| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Madison, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Valley Way, Osgood Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, January 12, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Appalachia lot was plowed |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No significant water crossings |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Besides the 4 miles of postholes from the top to bottom the trail is in great shape |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Some of the steeper sections near the top of Valley Way might be a challenge for dogs, as well as above the treeline up to the summit where there is a hard crust. If a dog slipped on the way down it could slide for awhile before a rock stops it |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost my sanity struggling up 4 miles of frozen postholes! |
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 | Comments: |
The good news is there's enough snow on the trails now to cover up the rif raf of rocks and roots, perfect snowshoe conditions! The bad news, some post-holio chopped the trail up yesterday from about a mile in and all the way up to the summit and over to Adam's as well. Now the Frozen shin deep to thigh deep holes have frozen overnight, leaving a difficult and dangerous trail behind them for anyone else who has to use it. Apparently it's a "style" for some to just "ego through it" but it's extremely inconsiderate to anyone who has to follow in there tracks. It basically the equivalent of driving down the road and dumping oil behind you so everyone who has to follow you skids off the road and crashes. If you need to stoke your ego by climbing up a mountain and sinking in and sliding with every step go find your own way up the side of a mountain and stay off the trails that the rest of the hiking community depends on for safe travel up the mountian.
So after twisting my ankles in every direction possible about 1,000 times going up Valley Way I made it to the hut and it was stunningly beautiful out. The sun was shining and the winds were relatively calm. The final approach up Osgood to the summit was covered with a hard, wind swept snow, that supported me in snowshoes just fine. The snow has filled in alot up there and created a no-fall zone snowfield similar to the one between Adam's and Jefferson. Where if you were to take a fall you wouldn't be able to stop yourself without an ice axe. So just take your time in these sections and have good snowshoes with good traction, or use full crampons.
On the hike back down I tried my best to smash down the frozen postholes, but the trail is still quite a mess and could use a small army of snowshoers to pack it down. Hopefully some of tomorrow's incoming snow will help to fill in the carnage from the previous days hiker. |
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 | Name: |
Bluecollar4khiker |
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 | E-Mail: |
Echam81@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-12 |
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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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