| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jackson, Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Webster-Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail, Crawford Path, Eisenhower Loop, Edmands Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Edmands Path trailhead lot off Mt Clinton road. The road was open at time time of this report. It is gated in winter. Large dirt lot. Kiosk. No privy. I was then dropped at the Webster-Jackson trailhead off US 302. Large, recently resurfaced gravel lot. Plowed in winter. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues with crossing the Abenaki Brook at the base of Eisenhower. Ice had melted off the rocks by the time I reached them in the afternoon. No issues with water crossings on Webster-Jackson. Rocks were dry and well above the water line. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Webster-Jackson trl > Webster Cliff Trail > Crawford Path > Mt Eisenhower Loop > Edmands Path.
Webster-Jackson trail: well blazed in blue. No ice until past the Webster branch junction. Since we were ascending, we found the ice negotiable all the way to the summit. Summit ledges had some avoidable ice. Dusting of snow thought the trails. No real accumulation. No traction used.
Webster Cliff trail: this is the AT and is blazed in white blazes. Not well blazed, but blazed. Descending off Jackson requires traction of some kind. Crampons may be helpful on some of the ledges in the uppermost elevations. But these are few and short lived. They are steep, though, with thick ice. You decide if changing from spikes to crampons and back is worthwhile. Spikes remained on the entire ridge traverse. Ice was prevalent and not avoidable in many locations.
After the hut, I found lovely repair work on the ladders and bridges. Thank you, thank you! I kept my spikes on. Though the initial rise just above the hut was only a dusting of snow, the ice began in earnest once making that hairpin turn to ascend to the first open ledges. Snow increased to around 0.25 inches once over the ledges. Spikes were fine as ice was never gone for long. The summit was covered in a dusting of snow with minimal ice. I wished I’d remembered this was my 12th iteration here to grid out Pierce! Would have lingered a bit longer.
Crawford Path: also the AT, also blazed in white with supplemental carins on open ledges. Light snow. Ice. Traction worn for the entirety. Ice wasn’t continuous, but often present.
Eisenhower Loop: ice, light snow, some drifting snow near the summit of 2-3 inches. Traction for the entirety. The backside heading to Edmands Path has significantly more ice than the Crawford side. But micro spikes are just fine. No treacherous stuff.
Edmands Path: it is well blazed in blue below tree line. So, let me break down the upper elevation conditions:
- Across the talus field is light snow and ice, wear traction.
- Into the scrub the ice really starts up. It is thick and in long sections. Traction, I would think, is mandatory.
- Then comes that super sketchy section that I loathe… and it delivered today. There is a sharp, steep pitch up multi tiered rock ledges next to a giant boulder just past the water stream (running today). This sucker is solid ice. Like frozen waterfall ice. It could be intimidating for some. I elected to turn my body around, hike down ladder style next to the trees, using them as bracing to get down this obstacle. My new found hiking buddy, Stephen, conveniently had an ice ax and skills from hiking in Switzerland… Most useful! This buggah isn’t huge, maybe 15-20 feet long so I was able to get down with spikes and trees.
The ice does not let up for quite awhile. I elected to take off my spikes around 2500 feet, though ice was still present. But the amount and length had lessened and I was able to negotiate the intermittent slippery surfaces without too much delay. My partner left his spikes on until the end. But he’s 80. Yes, 80 years old. Why risk slipping on hidden ice under the leaves?
Best of luck in shoulder season! |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-11-02 |
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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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