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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Whiteface (attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Downes Brook Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 22, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: 7 cars in the lot at 9 AM - room for a few more 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Crossed the Downes brook seven times each way - all were bridged - no issues with a little care 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Three or four blowdowns masked the canopy and caused us to wander a little but nothing major 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Heard one 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: A late start and a lot of snow thwarted our attempt at Whiteface from the north. Leavitt's bakery in Conway is being sold so every time we are close by requires a donut stop. Best donuts ever, and under $10 a dozen. That added 20 minutes to our already late start but in the end the 20 minutes made no difference so having a donut after the hike was priceless.

Downes was packed out up until the Potash trail split then just a few ski tracks until the ski trail split, then one set of ski tracks until the first crossing, then untracked. For the first 2 miles it was pretty easy to follow the indentation and snow was packed under the 7-8 inches from Tuesday's storm. After 2 miles the indentation was pretty much gone, the fresh snow got deeper and there was no packed snow underneath making it a tough go for just two folks pushing 60. The snow was at least four feet deep after 3 miles. The depth of the snow raised the trail up into the canopy making it difficult to stay on the trail in certain areas especially near crossings. Combine that with sparse and faded blazes and we wandered off trail a few times but never too far and found it again quickly. We made it four miles and then a combination of fatigue, difficulty staying on trail in areas with steeps on both sides of the brook and our approaching turn-back time forced us to turn around.

The walk out was easier but with the warm temps and sun the snow got sticky and was clumping under our snowshoes making for heavy feet. If you are thinking about Whiteface from the Kanc then tomorrow might be a good opportunity. Once the snow sinters and the cold overnight temps harden it further it should be a fast track tomorrow but the last 1.2 miles up to the Kate Sleeper intersection will be challenging.  
Name
Name: notch and pumba 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bowmore17@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-02-22 
Link
Link: https:// 
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