| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Caps Ridge Trail, Jefferson Loop, Gulfside, the Cornice, Castle Ridge Trail, The Link |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 7, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of space at Caps Ridge |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Stream on The Link near Caps Ridge was running fast, difficult to cross, had to put boots in water and even then it was challenging |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Our 50lb dog made it, though had to be handed down some of the pitches on Castle Trail. Generally wouldn't recommend Caste Ridge Trail for a dog. The Link also had a few rough spots for a dog, a smaller or less athletic dog would have some trouble. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Beautiful day!!! Started up Caps Ridge at dawn, went over Jefferson and down to Edmands Col, then took the Cornice over to Castle Ridge Trail and followed that back to the Link and that back to Caps Ridge below the Caps. Conditions were early winter, snow on the trail and on rocks up high, and a few icy patches on the Gulfside Trail between the Loop and Edmands Col. Carried microspikes but bare-booted the whole way - the icy patches would have benefited from spikes but for just a few feet it wasn't worth it. Met some nice folks doing similar hikes and a few doing a traverse. Wonderful day for it, bluebird skies, 25 degrees or so, and reasonable wind.
This was our dog Cyon's first 4000-footer. He did great most of the day. He hopped his way up the Caps. He found the talus fields above treeline challenging (especially on the decent) but doable- his first time in that terrain. The Castle Ridge Trail had some drops off large rocks, where a human needs to use hands and feet, and they were too high for him to jump down comfortably. We had to carry him down those, which slowed us way down (2+ hours for the mile from Cornice to The Link) and was a bit stressful. Overall wouldn't recommend Castle Ridge Trail for a dog because of that. The Link had a couple of those spots too, but was more doable. Last stream crossing on The Link was hard, our boots and Cyon's feet had to go in the water, on a colder day that would have been a problem. |
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 | Name: |
Joel |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-11-07 |
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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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