| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhacks, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 23, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
3 cars on arrival, none on return |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Not bridge on iso Express or upper Rocky Branch. Thick, breakable ice. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Saw some leather gloves on side of trail at 2600'. Forgot to pick up on the way back. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Tough conditions. We barebooted around patchy, avoidable ice flows to about 3000', where I put on spikes, but Carrie continued to bareboot. We took engine Hill. The tracks are all but gone. The snow is patchy, bare ground mixed with 2' of snow. Carrie found it pretty supportive, but I was postholing with my substantial girth. The swampy area was frozen moss crust on mud. I went in to my calves. The entire bushwhack area looks very disturbed with evidence of massive water flow that created the channeled snow. The were moose tracks everywhere. It was hard to find the herd paths in these conditions. If you do attempt it, just use a compass, but I'd advise waiting for about 2' of snow. Not sure snowshoes would help with current condition.
After slogging through engine Hill, we decided to take isolation trail up, instead of iso Express. We weren't expecting to do any real bushwhacking on this day. It was a skating rink, but somehow Carrie still remained bare booted. She finally relented at the river crossing. She was fine, but I tested the ice and broke through, soaking my foot yet again.
The trail beyond the camp was unbroken and postholing. We took the camp bypass. It was quick getting up to iso. At this point we were approaching our turn around time, which resulted in a PR. Trail was hard packed or skating rink.
We decided on iso Express down. I postholed to my hips and put on my snow shoes. Carrie had no problem floating in the crust on light traction. In some places the packed path was evident, but navigation was still required. We got off track near the boulders below the lookout and ended up in some wet areas, but it was supportive enough to not get soaked. Water crossing back to isolation was simple. I took off my snow shoes.
We took isolation back to the shorter bushwhack near the river crossing. Iso continued to be a skating rink of bullet proof ice like a Zamboni came through. Traction was barely hanging on. We were able to stay on the heading. There was minimal snow patches. It got medium thick in small places.
Back on Rocky Branch was a mess up to the engine Hill col. Flowing water under ice meant we were rock hopping in winter.
Carrie took her traction off at about 3000’. I kept it on until about 2600’.
|
|
 | Name: |
The Handsome Hiker |
|
 | E-Mail: |
rcorsaro@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-24 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
