| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Jefferson (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Jewell Trail, Boundary Line Trail, Jefferson Notch Road, Caps Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 6, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There were almost two dozen cars at Ammo before 8am as a large AMC group was headed to Monroe. Base Station Road was being plowed as I drove in; there are long stretches of ice under the sand (which is the norm for this road); drive carefully. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Fortunately the strategically fallen log on Boundary Line survived the rain event last week. That remains the way to get across this water crossing. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are new blowdowns along Jewell, Boundary Line and Caps Ridge. One of the Wandering_Soules had his small saw and was able to delimb two of them so that we could get under them. A third is a difficult scramble-over. There are at least a dozen total and all can be addressed with a hand saw (though two will need to be Zippified). All trail signs are intact. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I am never sad or ashamed when I turn around before a summit; the goal is the parking lot. I was happy to hike with the Wandering_Soules today; they are closing in on the grid completion and they are amazing hikers and terrific people. Because the windchill forecast was double-digits below zero for Jefferson, my personal plan was to make it to the view just below “The Dink” junction on Caps, and then make a decision. It didn’t feel terribly cold there so I continued on with my friends for more than another quarter mile.
However, we saw a lot more snow over stretches of ice than I was expecting, based on hiking Madison / Adams multiple times over the past month. We thought we would see a lot of bare rock with ice in between, when above treeline. However even below treeline we encountered 3”+ fresh snow on Jewell, Boundary Line and the road walk. We put rock spikes on to cross the bridge on Jewell and I left them on until I got back to the car.
Once past the alpine zone sign on Caps Ridge the snow got slightly deeper, and when we got to that boulder field part of the trail, below the first Cap, I decided to turn around as I didn’t feel comfortable with the footing. The Wandering_Soules continued on and at this writing are below treeline headed down Jewell, having safely summited Jefferson.
I am happy that we had a chance to catch up, today, and happy that snow is coming in tonight - my snowshoes need some fun! Stay safe everyone!! |
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 | Name: |
Bikecamphikegirl |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-06 |
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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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