| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Moosilauke, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ravine Lodge Road, Gorge Brook Trail, Carriage Road, Snapper Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There is parking about a mile or so up the road toward the Ravine Lodge. The road was frozen at 630am but thawing at 1030am and I watched a pickup truck enter and then have a lot of trouble getting out of a muddy low spot.
Also note that the frost heaves on 118 coming over from Lincoln are really impressive. I drove 20mph both ways and in some spots that felt too fast. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There is a large blowdown at the Ravine Lodge (does not appear to be property damage). There is a really unstable appearing tree partially down on Carriage Road, about 1/4 mile above the Snapper junction. If it’s windy I would check for safety before going under it. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None on the trail today. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not yet!! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Spectacular warm, sunny, no wind day. Microspikes all the way (my snowshoes took a ride on my backpack), and here is why. From the Ravine Lodge to the Snapper/Gorge Brook junction, the snow and ice are stable. I went up Gorge Brook and was sailing along until that right turn at the McKenney Forest Plaque (currently buried under snow). As soon as I turned, it was mashed potatoes snow with a lot of postholes. Some of the postholes were boots, some were snowshoes. I stayed in microspikes because it didn’t seem that it would make a difference. Being careful slowed my progress, but ai actually did not posthole, yay!!! Once I got to the switchbacks things firmed up a bit (but not completely). Once the summit was in sight I actually took my microspikes off because it’s a lot of bare rock. I put them back on near the summit.
On the way down Carriage Road, microspikes were just perfect and that trail all the way to the Snapper junction is smooth sailing because of the skiers. Yay for the skiers!!
Once you turn left on Snapper it’s mushy and that section has the worst postholes of the route. Pro tip: if you put your foot in someone else’s posthole thinking that they went to the bottom so you are good, you might be wrong. The trail firms up again about a hal mile before the junction.
Note that I left at 630am when it was 25 degrees at the trailhead and returned at 1030am when it was 52 degrees at the trailhead. Afternoon hikers might have had an entirely different experience!!
Happy hiking!! |
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 | Name: |
Bikecamphikegirl |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-03-23 |
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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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