| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, November 24, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Rocky Branch lot was plowed. Only a few vehicles there today. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
We checked out the Iso-express crossing and it was more than we wanted to deal with considering how sloppy everything was before that point . We only crossed the last crossing on Isolation trail. It was a little tricky to rock hop and keep feet out of the water but doable. Rocks are slick and any shelf ice that formed cannot support the weight of frog. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some easy step overs that will get easier as snow gets deeper. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen, but saw some (bob)cat tracks. Dogs experienced in winter conditions are usually fine, but I wouldn't choose this to be their first winter condition hike. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I have forgotten how bad this hike was in shoulder seasons, today reminded me.
Two of us set out around the same time as another set of two and we took the lead. Snow was only an inch or two to start and we originally felt we made the right decision to leave snowshoes behind. In retrospect they could have been justified as the first tracks on EHW and Davis Path with 6-8" of snow, but very bony otherwise. These conditions for this hike are the worst, not enough snow to make it enjoyable but just enough to cover the unfrozen mud and bogs. Most everyone took the trails after that but at least one other did take Iso-express up and down. Ice-O was Ice-low, with some ice beneath the snow particularly on the spur to the summit, but we managed to bare boot the whole day.
If you don't "need" Isolation at the time I'd wait it out. |
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 | Name: |
Kyle L & E.T. Fudge |
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 | E-Mail: |
kjlanctot g mail |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-11-24 |
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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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