| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jackson, Mt. Webster, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Webster-Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Easy parking on 302 at 8:30 |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No problems at all |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No major blowdowns; AT trail markings on Webster Cliff Trail are often very low, almost at snow level, and be prepared to constantly push pine boughs out of your way and duck under bigger limbs on the WCT as well. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw two (Madison and Odin), both were wonderful and happy. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
What a lovely pristine day for a late-winter hike! Crystal clear blue skies (even Mt. Washington was clear of cloud cover!) allowed unlimited visibility of the Whites and beyond, and the wind on the summits was minimal. Temps and exercise allowed me to do the entire trip in just a fleece and no hat.
Morning hike up to Jackson was perfect: morning temps created a hard packed trail all the way to the summit, so microspikes were the best call.
The Webster Cliff Trail from Jackson to Webster was a slog: maybe 6 or 8 hikers had taken the trail since whenever the last significant snow occurred, so lots and lots of snowshoeing work still needs to be done. Unfortunately, a hiker or two decided to bareboot the 1.3 miles, leaving far too many of postholes in their wake. The trail absolutely requires plenty of snowshoes to get into shape.
By the time I was descending from Webster on the W-J Trail, which is in fine shape, temperatures had warmed enough that the snow was getting squishy, so I thought it wise to keep the snowshoes on all the way back to the car.
Thanks to whomever it was that returned my shell to the front desk at the AMC Highland Center! I had expected to report it lost somewhere on the Webster Cliff Trail and leave my email address in case it was returned, but there it was behind the counter waiting for me. |
|
 | Name: |
Teddy |
|
 | E-Mail: |
tbarkerhook@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-03-22 |
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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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