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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Dome Rock, Upper Inlook, The Overlook, Kelton Crag, Gordon Fall, NH
Trails
Trails: Randolph Path, Inlook Trail, Kelton Trail, Howker Ridge Trail, Sylvan Way, Brookbank, Presidential Range Rail Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 22, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: All the spots at Appalachia we’re full just past 9am but we pulled off to the side near one of the entrances/exits and managed. One or two others did the same. We were the only car parked at Randolph East. The parking lot is completely covered but the road is very wide so we were able to pull off without any problems. We saw tire tracks there so I imagine someone else had been there within the past few days. The road in is fine for any car.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The only one I recall is at the very end of Kelton Trail where you cross Snyder Brook. It’s fairly wide and my friend was a little concerned about it but it showed no water as it was completely snowbridged. Nevertheless, she sent “the big guy” across first to make sure it was safe. At 200+lbs it didn’t crash beneath me. I think it’s very stable.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Randolph Path was blazed in blue. I think either Kelton or Inlook was as well and the other one was blazed in yellow? Brookbank was blazed in yellow. In any case, it seemed like all trails were blazed decently well (some with both older and newer blazes intermingled) and we rarely stopped to look for the trail even when trail breaking. One spot of note is at the jct if Inlook and Kelton. If warning to descend Kelton, it’s not obvious which way the trail goes here. Go up, a little bump briefly before heading down to your left. You’ll soon see blaze :) If descending, turn right down Kelton Trail where Kelton Rock is; continuing straight is just a spot of a former view at Kelton Rock. All signs are above the snow but if we get as much snow as they seem to be predicting Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, particularly with drifting, then I suspect that some signs may be at least partially covered.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn’t see any but I’d be hesitant to bring a dog on Kelton and Inlook Trails due to their steepness and the deep unbroken powder.  
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: My basket came off one of my poles around the ledges on Inlook Trail (one of the mid-upper ones I believe). I could not find it in the snow. It probably won’t be unearthed until all the snow melts but if anyone finds it and can pack it out for me that’d be great. I recommend bringing extra baskets in case this happens to you. I did not and it made hiking more difficult with one pole sinking significantly deeper in the snow than the other.  
 
Comments
Comments: Great day for a redline with a fellow redlined :) Randolph Path -> Inlook -> Kelton Trail to The Brookside -> Kelton all the way down to Howker Ridge -> Howker Ridge Trail -> Sylvan Way -> Brookbank. My friend took Sylvan Way to Valley Way and out instead for her redlining so that has tracks on it now as well.

We both wore snowshoes the entire time and I’d see they were needed on everything I was on except for the rail trail. My hiking buddy would probably say the same thing except for when she was on Valley Way at the very bottom. Randolph Path was broken out but not packed for a ways and then the snowshoe tracks stopped and just turned to ski tracks. That may have been at the jct with Sylvan Way which was broke towards Howker Ridge but not towards Appalachia. Inlook Trail and Kelton were both entirely unbroken. Howker Ridge was unbroken but had a trench and a good base underneath just a couple inches so has definitely seen some traffic this winter (probably not a bad time to redline it if you need it!). The northernmost maybe half mile of Kelton was the deepest/most drifted snow we’d seen all day. The quads really had to work hard even on the descent.

All of Inlook and the lower (northern) part of Kelton both have some very steep sections that make snowshoeing quite difficult. We liked our choice to ascend Inlook and descend Kelton though. Note that on the upper (southern) part of Kelton Trail, there is a long and tricky side hill. It was a real bitch trying to break in 35in snowshoes 😂 My friend and I swapped places and it was actually easier for both of us. Since we had to do an out-and-back on this section, it shouldn’t be too tough now but be warned (and very careful!) if breaking trail here. A few spots you definitely don’t want to fall. Although this upper part of Kelton is flat it’s not easy due to this side hill which is maybe the last half mile to The Brookside. Shortly before the side hill you go through a very pretty and flat area but beware of spruce traps in there!

Breaking trail on the Appalachia side of Sylvan Way wasn’t too bad. I think Brookbank was unbroken. In any case, when you reach the power line, turn right, then left into some brush to stay on the path. I’m sure there’s some sort of marking here under the snow. The path is marked clearly on either side of the powerline to re-enter the woods but not through it. There was at least 2ft of powder here. You then turn left onto the rail trail. I stayed on the rail trail back to the parking lot but must’ve missed the right hand turn back into the woods for Fallsway. Oh well.  
Name
Name: Liam Cooney 
E-Mail
E-Mail: liamcooney96@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-02-24 
Link
Link: https:// 
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