| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rattle River Trail, Kenduskeag Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Stony Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, January 7, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
only cars at both lots at 11ish. only car at stony brook at 4:30 and one other car at rattle river upon return |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Two crossings of Rattle River were partially bridged complimented with very short easy rock hops. Water was low and slow. Stony Brook crossing was mostly bridged and very easy as well. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Decent number of blowdowns on Kenduskeag trail. One fresh one on Stony brook with herd path formed around it |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
easy going for dogs on these trails except for the tough snow conditions on Rattle River. Final push up Moriah looked icy but we skipped it today due to icy dog paws, crampy human legs, and cold, ferocious winds. Despite copious application of Musher's Secret wax, Fin formed some significant ice balls on her paws twice during the hike. I was able to remove the larger ones with my teeth, which she didn't much care for. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Mission was to redline Rattle River and Stony Brook- "mission accomplished"! Rattle River was a real sufferfest-we put on spikes near the lot and were churning through a few inches of soft powder. Powder increased above the shelter but it was way too bony for snowshoes until 2800' when the trail steepened significantly. It was still a bit bony for the last 500' to the ridge but we needed the traction and televators as the snow was super slick/unconsolidated. We were following a single set of old snowshoe tracks. There was abundant snow on Kenduskeag. When we got to the base of the summit cone we ran into 2-3 foot drifts and the trail disappeared with no apparent corridor/blazes. After a few minutes of swimming back and forth through drifts Gaia got us back on track and the trail became very evident after 100' or so. Once we hit Moriah Carter the trail was well packed to the car-we sported microspikes but could be barebooted if one wished. Crazy light refraction in the clouds sweeping up over the entire range on the way down the ledges-had never seen such a thing it was quite stunning and made us quickly forget the fact we didn't summit Moriah. |
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 | Name: |
Spence, Dan, Fin |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-01-07 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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