| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 16, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No snow/ice in the parking lot. About 5 cars. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
One major water crossing on ISO Express right below Isolation Trail |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
a few downed trees, some snapped twigs on trails |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw three happy dogs |
|
 | Bugs: |
none |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
none |
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|
 | Comments: |
It was a very mild day, sunny in 30s.The Rocky Branch was very messy, four-season condition. The first mile was mostly leaves, with occasional ice/ snow , mostly dry. With caution, you could manage it without traction. After that, the trail alternated between packed snow/ice, breakable ice, standing/running water, mud... it was all over the place.
I put on the micro spikes after Mile 1 and made all the way to Engine Hill and the first quarter mile of the bushwhack. After two major nasty muddy masses on the bushwhack, the snow became sinkable and stickier. I could see where the hiker before me switched into snowshoes and I did same around the same place. The bushwhack was overall easy to follow although you did need to look for it at some spots. At some point, there was another track splitting from the first one but eventually the two would merge. The one bearing right was better packed down; the one going straight had lots of postholes.
The bushwhack trail was pretty straight forward . Once reach Isolation trail, turn right and continue on the trail for a short distance, the ISO Express would divert on the right ,downward to the one major water crossing. You could hear the water from above. Make sure hop on the rocks not on the ice. The crossing was a little sketchy but very manageable. ISO Express was also easy to follow but very exhausting due to the sticky snow. If you step off the packed path, you could sink to you knees. Did my part to pack down the trail but on my way down I noticed some hiker after me had left some very deep postholes. Strongly recommend snowshoes from bushwhack and up , it's just a lot safer for everyone.
Davis Path between the junctions of Iso Express and the spur to the summit was well packed and easy to trek in snowshoes, but outside this section, the trail to both directions seemed to untraveled.
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|
 | Name: |
Ai Li |
|
 | E-Mail: |
lia1203@yahoo.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-16 |
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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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