| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Anderson, Mt. Lowell, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Nancy Pond Trail, bushwhack |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, March 31, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nancy Pond Trailhead was plowed, only car in the lot. Could probably fit 4-5 cars |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Open down low, crossed on bare rocks. Bridged after the main Nancy Brook crossing |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Smooth sailing - thanks to whomever cut the fallen trees over the past month or two! |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None |
|
 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
|
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|
 | Comments: |
Began just after sunrise while the lower elevation snowpack was rock solid, nice snowshoe track all the way up to Nancy Pond. Massive snowpack at 3000', 5-6' or so.
Ponds were frozen but just stuck to the perimeter, entered the woods at the NW corner of Nancy Pond into some thiiiick evergreen, minor spruce traps with mostly supportive snowpack. At ~3,300' the forest opened right up to a pleasant yet steep climb, if one takes a straight shot to the summit they will be back in thick conifer boughs, veering more east (right) around this stays in mostly open forest. Summit was easy to locate and just beyond is a great view of Lowell, Signal Ridge, Carrigain, Vose Spur and beautiful peaks.
Descending Anderson to the col was steeeeep atop a smooth hardpack crust. No moose activity noticed in the col yesterday. The forest ascending Lowell never opened up until the summit area as I hoped it would, but was never overwhelming. Meandering around the thick, twisted branches made the going relatively slow. Found the summit of Lowell no problem, signed the register and had some warm tea while basking in the jaw-dropping panoramic view which now swept out to the Presidentials, poking above Mts Anderson & Nancy.
Followed my snowshoe track back while cutting off Anderson's summit at 3,550' and followed counter-clockwise to save time as the snowpack at 10am was growing considerably soft and slushy in the full sun. Beautiful, but a bit alarming to have the snow grow so soft so quick, so I hustled out of the hills.
Evidence of old wet avalanching along the steep slope next to Nancy Cascades, the switchbacks were in the tree canopy so with ice axe in hand and ready I descended basically straight down the slope - the old mass which had slipped was more or less refrozen solid but didn't want to test it, I moved quick and light.
Once across Nancy Brook the snow began balling on the underside of snowshoes, finding that snowshoeing just off the packed trail prevented this, I basically 'whacked down Nancy Pond Trail and had a blast doing so.
Feel free to check a ramble I wrote about the incredible day with some photos and such at the link below. Enjoy!
Happy Climbing! |
|
 | Name: |
Erik Hamilton |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ehamilton9481@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-04-01 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.atalkinthewoods.com/trail-reports/mts-anderson-lowell |
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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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