5 feet of unbroken powder snow! Not so much fun hiking back up it...

Best of luck on future hikes!  
Name
Name: Remington34 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-12-03 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved