| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Roberts, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Mt. Roberts Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room at the parking lot at the top of Ossipee Park Rd. Maybe a half-dozen vehicles today. The parking area is plowed, and Ossipee Park Rd. is dry. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None on this route. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No blowdowns, and the signage and blazing are good. If there are any drainage issues, they weren't noticeable under the snow. Overall this trail is in good condition. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any, but they'd probably do fine. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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|
 | Comments: |
This was a straightforward out-and-back on Mt. Roberts Trail. Just after setting off, I met a pair of descending hikers who told me that snowshoes would be useful. They were quickly proven correct, and I wore snowshoes for the whole hike. Most of the trail had maybe 6-12 inches of snow - some rocks were visible in various places, and some of the exposed ledges in the upper half of the trail were bare, but the snow was still pretty consistent. The trail could maybe have been barebooted (there was evidence of barebooters on the trail), but it would've chewed up the trail, and snowshoes used less energy because I wasn't sinking into the snow. Thanks to the prints left behind by the boots and snowshoes of other hikers, plus the numerous orange blazes, the trail was easy to follow. As I hiked up the trail, I could see the clouds coming in over the summits to my right, and the cloud came over the summit of Roberts while I was eating my lunch at the summit. The open ledges and viewpoints below the summit still had excellent views on both the ascent and descent. The snowshoes and the fairly light, powdery snow made my descent quick. Microspikes would not have been useful since there was very little exposed ice and the snow was not packed that much.
I saw only four other hikers, all in the bottom half-mile of the trail. We were all happy to be outside in the snow before this warm comes and does its damage. |
|
 | Name: |
GN |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-09 |
|
 | 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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