| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Adams, Mt. Madison, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Airline, snowfields, Gulfside, Osgood Trail, Watson Path, Valley Way, Beechwood Way, The Link |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Appalachia nearly full along the backside at 7:30 am. Almost completely full at 2:30 pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All solidly snowbridged. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few trees that will need attention between Scar Tr and treeline along Airline. Watson Path was up in the canopy with numerous bendovers. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good day for a seasoned trail pup. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
My original plan was up and down Valley Way but a tip about Airline being well traveled made me call an audible. I wore snowshoes all day mainly for the heel lifts and superior traction over microspikes.
As mentioned the trail was well packed with some minor drifting just below treeline. Saw many postholes along the sides as well. Above treeline any traction would work. After the next few warm days when things freeze again real crampons might be a good idea as some of the snowfields are already boilerplate. Above King Ravine I used a combo of open snowfields and the trail proper to pick a direct line to the summit of Adams. After dropping down to Madison Spring Hut the Osgood Tr was easy to follow up to Madison with good footing. Here I decided to call another audible. I met a guy that admitted he broke out Watson Path by postholing all the way up. As I would find out later he wasn't kidding, some were quite impressive. He also said another had been heading down with snowshoes so I figured if give it a go as well. Just below the summit I lost their tracks on some boilerplate and picked up some cairns but soon realized I was on Pine Link to the north. A quick correction and a little wandering and I was back on track. Once in the trees, Watson Path is mostly busted up crust and powder. It will take quite a few more snowshoes to cut out the side hills and smooth it out. Happy to be on Valley Way I soon got bored so I followed a soft Beechwood Way to the Link and returned to Appalachia. What an amazing day to spend above treeline in March!
10.2 mi. 5100' elev+ |
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 | Name: |
IQuest |
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 | E-Mail: |
iandanner@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-03-10 |
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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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