| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jackson, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Webster-Jackson Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 11, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Still plenty of roadside parking when made our fashionably late arrival after 9:20am. We had stopped earlier at the Highland Center to Don winter boots and gaiters w/o frozen fingers. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Not a worry, although a barefooted or microspiked one broke through one minor crossing. Just desserts. ;-) |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One or two blowdowns, but not a worry. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Encountered just 2. Both doggies and owners friendly. The seconds owner carried a small LL Bean trail sled. Saw them at trailhead later. Said regretted sliding down Jackson-Webster trail from Mt Webster, as it was in much worst shape than Jackson Branch. (In my limited experience, it usually is,due to water crossing and pointless ups and downns. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Hah! Another good reason to hike in winter. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Single Yaxtrak in middle of trail. Left on rock or stump. Owner must have found it upon return, as I didn't see it again upon ours.
Why does anyone bother with these useless things? They're barely sufficient for negotiating a flat, icey parking lot. They have a nasty habit of falling apart on hikes. No retaining straps either, as evidenced by the one found in the trail. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Turned out to be a beaut of a day. Some sun and virtually no or little wind at summit. 2 Grey Jay's following a group of hikers about 1/2 mile below summit. And then a group of 3 Jay's at the summit, likely 2 adults and an adolescent living in their basement. ;-)
Begin Soapbox warning.
Trail in great condition due to many of us wearing snowshoes. Still didn't understand how folks carry them but not bothering to wear them out of laziness and selfishness. Or not having them at all. Com'on folks help out maintaining our winter trails. The few snow angels out there can't serve as guardians of your potentially twisted ankles and/or battered knees. Do you or one of your party have to be carried out on a stokes litter in the dark by one of us to get the message?
In the Andirondacks Rangers can issue expensive tickets to those w/o snowshoes on trails requiring them. Eh, live free or die, I guess. :-(
End Soapbox warning
Trail was getting soft as day wore on. Almost spring corn snow consistency in last 1 mile or so on return leg. More postholes, although most, thankfully were to right or left of luge track. That may not be the case today with sunny skies and even higher temps. May be just as battered and postholed as some of the trails around Pierce ( Pierce to Mitzpah?) were that day. As another hiker related his experience to us, as he was descending from Jackson summit on a long traverse.
|
|
 | Name: |
Mike & M |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-03-12 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
