| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Link, Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, March 20, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Hiker Parking Area on the Cog Base Road, $10 fee per person, per day. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All frozen, no issues. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one happy pup that was very eager to get some of my food named Loki, around Lakes of the Clouds Hut with his owners. |
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 | Bugs: |
Frozen. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Fun day off from work to make a day trip up from Massachusetts to get one more winter peak before the vernal equinox at 524pm. Started off in bare boots on the Ammo Link and quickly switched to snowshoes around a mile or so in as I was breaking through the pack and slipping around. It was clear that there was some snow the night before and the wind was creating drifts and some sidehililng along the river before I got to the Gem Pool. From here on out the snowshoes were completely necessary and I encountered some massive drifts with precarious areas in spots and sidehilling, IMO crampons or spikes wouldn't have done anything for traction in many sections. Heel lifts also helped a bunch. Lost the trail a few times from the drifts and got turned around twice, muddled through to the upper part of the ravine, following trenches and tracks here and there that weren't blown out. On the upper part of the ravine I ended up following icy/packed snowshoes tracks above treeline which popped out on the left/eastern side of the hut. It appeared to have veered off the trail proper but I suspect it's pretty normal for folks to just head straight up the top of the ravine in the winter. From here on out you could've gotten away with crampons or spikes to Monroe. I opted to leave my snowshoes on which helped in one drifty section up on the northeast side of Monroe before the final scramble to where the summit flattens out to the summit proper. Clouds and fog lifted right as I layered up behind the hut (which has snow drift up to the roof on the leeward side) to make it up to Monroe for awesome views. Incredibly windy and pushing me and my 200lbs around. Opted to save Washington for another day given the time of day, the wind, and the fog and snow I could see blasting over the western side of George from the Lakes viewing area, and wanting to get back down before 524pm. Had some lunch encountered another pair of hikers with their dog, also headed up to Monroe. After fueling up made it down in good time, slowly in spots, but at least it was a bit more packed out below treeline from the pair I encountered at the hut and another hiker on the upper part of the ravine. Started around 930am, finished around 2pm. All in all a great day to bag my #22 of the Winter 48. |
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 | Name: |
Nick Hikes and Plays Guitar |
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 | E-Mail: |
nicksidla@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-03-21 |
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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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